Complete Composite Systems (CCS)
Using TECHNO-CRETE® in Rail Construction Projects
This article first appeared in the Railway-News magazine Issue 1 2022.
More rail construction projects are turning to the innovative, eco-friendly post mix TECHNO-CRETE® for their foundation material. Here’s why…
TECHNO-CRETE® is a hydrophobic polyurethane foam foundation system. Made from a blend of reprocessed oil from the catering industry and sustainably grown rapeseed oil, it is rapidly becoming the prime post mix choice, offering a green and cost-effective alternative to concrete. Its ease of use and minimal bulk-dispensing qualities also ensure faster installation and reduce health and safety concerns.
How It Works
Available in two packs, part A of TECHNO-CRETE® consists of a blend of recycled organic mineral oils from the catering trade and rapeseed oil, while part B contains isocyanate.
When the two packs of liquid are mixed together and poured into the hole around the post, the liquid blend expands to 20 times its initial volume to create a lightweight, high-density foam. That foam mixture rises to fill the hole and encapsulates the post, becoming a solid mass able to hold the post within ten minutes. Curing time is 24 hours but the post is hard enough to fix to within one hour.
A huge advantage that TECHNO- CRETE® has over cement-based products is its ability to be used in inclement weather. If the ground or air temperature dips below 0 degrees centigrade, the water required to mix the concrete will freeze, whereas even if temperatures drop below zero, the exothermic reaction of TECHNO- CRETE® still takes place, resulting in no delays regardless of weather conditions.
Concrete Comparison
Concrete works by virtue of mass of material. In order to fill a typical 300mm diameter x 600mm deep fence post hole, 3 x 20kg bags of concrete post mix plus 20 litres of water would be required. TECHNO- CRETE®, however, uses skin friction to its advantage and that same post would need just one 1.8kg bag of TECHNO-CRETE® — and no water — to support it.
