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nylon fibre source - general information -

updated thu 27 jan 00

 

Helen Bates on mon 24 jan 00

For a comparison of polypropylene, polyester, and nylon as used in the concrete
industry, see: http://www.nycon.com/products/products.htm. It does not suggest
where the clay artist may purchase smaller amounts, but the information is
interesting. Evidently, many industries manufacturing with concrete use nylon
fibers, so a local concrete contractor may indeed have nylon fiber available.

Helen Bates

> Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 12:59:53 EST
> From: Victor Levin
> Subject: Re: Nylon fibre source


--

=========================================================
Helen Bates
mailto:nell@reach.net
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Dave Finkelnburg on tue 25 jan 00

Hi All!
This is a great site Helen has told us about!
I did not have good luck with the fiber I found being used for concrete.
It works but it is very hard to mix thoroughly into the clay.
The fiber which I tried was coarser than the fiber I got specifically
for clay. The fiber for concrete came in a soluble paper bag, 1.5 pounds
intended for a cubic yard of concrete. That's similar to the one pound/ton
fiber/clay ratio I've seen recommended. The batch plant threw a bag in per
yard, and relied on the mixing action to break the bag and mix the fiber
into the concrete. The grinding action of concrete on the fiber is
considerable, and breaks the fibers apart. We have no similar action in
clay mixing. I'd suggest looking closely at any fibers you find intended
for concrete to make certain they will work the way you want in clay.
The fiber I found at the cement plant was labeled "Fibermesh" and is
made by a company called Synthetic Industries. The fiber is about 3/4-inch
long (19mm), relatively coarse and slightly flat in cross section.
According to the web site Helen found, it is polypropylene.
I'd appreciate hearing from others what manufacturer, and if possible,
what product name, is on the fiber they have had good success with in clay.
Thanks!
Dave Finkelnburg

-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Bates
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Monday, January 24, 2000 12:25 PM
Subject: Re: Nylon fibre source - general information -


>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>For a comparison of polypropylene, polyester, and nylon as used in the
concrete
>industry, see: http://www.nycon.com/products/products.htm. It does not
suggest
>where the clay artist may purchase smaller amounts, but the information is
>interesting. Evidently, many industries manufacturing with concrete use
nylon
>fibers, so a local concrete contractor may indeed have nylon fiber
available.
>
>Helen Bates
>
>> Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 12:59:53 EST
>> From: Victor Levin
>> Subject: Re: Nylon fibre source
>
>
>--
>
>=========================================================
>Helen Bates
>mailto:nell@reach.net
>=========================================================
>

Carolyn Nygren Curran on wed 26 jan 00

Your posting about the coarseness of the fibers obtained at cement
factories, etc. gave me an idea, and I'm posting this to see if my
brainstorm (?) is at all valid. Pull the idea apart, by all means, fellow
clayarters.....
Could the coarse fibers be mixed with minimal percentages of clay to make
a sculpture armature upon which to build a sturdier piece with little or no
fiber? Just an idea to tuck away for those far off days when I have time
to do all those extra projects....... CNC