atoledo.com title=”EPIC-chart” src=”https://conforminform.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/EPIC-chart.png” alt=”” width=”1000″ height=”945″ />
Types of Conform
Reply
Author Archives: admin
Introduction
This is it — the inaugural issue of Conform Inform, a quarterly newsletter from Arclin, focused solely on concrete forming with overlaid panels. (The excitement is palpable, isn’t it?) But We have hundreds of games and promotions, impressive jackpots and the best odds there are. this is important stuff. We’ll talk here about conform benefits, share usage tips, troubleshoot some common problems, and hopefully make life a little easier for our customers, distributors, builders, architects and spec writers — anyone charged with creating quality concrete surfaces, saving jobsite time and money, and looking out for the environmental impact of their efforts.
Questions, comments, suggestions — or want to contribute? Contact us at conform.inform@arclin.com.
Concrete Forming 101
We’ll dig deeper, certainly, but for you, your customers and those not yet acclimated to the what’s and why’s of concrete forming (conform), here’s a primer:
What is conform? Concrete forming panels or conform are paper overlaid substrate panels (typically plywood) used for concrete forming.
What’s the upside to using conform? Conform is host to a variety of benefits over raw BBOES Plyform panels, namely it:
- enables significant panel re-use, as panels are easily removed from dried concrete surfaces and the overlay keeps water from seeping into and undermining substrates. This significantly reduces material and labor costs, and eliminates a lot of unnecessary jobsite waste
- ensures a consistent, quality surface (a variety of surface options are available)
- boasts serious environmental benefits, as it enables the use of sustainably harvested trees, is available with FSC®-certified papers and can contribute to LEED credits for material re-use and waste reduction
How is it made? Resin saturated papers are applied to substrates during manufacturing to create an indelible bond and enhance panel durability. The amount and chemistry of the resin is determined based on end-use application. Arclin, for example, creates a variety of overlays for use with virtually any type of concrete construction, concrete mix and jobsite factors.
What do I need to know about selecting the right conform for a job? Here’s a quick view of the types and applications of conform panels from Arclin (our competitors’ overlays may differ somewhat; we’re happy to answer any of your questions about the right panel type for your job.
We’ll dive into more details with subsequent issues of Conform Inform and blog posts. Let us know what you want to know — or what you think would be helpful to your downstream customers.
Open Forum
The goal of Conform Inform isn’t so much to generate sales for Arclin (sure, we hope that’s an added benefit) — it’s to enable you to tap into our knowledge and experience to ensure the building market is taking advantage of the benefits of overlaid panels. If you’d like to contribute to Conform Inform or be featured in a future issue, please let us know. We hope to share this forum with our customers throughout the value chain.
Ask the Experts
Arclin’s conform engineering and technical teams are the most seasoned in the business. Have a question? Email us or post a comment here and we’ll get back to you — and likely publish your answer on our website. While we’re on the topic of release agents:
Q: Can you keep a release agent in place on a vertical surface — wouldn’t the vibrating process force it to the top of the panel?
A: If you choose the right one, you’ll have no problem. There are release agents, such as Nox-Crete PCE Release Agent #10, or equivalent drying type release agents that are made to stay in place on a vertical surface. You’re ensured the same level of panel and surface integrity, even Le logiciel 247LiveBet continuent d’etre faits pour imiter la facon dont les gens jouent a des jeux dans les casinos physiques tangibles et vous devriez donc savoir le droit chemin autour pour ceux qui ont jadis visite un casino en ligne . for a vertical application.
Q: We’ve always used petroleum-based agents. Why should we change?
A: With the rise in petroleum costs, to save money, many manufacturers are using recycled oils (engine oils, hydraulic and waste oils, etc.). Because it’s recycled, it hasn’t been properly processed to remove contaminants. This can create health issues for workers, not to mention that it can stain the concrete surface. We recommend choosing an organic chemistry. It’s safer for the user and the environment, less expensive and performs just as well or even better than petroleum-based chemicals.
Release Agents — Choosing the Right One
contributor: Mike Linn, President, Nox-Crete
There are a number of variables for consideration in determining the right conform panel selection. Once you’ve made that selection, it is equally important that you choose the right release agent. The wrong form release can reduce the number of pours per panel, stain the concrete and potentially mar the surface. The plywood substrate is the most expensive material component of concrete pouring and labor is at a premium — don’t overlook this critical step.
A form release agent is a chemical coating between panel and concrete surface. Its importance is attributable to a number of things:
- The release agent supplements the overlay’s ability to keep alkaline water from seeping into the plywood substrate. (Alkaline water can cause the wood fibers to swell and create cracks in the substrate, which can cause wood failure and undermine surface quality when the panel is removed)
- Without the right release agent, the form may be more inclined to stick to the concrete surface as it dries, destructive to the panel and to the concrete finish
- Inferior release agents (typically petroleum-based releases) can stain the concrete; the right release agent won’t
Many modern release agents are also water-based — Nox-Crete uses an organic fatty acid derived from plants that chemically creates a waterproof “soap” barrier on the conform panel. The result is a greener, less expensive-per square foot product.
For more information about choosing the right release agents, contact us here.