Patent Application
20150337548
The present invention generally relates to insulated concrete forms. More particularly, this invention relates to an insulated concrete form that is stronger than conventional insulated concrete forms so that it can hold the weight of a full lift of concrete and extend from floor to ceiling. The present invention also relates to an insulated concrete form that is easier to assemble and easier to use. The present invention relates to a concrete form in which one side of the form provides integral insulation that remains attached to the wall while the other side of the form is removed once the concrete hardens. The present invention also relates to an insulated concrete form that results in stronger concrete cured therein. The present invention also relates to an insulated concrete form that produces a wall that resists or prevents water intrusion. The present invention also relates to methods of using the hybrid insulated concrete form of the present invention. The present invention also related to a concrete structure that has a longer useful life than conventional concrete structures. The present invention further relates to a high efficiency building system that reduces energy consumption. The present invention also relates to a modular structure, such as a home or building that is relatively inexpensive to construct.
Concrete walls, and other concrete structures, traditionally have been made by building a form. The forms are usually made from plywood, wood, metal and other structural members. Unhardened (i.e., plastic) concrete is poured into the space defined by opposed spaced form members. Once the concrete hardens sufficiently, although not completely, the forms are removed leaving a concrete wall, or other concrete structure or structural member in place.
Historically concrete has been placed in forms made of plywood reinforced by different types of framing members. Concrete has high thermal mass and since most concrete buildings are built using conventional forms, the concrete assumes the ambient temperature. Concrete buildings are exposed to ambient temperatures therefore making them as hot or as cold as the environment. Thus, although they have many advantages, concrete buildings have relatively poor energy efficiency.
Insulated concrete form systems are known in the prior art and typically are made from a plurality of modular form members. In order to assist in keeping the modular form members properly spaced when concrete is poured between the stacked form members, transverse tie members are used in order to prevent transverse displacement or rupture of the modular form members due to the hydrostatic pressure created by fluid and unhardened concrete contained therein. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,497,592; 5,809,725; 6,668,503; 6,898,912 and 7,124,547 (the disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by reference) are exemplary of prior art modular insulated concrete form systems.
Insulated concrete forms reduce heat transmission and provide improved energy efficiency to the building in which they are used. However the insulated concrete forms of the prior art have multiple shortcomings.
Concrete is a relatively heavy material. It weighs approximately 2400 lbs per cubic yard. When placed into a vertical form in a plastic state, the pressure at the bottom of a form filled with concrete is measured by multiplying the height of the wall by 150 lbs per square foot. In other words when pouring a 10 feet tall wall, the pressure at the bottom of a form will be 1,500 lbs/ft2. In addition, safety codes and various concrete regulating bodies demand that commercial forms be built to withstand approximately 2.5 times the static concrete pressure a form is actually intended to hold.
Conventional forms typically use aluminum or some type of plywood reinforced by a metal framing system. Opposed form members are held together by a plurality of metal ties that provide the form with the desired pressure rating. Conventional forms are designed to be strong, safe and durable to meet the challenges of any type construction, residential or commercial, low-rise or high-rise, walls, columns, piers or elevated slabs. While insulated concrete forms of the prior art provide relatively high energy efficiency, they lack the strength to withstand the relatively high fluid concrete pressures experienced by conventional concrete forms. Consequently, they are relegated mostly to residential construction or low-rise construction and find few applications in commercial construction.
In order to achieve relatively high energy efficiency, one can insulate concrete in a variety of method. One such method uses insulated concrete forms made from foams with relatively high R values. However all types of foam have relatively low strength and structural properties. Therefore, insulated concrete forms of the prior art are relatively weak and cannot withstand the same high pressures experienced by conventional forms. Prior art insulated concrete forms have attempted to solve this problem by using higher density foams and/or by using a high number of ties between the foam panel members. However, such prior art insulated concrete form systems still suffer from several common problems.
First, all insulated concrete forms are made of two opposing foam panels connected by a plurality of connecting ties. The concrete is placed between the foam panels in a plastic state. Once the concrete hardens the form stays in place whereby both foam panels are attached to the inside and outside face of the concrete wall, respectively. The ties anchor each layer of the foam panels into the concrete. In this configuration, the concrete thermal mass is mostly if not completely encapsulated within the two foam panels. Therefore, the concrete wall has a foam panel attached to both the inside and outside face. In many cases it is not necessary to insulate both the inside and outside face of the wall. Since concrete has a high thermal mass, it may be desirable in certain cases that the thermal mass be exposed to the climate controlled inside of the building. In same cases, it may be desirable for the concrete wall to be exposed to the outside while the concrete face facing the inside of the building needs to be insulated. State of the art insulated concrete forms are not designed to have any of the foam panels removed, they are only designed to stay in place. If only one side of the concrete requires an insulating foam panel, it would be very difficult, expensive and time consuming to remove the other foam panel from an insulated concrete form once the concrete has been cured. Conventional concrete forms are designed to be removed once the concrete has achieved a desired strength. However, conventional concrete forms do not provide insulation to the concrete wall, either during concrete curing or after removal.
Second, in the construction of an exterior wall of a building, multiple insulated concrete form modules are stacked upon and/or placed adjacent to each other in order to construct a concrete form of a desired height, length and configuration. In some insulated concrete form systems, the form spacers/interconnectors are placed in the joints between adjacent concrete form modules. Such form systems are not strong enough to build a form more than a few feet high. Concrete is then placed in the form and allowed to harden sufficiently before another course of insulating forms are added on top of the existing forms. Such systems result in cold joints between the various concrete layers necessary to form a floor-to-ceiling wall or a multi-story building. Cold joints in a concrete wall weaken the wall therefore requiring that the wall be thicker and/or use higher strength concrete than would otherwise be necessary with a wall that did not have cold joints. This generally limits current use of insulated concrete forms to buildings of a single story or two in height or to infill wall applications.
Third, the use of multiple form modules to form a wall, or other building structure, creates numerous joints between adjacent concrete form modules; i.e., between both horizontally adjacent form modules and vertically adjacent form modules. The sum of all these joints makes the prior art insulated concrete forms inherently unstable and concrete blowouts are not uncommon. Since the wall forms are unstable, the use of additional forming materials, such as plywood, to stabilize the modular insulated concrete forms is required before concrete is poured. These additional materials are costly and time consuming to install. The multiple joints also provide numerous opportunities for water to seep into and through the concrete wall. Furthermore, some of the prior art wall spacer systems create holes in the insulated concrete forms through which water can seep, either in or out. Thus, the prior art modular insulated concrete forms do little, or nothing, to prevent water intrusion in the finished concrete wall.
Fourth, prior art modular insulated concrete form systems are difficult and time consuming to put together, particularly at a constructions site using unskilled labor.
Fifth, prior art modular insulated concrete form systems do little, or nothing, to produce a stronger concrete wall.
Sixth, prior art modular insulated concrete form systems do not meet the high pressure ratings that conventional concrete forms do.
Seventh, prior art modular insulated concrete form systems are designed to form walls and are not suitable for forming columns or piers.
Eighth, prior art modular insulated concrete form systems do not allow for forming of structural, load bearing high-rise construction
Ninth, prior art modular insulated concrete form systems only allow for one type of wall cladding to be applied, such as a directly applied finish system. To install all other wall claddings, additional systems have to be installed, sometimes at greater expense than even in the conventional concrete forming systems. Some prior art modular insulated concrete form systems do not allow for the use of other types of wall cladding systems.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/753,220 filed Apr. 2, 2010 and Ser. No. 13/247,133 filed Sep. 28, 2011 (the disclosures of which are both incorporated herein by reference) disclose very effective and efficient insulated concrete form systems for constructing floor-to-ceiling vertical walls. However, for certain applications or certain building designs, it may be desirable to have a vertical concrete wall that is insulated only on one side. Furthermore, in order to make a more economical insulated concrete wall, it may be desirable to insulate the concrete wall on only one side.
The present invention satisfies the foregoing needs by providing a hybrid insulated concrete form system. In a preferred disclosed embodiment, the present invention provides an insulated concrete wall that is insulated on only one side.
In one disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a product. The product comprises a foam insulating panel having a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface. A removable concrete form is spaced from the foam insulating panel. A concrete receiving space is defined between the foam insulating panel and the removable concrete form.
In another disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a product. The product comprises a foam insulating panel having a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface, the first primary surface of the foam insulating panel forming the exterior portion of a wall of a building. The product also comprises a concrete structure attached to and contacting the second surface of the foam insulating panel, the concrete structure forming the interior portion of the wall of the building. The foam insulating panel is adhesively attached to the concrete structure by the cement from which the concrete structure is made.
In another disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a product. The product comprises a foam insulating panel having a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface, the first primary surface of the foam insulating panel forming the interior portion of a wall of a building. The product also comprises a concrete structure attached to and contacting the second surface of the foam insulating panel, the concrete structure forming the exterior portion of the wall of the building. The foam insulating panel is attached to the concrete structure by the cement from which the concrete structure is made.
In another disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a concrete form. The concrete form comprises a removable concrete form and a foam insulating panel spaced from the removable concrete form defining a space therebetween. The concrete form also comprises a plurality of anchor members attached to the foam insulating panel and extending into the space between the removable concrete form and the foam insulating panels such that an end of the anchor members are disposed between the foam insulating panel and the removable concrete form.
In another disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a method. The method comprises positioning a foam insulating panel in a desired position and positioning a removable concrete form spaced from the foam insulating panel to define a concrete receiving space therebetween.
In another disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a method. The method comprises positioning a foam insulating panel in a desired position and positioning a removable concrete form spaced from the foam insulating panel to define a concrete receiving space therebetween. The method also comprises placing concrete in the concrete receiving space and allowing the concrete to at least partially cure. The method further comprises removing the removable concrete form.
In yet another disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a method. The method comprises positioning a foam insulating panel in a desired position, the foam insulating panel having a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface. An anchor member having a first end and an opposite second end is disposed in the foam insulating panel such that it penetrates the foam insulating panel from the first primary surface to the second primary surface and the second end of the anchor member extends outwardly from the second primary surface. The method also comprises positioning a removable concrete form spaced from the second primary surface of the foam insulating panel such that a first end of the anchor member is disposed between the foam insulating panel and the removable concrete form.
In a further disclosed embodiment, the present invention comprises a product. The product comprises a vertical wall. The vertical concrete wall has a foam insulating panel attached to only one primary side thereof. The foam insulating panel is attached to the vertical concrete wall by the cement from which the concrete wall is made.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved concrete forming system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid insulated concrete form system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved insulated concrete structure, especially an insulated vertical concrete wall.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a concrete wall that includes integrally attached insulation on only one side.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that is relatively easy to manufacture and/or to assemble.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that produces stronger concrete than prior art insulated concrete form systems, or any other concrete form system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for constructing a relatively high energy efficient exterior building envelope.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that provides improved temperature stability for the curing of concrete.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that permits the placement of concrete during cold weather, which thereby allows construction projects to proceed rather than be shutdown due to inclement weather.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form that has a reinforcing layer on an outer surface of a foam insulating panel anchored to the concrete so that it provides a substrate for attaching wall cladding or decorative surfaces, such as ceramic tile, stone, thin brick, stucco or the like. Anchors embedded in the concrete also provide a mechanical anchor system for wall claddings.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that can withstand pressures equivalent to conventional concrete form systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form that retains the heat generated by the hydration of cement during the early stage of concrete setting and curing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated anchor/attachment system for relatively easy and inexpensive attachment of a variety of exterior or interior wall cladding systems.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that provides an improved curing environment for concrete.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that provides a panel anchor member to which elongate panel bracing members can be attached.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an insulated concrete form system that provides a panel anchor member to which exterior or interior wall systems can be attached.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended drawing and claims.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/753,220 filed Apr. 4, 2010; Ser. No. 13/247,113 filed Sep. 28, 2011; Ser. No. 13/247,256 filed Sep. 9, 2011; Ser. No. 13/626,075 filed Sep. 25, 2012; Ser. No. 13/626,087 filed Sep. 25, 2012; Ser. No. 13/626,103 filed Sep. 25, 2012; and Ser. No. 13/626,540 filed Sep. 25, 2012 are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Referring now to the drawing in which like numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, there is shown in
The foam insulating panels 12, 16 can be made from any insulating material that is sufficiently rigid to withstand the pressures of the concrete placed in the hybrid insulated concrete form 10 and have sufficient heat insulating properties, as discussed below. The foam insulating panels 12, 16 are preferably made from a closed cell polymeric foam material, such as molded expanded polystyrene or extruded expanded polystyrene. Other polymeric foams can also be used including, but nor limited to, polyisocyanurate and polyurethane. If the foam insulating panels 12, 16 are made from a material other than polystyrene, the foam insulating panels should each have insulating properties equivalent to approximately 0.5 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; preferably at least 0.5 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; more preferably at least 1 inch of expanded polystyrene foam; most preferably at least 2 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; especially at least 3 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; more especially at least 4 inches of expanded polystyrene foam and most especially at least 6 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. Preferably, the foam insulating panels 12, 16 each have insulating properties equivalent about 0.5 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; about 1 inch of expanded polystyrene foam; about 2 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; about 3 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; about 4 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; about 6 inches of expanded polystyrene foam or about 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. Expanded polystyrene foam has an R-value of approximately 4 to 5 per inch thickness. Therefore, the foam insulating panels 12, 16 each should have an R-value of greater than 4, preferably greater than 8, more preferably greater than 12, most preferably greater than 16, especially greater than 20. The foam insulating panels 12, 16 preferably each have an R-value of approximately 4 to approximately 40; more preferably between approximately 10 to approximately 40; especially approximately 12 to approximately 40; more especially approximately 20 to approximately 40. The foam insulating panels 12, 16 preferably each have an R-value of approximately 4, more preferably approximately 8, especially approximately 12, most preferably approximately 16, especially approximately 20 or more especially approximately 40.
The foam insulating panels 12, 16 should also each have a density sufficient to make them substantially rigid, such as approximately 1 to approximately 3 pounds per cubic foot, preferably approximately 1.5 pounds per cubic foot. Extruded expanded closed cell polystyrene foam is available under the trademark Neopor® and is available from Georgia Foam, Gainesville, Ga. Extruded polystyrene is available from Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich., USA. The foam insulating panels 12, 16 can be made by molding to the desired size and shape, by cutting blocks or sheets of pre-formed expanded polystyrene foam into a desired size and shape or by extruding the desired shape and then cutting to the desired length. Although the foam insulating panels 12, 16 can be of any desired size, it is specifically contemplated that the foam insulating panels will be of a height equal to the distance from a floor to a ceiling where a building wall or column is to be constructed. In other instances, it may be desirable that the foam insulating panels 12, 16 are the height of multiple stories, such as the height of a two story home. Thus, the height of the foam insulating panels will vary depending on the wall height of a particular building design. However, for ease of handling, the foam insulating panels 12, 16 will each generally be 9 feet 6 inches high and 4 feet 1 inches wide. These dimension will also vary depending on whether the panels are the interior panel or the exterior panel, as is explained in applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/753,220 filed Apr. 2, 2010 and Ser. No. 13/247,133 filed Sep. 29, 2011 (the disclosure of which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety).
Optionally applied to the outer surface 11 (
The layers of reinforcing material 20, 22 can be adhered to the outer surfaces 11 of the foam insulating panels 12, 16 by a conventional adhesive that is compatible with the material from which the foam insulating panels are made. However, it is preferred that the layers of reinforcing material 20, 22 be laminated to the outer surfaces 11 of the foam insulating panels 12, 16 using a polymeric material that also forms a weather or moisture barrier on the exterior surface of the foam insulating panels. The weather barrier can be applied to a layers of reinforcing material 20, 22 on the surface 11 of the foam insulating panels 12, 16 by any suitable method, such as by spraying, brushing or rolling. The moisture barrier can be applied as the laminating agent for the layers of reinforcing material 20, 22 or it can be applied in addition to an adhesive used to adhere the layers of reinforcing material to the outer surfaces 11 of the foam insulating panels 12, 16. Suitable polymeric materials for use as the moisture barrier are any water-proof polymeric material that is compatible with both the material from which the layer of reinforcing material 20, 22 and the foam insulating panels 12, 16 are made; especially, liquid applied weather membrane materials. Useful liquid applied weather membrane materials include, but are not limited to, WeatherSeal® by Parex of Anaheim, Calif. (a 100% acrylic elastomeric waterproof membrane and air barrier which can be applied by rolling, brushing, or spraying) or Senershield® by BASF (a one-component fluid-applied vapor impermeable air/water-resistive barrier that is both waterproof and resilient) available at most building supply stores. For relatively simple applications, where cost is an issue or where simple exterior finish systems are desired, the layers of reinforcing material 20, 22 can be omitted.
A preferred elastomeric weather membrane is a combination of WeatherSeal® and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight ceramic fibers, preferably 0.1% to 40% by weight, more preferably 0.1% to 30% by weight, most preferably 0.1% to 20% by weight, especially 0.1% to 15% by weight, more especially 0.1% to 10% by weight, most especially 0.1% to 5% by weight. Ceramic fibers are fibers made from materials including, but not limited to, silica, silicon carbide, alumina, aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, zirconia, and calcium silicate. Wollastonite is an example of a ceramic fiber. Wollastonite is a calcium inosilicate mineral (CaSiO3) that may contain small amounts of iron, magnesium, and manganese substituted for calcium. Wollastonite is available from NYCO Minerals of NY, USA. Bulk ceramic fibers are available from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls, N.Y., USA. Ceramic fibers are known to block heat transmission and especially radiant heat. When placed on the exterior surface of a building wall, ceramic fibers improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope.
Optionally, Wollastonite can be used in the elastomeric weather membrane to both increase resistance to heat transmission and act as a fire retardant. Therefore, the elastomeric weather membrane can obtain fire resistance properties. A fire resistant membrane over the exterior face of the foam insulating panel can increase the fire rating of the wall assembly by delaying the melting of the foam insulating panel.
The foam insulating panels 12, 16 each include a plurality of panel anchor members, such as the panel anchor member 24, as disclosed in applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/247,133 filed Sep. 28, 2011; Ser. No. 13/247,256 filed Sep. 28, 2011 and Ser. No. 13/626,087 filed Sep. 25, 2012 (the disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). The panel anchor member 24 (
Each panel anchor member 24 includes an elongate panel-penetrating portion 26 and a flange 28 adjacent an end of the panel-penetrating portion. The flange 28 can be any suitable shape, such as square, oval or the like, but in this embodiment is shown as circular. The flange 28 prevents the panel anchor member 24 from pulling out of the foam insulating panel 12. The flange 28 also traps a portion of the layer of reinforcing material 20 between it and the outer surface 11 of the foam insulating panel 12, thereby mechanically attaching the layer of reinforcing material to the foam insulating panel. The panel-penetrating portion 26 can be any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as square, round, oval or the like, but in this embodiment is shown as having a generally plus sign (“+”) cross-sectional shape. The panel-penetrating portion 26 comprises four leg members 32, 34, 36 (only three of which are shown in
Formed adjacent an end 38 of the panel anchor member 24 opposite the flange 28 is a notch 40. The notch 40 is formed in each of the four legs 32-36 adjacent an end 38 of the panel anchor member 24 opposite the flange 28. The notch 40 can be any shape, such as triangular, round, oval or the like, but in this embodiment is shown as having a generally rectangular shape (
The diameter of the flange 28 should be as large as practical to hold the foam insulating panel 12 securely to the hardened concrete in the concrete receiving space 17. Furthermore, the diameter of the flange 28 should be as large as practical to securely hold the layer of reinforcing material 20, if used, against the outer surface 11 of the foam insulating panel 12. It is found as a part of the present invention that a flange 28 having a diameter of approximately 2 to approximately 4 inches, especially approximately 3 inches, is useful in the present invention. Furthermore, the spacing between adjacent panel anchor members 24 will vary depending on factors including the concrete to be formed between the foam insulating panel 12 and the conventional removable concrete form 14 and the type of exterior cladding to be used on the exterior of the foam insulating panel. However, it is found as a part of the present invention that a spacing of adjacent panel anchor members 24 of approximately 6 inch to approximately 24 inch centers, especially 16 inch centers, is useful in the present invention.
Extending longitudinally outwardly from the flange 28 opposite the panel-penetrating portion 26 is a second anchor portion 43 (
Optionally, on each of the four legs members 32-36 intermediate the ends 38, 50 of the panel anchor member 24 is formed a plurality of fins 54, 56, 58 (only three of which are visible in
The leg members 32, 36 include a U-shaped cutout 60 adjacent the end 38 of the panel anchor member 24. The U-shaped cutout 60 is designed and adapted to receive and hold a rebar or wire mesh for reinforcing the concrete in the concrete receiving space 17. Aligned rows of panel anchor members, such as the panel anchor members 24, 24″, provide aligned rows of U-shaped cutouts 60 such that adjacent parallel rows of rebar, such as the rebar 62, of desired length can be attached to the rows of panel anchor members. Crossing columns of rebar, such as the rebar 64, can be laid on top of the rows of rebar, such as the rebar 62, to form a conventional rebar grid. Where the rebar 62 intersects the rebar 64, the two rebar can be tied together with wire ties in a conventional manner known in the art. Of course, in addition to the use of rebar, or in place of the use of rebar, reinforcing fibers, such as steel fibers, synthetic fibers or mineral fibers, such as Wollastonite, can be used. Many different types of steel fibers are known and can be used in the present invention, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,235,108; 7,419,543 and 7,641,731 and PCT patent application International Publication Nos. WO 2012/080326 and WO 2012/080323 (the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). Particularly preferred steel fibers are Dramix® 3D, 4D and 5D steel fibers available from Bekaert, Belgium and Bekaert Corp., Marietta, Ga., USA. Plastic fibers can also be used, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,753,081; 6,569,525 and 5,628,822 (the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties).
The foam insulating panel 12 is prepared by forming a plurality of plus sign (“+”) shaped holes, such as the hole 63, in the foam insulating panels 12, 16 to receive the end 38 and panel penetrating portion 26 of each of the panel anchor members, such as the panel anchor member 24. Holes, such as the hole 63, in the foam insulating panels 12, 16 can be formed by conventional drilling, such as with a rotating drill bit, by water jets, by hot knives or by saw cutting knives. When the foam insulating panels 12, 16 each include a layer of reinforcing material 20, 22, the layer of reinforcing material is preferably adhered to the foam insulating panels before the holes are formed in those panels. It is also preferable to form the holes in the foam insulating panels 12, 16 after the moisture barrier or weather membrane is applied to the outer surface 11 of the foam insulating panels, as described above. First, a hole matching the cross-sectional shape of the panel-penetrating portion 26 of the panel anchor member 24 can be formed in the foam insulating panels 12, 16 using saw cutting knives. The holes, such as the hole 63, formed in the foam insulating panels 12, 16 extend from the outer surface 11 to the inner surface 42 of the foam insulating panels so that the foam panel-penetrating portion 26 of the panel anchor member 24 can be inserted complete through the foam insulating panels, as shown in
The conventional removable concrete forms 14, 18 each comprise a rectangular concrete forming face panel 100 made of a material typically used in prior art concrete forms (
Attached to the face panel 100 is a rectangular frame 106, which comprises two elongate longitudinal members 108, 110 and two elongate transverse members 112, 114. The longitudinal members 108, 110 and the transverse members 112, 114 are attached to each other by any suitable means used in the prior art, such as by welding, and to the face panel 100 by any suitable means used in the prior art, such as by bolting or screwing the face panel to the frame. The frame 106 also comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality, of transverse bracing members 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132. The transverse bracing members 116-132 are attached to the longitudinal members 108, 110 by any suitable means used in the prior art. The frame 106 also includes bracing members 134, 136 and 138, 140. The bracing members 134, 136 extend between the transverse member 114 and the bracing member 116. The bracing members 134, 136 are attached to the transverse member 114 and the bracing member 116 by any suitable means used in the prior art. The bracing members 138, 140 extend between the transverse member 112 and the bracing member 132. The bracing members 138, 140 are attached to the transverse member 112 and the bracing member 132 by any suitable means used in the prior art. The frame 106 helps prevent the face panel 100 from flexing or deforming under the hydrostatic pressure of the plastic concrete when placed in the concrete receiving space 17. The frame 106 can be made from any suitable material, such as wood or metal, such as aluminum or steel, depending on the load to which the form 14 will be subjected. The particular design of the frame 106 is not critical to the present invention. There are many different designs of frames for removable concrete forms and they are all applicable to the present invention. Conventional removable concrete forms, such as the conventional removable concrete forms 14, 18, are available from Wall-Ties & Forms, Inc., Shawnee, Kans., USA or under the designation Wall Formwork from Doka, Amstetten, Austria and Lawrenceville, Ga., USA.
The conventional removable concrete form 14 is erected to a vertical position on the surface 66 of the slab 68 and horizontally spaced from the foam insulating panel 12 with the face panel 100 facing the foam insulating panel, as shown in
It is a specific feature of the present invention that whalers (also know as wales or walers) may be used in combination with the panel anchor members, such as the panel anchor member 24, to further reinforce the foam insulating panels 12, 16 and increase the pressure rating thereof; especially when wet, unhardened (i.e., plastic) concrete is poured into the concrete receiving space 17 and the hydrostatic pressure on the foam insulating panels is at a maximum. To stabilize the foam insulating panels 12, 16, a plurality of horizontal whalers 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210 are attached to the plurality of panel anchor members arranged in horizontal rows, such as the panel anchor members 24, 24″. The design of the whalers 200-210 is disclosed in applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 13/247,133 filed Sep. 28, 2011 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The whalers 200-210 each comprise an elongate U-shaped channel made from a material having high flexural strength, such as steel, aluminum or composite plastic materials (
The lateral dimension of the wider portion of the key slot 218 is chosen so that it is larger than the effective diameter or dimension of the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24; i.e., the width of the leg members 44, 48. The lateral dimension of the narrower portion of the key slot 218 is chosen so that it is narrower than the effective diameter of the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24; i.e., narrower than the width of the leg members 44, 48 and equal to or wider then the width of the leg members 44, 48 at the notch 52.
Therefore, the whaler 200 can be placed over the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24 such that the end of the panel anchor member fits through the wider portion of the key slot 218. Then, the whaler 200 can be slid horizontally so that the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24 is positioned in the narrower portion of the key slot 218 and the sides of the key slot fit in the notch 52 in the panel anchor member. When the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24 is in the narrower portion of the key slot 218 (
The length of the whalers 200-210 will depend on the width of the foam insulating panels 12, 14 that are used. However, it is contemplated that the length of the whalers 200-210 can be at least as long as the width of one of the foam insulating panels 12, 16 and, preferable, the whaler has a length equal to the width of multiple foam insulating panels. Also, the distance from the key slot 218 to the next horizontally adjacent key slot (
It is desirable to use strongbacks to plumb the foam insulating panels 12, 16 to vertical, to further reinforce the foam insulating panels and to withstand the hydrostatic pressure of the plastic concrete.
Four connecting rod/clamping devices are formed adjacent each of the corners of the hybrid insulated concrete form 10, as shown in
Alternatively to the threaded sleeves, such as the threaded sleeve 254, a hollow PVC sleeve (not shown) can be substituted. A single threaded rod (not shown) can be substituted for the two threaded rods 236, 244. Nuts (not shown) can be substituted for the eccentric hand cranks 238, 246. The nuts can be placed on the opposite ends of the single treaded rod and tightened against the flanges 240, 248. After the concrete has hardened, the nuts and single threaded rod can be removed leaving only the hollow PVC sleeve in the concrete. Thus, the precise design of the linkage system between the strongbacks 224, 226 and the conventional removable concrete forms 14, 18 is not critical to the present invention. What is essential is that the strongbacks 224, 226 are mechanically linked to the conventional removable concrete forms 14, 18 so that the hydrostatic pressure applied to the foam insulating panels can be transferred to the conventional removable concrete forms through the mechanical linkage.
Alternatively, although not shown here, the conventional removable concrete form can be any type of concrete forming system made of plywood and whalers held in place by strongbacks connected to the foam insulating panel side of the hybrid concrete form by the connecting rod, as described above.
One end 380 of a knee brace/turnbuckle 382 is pivotable attached to the brace member 130 of the frame 106 adjacent the top of the conventional removable concrete form 14 (
The hybrid concrete form 10 is used by erecting the foam insulating panels 12, 16 and conventional removable concrete forms 14, 18 on the surface 66 of the concrete slab 68 in the manner described above. Plastic concrete is then placed in the concrete receiving space 17. After concrete 390 in the concrete receiving space 17 cures or hardens sufficiently, the rods 236, 244 are unscrewed from the sleeve 242 and removed from the holes 234, 230, 232. Similarly, the rods 256, 258 are removed from the sleeve 254. Other rods (not shown) are removed from the other sleeves (not shown) in the other foam insulating panels and conventional removable concrete forms, such as the foam insulating panel 16 and the conventional removable concrete form 18. The sleeves, such as the sleeves 242, 254, remain embedded in the solidified concrete. The sleeves 242, 254 can then be used as anchors for attaching wall cladding or for attaching construction elevators or scaffolding thereto for high-rise construction. The strongbacks 224, 226 are then removed from the whalers 200-210. The whalers 200-210 are removed from the panel anchor members, such as the panel anchor member 24, 24″. The knee brace/turn buckle 382 is removed from the conventional removable concrete form 14 and from the bracket 386. And, the conventional removable concrete forms 14, 18 are removed from the hardened concrete 390. This leaves a vertical layer or wall of hardened concrete 390 and attached foam insulating panels 12, 16, as shown in
Each of the panel anchor members 400, 400′ include an elongate panel-penetrating portion 402 and a flange 404 adjacent an end of the panel-penetrating portion (
The diameter of the flange 404 should be as large as practical to securely hold the foam insulating panel 12 to the hardened concrete 390 in the concrete receiving space 17. Furthermore, the diameter of the flange 404 should be as large as practical to securely hold the layer of reinforcing material 20, if used, against the outer surface 11 of the foam insulating panel 12. It is found as a part of the present invention that a flange 404 having a diameter of approximately 2 to approximately 4 inches, especially approximately 3 inches, is useful in the present invention. Furthermore, the spacing between adjacent panel anchor members 400, 400′ will vary depending on factors including the concrete to be formed between the foam insulating panel 12 and the conventional removable concrete form 14 and the type of exterior cladding to be used on the exterior of the foam insulating panel. However, it is found as a part of the present invention that a spacing of adjacent panel anchor members 400, 400′ of approximately 6 inch to approximately 24 inch centers, especially 16 inch centers, is useful in the present invention.
On each of the four legs members 406-410 intermediate the end 412 and the flange 404 of the panel anchor member 400 is formed a plurality of fins 416, 418, 420 (only three of which are visible in
The leg members 406, 410 include a U-shaped cutout 422 adjacent the end 412 of the panel anchor member 400. The U-shaped cutout 422 is designed and adapted to receive and hold a rebar or wire mesh for reinforcing the concrete in the concrete receiving space 17. Aligned rows of panel anchor members, such as the panel anchor member 400, provide aligned rows of U-shaped cutouts 422 such that adjacent parallel rows of rebar, such as the rebar 62, of desired length can be attached to the rows of panel anchor members. Crossing columns of rebar, such as the rebar 64, can be laid on top of the rows of rebar, such as the rebar 62, to form a conventional rebar grid. Where the rebar 62 intersects the rebar 64, the two rebar can be tied together with wire ties in a conventional manner known in the art.
Formed in the end 430 of the panel anchor member 400 is a longitudinally extending hole 432 axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the panel anchor member. The hole 432 can be formed by drilling or by molding. The hole 432 is sized and shaped to receive a self-tapping screw 434. If it is desired to attach horizontal whalers, such as the whaler 202, or vertical wall studs to the panel anchor member 400, it can easily be done by inserting the self-tapping screw 434 through, for example, a hole 435 in the whaler 202 and into the hole 432 in the end 430 of the panel anchor member 400. The screw 434 can then be tightened so that the whaler 200 is held firmly in place. It may be desirable to place a washer 436 between the screw head and the whaler 200 so as to spread the load over a larger surface area. Similarly, a whaler 200 can be attached to panel anchor member 400′ using a screw 438 and a washer 440 and inserting the screw through a hole 441 in the whaler 200 and into the hole in the end of the panel anchor member. A vertical wall stud (not shown) can be attached to the panel anchor members 400, 400′ in the same manner. The whalers 200, 202 can be removed from the panel anchor members 400, 400′ by merely removing the screws 434, 438 and pulling the whalers away from the foam insulating panel 12. Thus, the panel anchor members 400, 400′ provide a relatively easy way to temporarily attach and remove a whaler, such as the whalers 200, 202, or to permanently attach vertical wall studs.
Each panel anchor member/locking cap assembly 450 includes two separate pieces: a panel anchor member 452 and a locking cap 454. The panel anchor member 452 (
The concrete anchor portion 458 of the panel anchor member 452 comprises four outwardly extending leg members 472, 474, 476 (only three of which are shown in
On each of the legs 460-464 adjacent the end 466 of the panel anchor member 452 is formed a plurality of teeth 480 (
The end 466 of the panel anchor member 452 also includes an optional third anchor portion 482. The third anchor portion 482 is constructed in the same way as the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24 (
The panel anchor member 500 comprises an elongate body member 502. The elongate body member 502 can be any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as square, round, oval or the like, but in this embodiment is shown as having a generally plus sign (“+”) cross-sectional shape. The elongate body member 502 comprises four leg members 504, 506, 508, 510 that extend radially outwardly. The plus sign (“+”) cross-sectional shape of the elongate body member 502 prevents the panel anchor member 500 from rotating around its longitudinal axis during concrete placement. The elongate body member 502 has a first end 512 and an opposite second end 514. Formed adjacent the first end 512 of the elongate body member 502 is a first notch 516. The first notch 516 is formed in each of the four leg members 504-510 adjacent the end 512 of the elongate body member 502. The first notch 516 can be any shape, such as triangular, round, oval or the like, but in this embodiment is shown as having a generally rectangular shape (
The panel anchor member 500 is used in the same manner as the panel anchor members 24, 400. The panel anchor member 500 is inserted through the foam insulating panel 12 until the second notch 518 is flush with the layer of reinforcing material 20 as shown in
The layer of insulating material 614 is preferably made from closed cell polymeric foam including, but not limited to, polyvinyl chloride, urethane, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate, phenol, polyethylene, polyimide or polystyrene foam. Such foam preferably has a density of 1 to 3 pounds per cubic foot, or more. The layer of insulating material 614 preferably has insulating properties equivalent to at least 0.25 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, equivalent to at least 0.5 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, preferably equivalent to at least 1 inch of expanded polystyrene foam, more preferably equivalent to at least 2 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, more preferably equivalent to at least 3 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, most preferably equivalent to at least 4 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. There is no maximum thickness for the equivalent expanded polystyrene foam useful in the present invention. The maximum thickness is usually dictated by economics, ease of handling and building or structure design. However, for most applications a maximum insulating equivalence of 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam can be used. In another embodiment of the present invention, the layer of insulating material 614 has insulating properties equivalent to approximately 0.25 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, preferably approximately 0.5 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, preferably approximately 1 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, preferably approximately 2 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, more preferably approximately 3 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, most preferably approximately 4 to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. These ranges for the equivalent insulating properties include all of the intermediate values. Thus, the layer of insulating material 614 used in another disclosed embodiment of the present invention has insulating properties equivalent to approximately 0.25 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 0.5 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 1 inch of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 2 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 3 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 4 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 5 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 6 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, approximately 7 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, or approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. Expanded polystyrene foam has an R-value of approximately 4 to 6 per inch thickness. Therefore, the layer of insulating material 614 should have an R-value of greater than 1.5, preferably greater than 4, more preferably greater than 8, especially greater than 12, most especially greater than 20. The layer of insulating material 614 preferably has an R-value of approximately 1.5 to approximately 40; more preferably between approximately 4 to approximately 40; especially approximately 8 to approximately 40; more especially approximately 12 to approximately 40. The layer of insulating material 614 preferably has an R-value of approximately 1.5, more preferably approximately 4, most preferably approximately 8, especially approximately 20, more especially approximately 30, most especially approximately 40.
For the insulated concrete form 600, the layer of insulating material 614 can also be made from a refractory insulating material, such as a refractory blanket, a refractory board or a refractory felt or paper. Refractory insulation is typically used to line high temperature furnaces or to insulate high temperature pipes. Refractory insulating material is typically made from ceramic fibers made from materials including, but not limited to, silica, silicon carbide, alumina, aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, zirconia, calcium silicate; glass fibers, mineral wool fibers, Wollastonite and fireclay. Refractory insulating material is commercially available in various forms including, but not limited to, bulk fiber, foam, blanket, board, felt and paper form. Refractory insulation is commercially available in blanket form as Fiberfrax Durablanket® insulation blanket from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls, N.Y., USA and RSI4-Blank and RSI8-Blank from Refractory Specialties Incorporated, Sebring, Ohio, USA. Refractory insulation is commercially available in board form as Duraboard® from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls, N.Y., USA and CS85, Marinite and Transite boards from BNZ Materials Inc., Littleton, Colo., USA. Refractory insulation in felt form is commercially available as Fibrax Felts and Fibrax Papers from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls. The refractory insulating material can be any thickness that provides the desired insulating properties, as set forth above. There is no upper limit on the thickness of the refractory insulating material; this is usually dictated by economics. However, refractory insulating material useful in the present invention can range from 1/32 inch to approximately 2 inches. Similarly, ceramic fiber materials including, but not limited to, silica, silicon carbide, alumina, aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, zirconia, calcium silicate; glass fibers, mineral wool fibers, Wollastonite and fireclay, can be suspended in a polymer, such as polyurethane, latex, cement or epoxy, and used as a coating to create a refractory insulating material layer, for example covering, or substantially covering, one of the primary surfaces 606, 610 of the first or second panels 602, 608, or both. Such a refractory insulating material layer can be used as the layer of insulating material 614 to block excessive ambient heat loads and retain the heat of hydration of plastic concrete within the insulated concrete forms of the present invention. Ceramic fibers in a polymer or epoxy binder are commercially available as Super Therm®, Epoxotherm and HPC Coating from Superior Products, II, Inc., Weston, Fla., USA. Especially ceramic fibers can be suspended in polyurethane foam to create a coating, such as the Super Therm®. It is also contemplated that the layer of insulating material 614 can be a combination of at least one layer of closed cell polymeric foam, such as polystyrene foam, and at least one layer of refractory insulating material, such as a layer of ceramic fibers in a polymer binder. As used herein, the term “refractor material” and “ceramic fibers” is specifically intended to exclude asbestos.
The removable insulated concrete form 600 is used in the same manner as the conventional removable concrete form 14 described above. The removable insulated concrete form 600 is left in place for a time sufficient for the plastic concrete within the hybrid concrete form 10 to at least partially cure. While the removable insulated concrete form 600 is in place, the layer of insulating material 614 and the foam insulating panel 12 reduce the amount of the heat of hydration lost from the curing concrete to the surrounding environment. By retaining at least a portion of the heat of hydration, the plastic concrete in the hybrid insulated concrete form 10 with the removable insulated concrete form 600 cures more quickly and achieves better physical properties than it would have had it been cured in two conventional removable concrete forms. This is true for conventional portland cement concrete, but is even more so for concrete including portland cement and slag cement and/or fly ash, as described below. Furthermore, it is desirable to leave the removable insulated concrete form 600 in place for a period of 1 to 28 days, preferably 1 to 14 days, more preferably 2 to 14 days, especially 5 to 14 days, more especially 1 to 7 days, most especially 1 to 3 days. After the concrete 390 has cured to a desired degree, the removable insulated concrete form 600 can be stripped from the concrete in the manner described herein.
On the second surface 706 of the panel 702 is an electric resistance heating ribbon, tape or wire 708. The electric resistance heating wire 708 produces heat when an electric current is passed through the wire. Electric resistance heating ribbons, tapes or wires are known in the art and are the same type as used in electric blankets and other electric heating devices. The electric resistance heating wire 708 is electrically insulated so that it will not make electrical contact with the panel 702. However, the electric resistance heating wire 708 is in thermal contact with the panel 702 so that when an electric current is passed through the electric resistance heating wire 708, it heats the panel. The electric resistance heating wire 708 is placed in a serpentine path on the second surface 706 of the panel 702 so that the panel is heated uniformly. Holes (not shown) are provided in the bracing members 116-132 so that the electric resistance heating wire 708 can pass there through. The electric resistance heating wire 708 is of a type and the amount of wire in contact with the panel 702 is selected so that the electric resistance heating wire will heat the panel to a temperature at least as high as the desired temperature of the concrete. The electrically heated removable concrete form 700 can also be used to accelerate the curing of concrete, as described herein. Therefore, it is desirable that the panel 702 be able to be heated by the electric resistance heating wire 708 to temperatures sufficient to accelerate the curing of the concrete, such as at least as high as 70° C.
Also, optionally disposed on the second surface 706 of the panel 702 is a layer of insulating material 710. The layer of insulating material 710 is preferably a closed cell polymeric foam, such as expanded polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, and the like. The layer of insulating material 710 has insulating properties equivalent to at least 0.25 inches of expanded polystyrene foam; preferably equivalent to at least 0.5 inch of expanded polystyrene foam, more preferably equivalent to at least 1 inch of expanded polystyrene foam, most preferably equivalent to at least 2 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, especially equivalent to at least 3 inches of expanded polystyrene foam, more especially equivalent to at least 4 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. The layer of insulating material 710 can have insulating properties equivalent to approximately 0.25 inches to approximately 8 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. The layer of insulating material 710 can have insulating properties equivalent to approximately 0.25 inches, approximately 0.5 inches, approximately 1 inch, approximately 2 inches, approximately 3 inches or approximately 4 inches of expanded polystyrene foam. The layer of insulating material 710 can have an R-value of greater than 1.5, preferably greater than 2.5, more preferably greater than 5, most preferably greater than 10, especially greater than 15, more especially greater than 20. The layer of insulating material 710 preferably has an R-value of approximately 2.5 to approximately 40; more preferably between approximately 10 to approximately 40; especially approximately 15 to approximately 40; more especially approximately 20 to approximately 40. The layer of insulating material 710 preferably has an R-value of approximately 2.5, preferably approximately 5, more preferably approximately 10, most preferably approximately 15, especially approximately 20.
The layer of insulating material 710 is positioned between the bracing members 108-140 and such that the electric resistance heating wire 708 is positioned between the layer of insulating material and the second surface 706 of the panel 702. Optionally, the surface of the layer of insulating material 710 adjacent the second surface 706 of the panel 702 includes a layer of radiant heat reflective material 712, such as a metal foil, especially aluminum foil. The layer of radiant heat reflective material 712 helps direct the heat from the electric resistance heating wire 708 toward the panel 702. A preferred radiant heat reflective material is a metalized polymeric film, more preferably, metalized biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate film, especially aluminized biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate film. Alternately, the layer of heat reflective material 712 can be positioned on the side of the layer of insulating material 710 opposite the electric resistance heating wire 708 or within the layer of insulating material. The layer of insulating material 710 can be preformed and affixed in place on the second surface 706 of the panel 702, or the layer of insulating material can be formed in situ, such as by spraying a foamed or self-foaming polymeric material into the cavity formed by the second surface of the panel and adjacent the frame bracing members 108-140. Another preferred material for the layer of insulating material 710 is metalized plastic bubble pack type insulating material or metalized closed cell polymeric foam. Such material is commercially available as Space Age® reflective insulation from Insulation Solutions, Inc., East Peoria, Ill. 61611. The Space Age® product is available as two layers of polyethylene air bubble pack sandwiched between one layer of white polyethylene and one layer of reflective foil; two layers air bubble pack sandwiched between two layers of reflective foil; or a layer of closed cell polymeric foam (such as high density polyethylene foam) disposed between one layer of polyethylene film and one layer of reflective foil. All three of these Space Age® product configurations are useful in the present invention for the radiant heat reflective material 712.
A preferred construction is to apply a first layer of insulating material 710 over the electric resistance heating wire 708 and second surface 706 of the panel 702 followed by a 1 mil sheet of aluminized Mylar® film, followed by another layer of foam insulating material. The aluminized Mylar® film is thus sandwiched between two layers of foam insulating material, such as expanded polystyrene foam, and the sandwiched insulation is then placed on top of the electric resistance heating wire 708 and second surface 706 of the panel 702. More preferably, the first layer of the sandwich described above covers the electric resistance heating wire 708 and the second surface 706 of the panel 702 between the bracing members 108-140 and the aluminized Mylar® film and the second layer of insulating material covers the first layer of insulating material and the bracing members. This construction provides a layer of insulation on the bracing members 108-140 and prevents them from thermally bridging the panel 702.
For the electrically heated removable concrete form 700, the layer of insulating material 710 can also be made from a refractory insulating material, such as a refractory blanket, a refractory board or a refractory felt or paper. Refractory insulation is typically used to line high temperature furnaces or to insulate high temperature pipes.
Refractory insulating material is typically made from ceramic fibers made from materials including, but not limited to, silica, silicon carbide, alumina, aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, zirconia, calcium silicate; glass fibers, mineral wool fibers, Wollastonite and fireclay. Refractory insulating material is commercially available in various forms including, but not limited to, bulk fiber, foam, blanket, board, felt and paper form. Refractory insulation is commercially available in blanket form as Fiberfrax Durablanket® insulation blanket from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls, N.Y., USA and RSI4-Blank and RSI8-Blank from Refractory Specialties Incorporated, Sebring, Ohio, USA. Refractory insulation is commercially available in board form as Duraboard® from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls, N.Y., USA and CS85, Marinite and Transite boards from BNZ Materials Inc., Littleton, Colo., USA. Refractory insulation in felt form is commercially available as Fibrax Felts and Fibrax Papers from Unifrax I LLC, Niagara Falls. The refractory insulating material can be any thickness that provides the desired insulating properties, as set forth above. There is no upper limit on the thickness of the refractory insulating material; this is usually dictated by economics. However, refractory insulating material useful in the present invention can range from 1/32 inch to approximately 2 inches. Similarly, ceramic fiber materials including, but not limited to, silica, silicon carbide, alumina, aluminum silicate, aluminum oxide, zirconia, calcium silicate; glass fibers, mineral wool fibers, Wollastonite and fireclay, can be suspended in a polymer, such as polyurethane, latex, cement or epoxy, and used as a coating to create a refractory insulating material layer as the layer of insulating material 710 to block excessive ambient heat loads and retain the heat of hydration within the hybrid insulated concrete form of the present invention. Ceramic fibers in a polymer or epoxy binder are commercially available as Super Therm®, Epoxotherm and HPC Coating from Superior Products, II, Inc., Weston, Fla., USA. Especially ceramic fibers can be suspended in polyurethane foam to create a coating such as the Super Therm. It is also contemplated that the layer of insulating material 710 can be a combination of at least one layer of closed cell polymeric foam, such as polystyrene foam, and at least one layer of refractory insulating material, such as a layer of ceramic fibers in a polymer binder. As used herein, the term “refractor material” and “ceramic fibers” is specifically intended to exclude asbestos.
The electrically heated removable concrete form 700 is used in combination with the foam insulating panel 12 in the same manner as the conventional removable concrete form 14, as described above. However, after plastic concrete is placed in the hybrid insulated concrete form 10, the electric resistance heating wire 708 is energized so as to heat the panel 702 to a desired temperature. When greater control of the temperature of the electrically heated removable concrete form 700 is desired, a temperature sensor 714 is optionally placed in thermal contact with the second surface 706 of the panel 702. The temperature sensor 714 is connected to a computing device (not shown) by an electric circuit, such as by the wires 716. The temperature sensor 714 is in thermal contact with the second surface 706 of the panel 702 (
The electrically heated removable concrete form 700 can be operated in several different modes. These modes of operation are disclosed in applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 13/626,075 filed Sep. 25, 2012 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). In a first mode of operation, the electric resistance heating wire 708 is operated in an on/off mode. In this mode, a constant amount of electricity is provided to the electric resistance heating wire 708 so that a constant amount of heat is provided to the panel 702. Thus, an operator can turn the heat on and turn the heat off or this can be done automatically by a suitable controller. For this mode of operation, no computing device and no temperature sensors are required; a simple controller with an on/off switch will suffice.
In the next mode of operation, various fixed amounts of electricity are provided to the electric resistance heating wire 708, such as a low amount, a medium amount and a high amount. This can be done by providing a different voltage to the electric resistance heating wire 708 or by changing the amount of time that the electric resistance heating wire is energized in the electrically heated removable concrete form 700. Thus, an operator can select one of several predetermined amounts of heat provided to the panel 702. For this mode of operation, no computing device and no temperature sensors are required; a simple controller with a selector switch will suffice. The next mode of operation is for the panel 702 to be held at a constant desired temperature. For this mode of operation, a computing device (not shown) is programmed to perform the process disclosed in applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 13/626,075 filed Sep. 25, 2012 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).
The next mode of operation is for the computing device to control the amount of heat provided by the electric resistance heating wire 708 so that the temperature of the curing concrete within the form matches a desired temperature profile over time. For this mode of operation, a computing device (not shown) is programmed to perform the process disclosed in applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 13/626,075 filed Sep. 25, 2012 (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).
As used herein the term “temperature profile” includes increasing the concrete temperature above ambient temperature over a period of time followed by decreasing the concrete temperature over a period of time, preferably to ambient temperature, wherein the slope of a line plotting temperature versus time during the temperature increase phase is greater than the absolute value of the slope of a line plotting temperature versus time during the temperature decrease phase. Furthermore, the absolute value of the slope of a line plotting temperature versus time during the temperature decrease phase of the temperature profile in a concrete form in accordance with the present invention is less than the absolute value of the slope of a line plotting temperature versus time if all added heat were stopped and the concrete were simply allowed to cool in a conventional concrete form; i.e., an uninsulated concrete form, under the same conditions.
The term “temperature profile” includes the specific ranges of temperature increase and ranges of temperature decrease over ranges of time as follows. The temperature of the concrete initially increases quite rapidly over a relatively short time, such as 1 to 3 days. After a period of time, the concrete temperature reaches a maximum and then slowly drops to ambient temperature over an extended period, such as 1 to 7 days, preferably 1 to 14 days, more preferably 1 to 28 days, especially 3 to 5 days or more especially 5 to 7 days. The maximum temperature will vary depending on the composition of the concrete mix. However, it is desirable that the maximum temperature is at least 35° C., preferably, at least 40° C., at least 45° C., at least 50° C., at least 55° C., at least 60° C. or at least 65° C. The maximum concrete temperature should not exceed about 70° C. The maximum concrete temperature is preferably about 70° C., about 69° C., about 68° C., about 67° C., about 66° C., about 65° C., about 64° C., about 63° C., about 62° C., about 61° C. about 60° C. or about 60 to about 70° C. Furthermore, it is desirable that the temperature of the concrete is maintained above approximately 30° C., approximately 35° C., approximately 40° C., approximately 45° C., approximately 50° C., approximately 55° C. or approximately 60° C. for 1 to approximately 4 days from the time of concrete placement, preferably 1 to approximately 3 days from the time of concrete placement, more preferably about 24 to about 48 hours from the time of concrete placement. It is also desirable that the temperature of the concrete is maintained above approximately 30° C. for 1 to approximately 7 days from the time of concrete placement, preferably above approximately 35° C. for 1 to approximately 7 days from the time of concrete placement, more preferably above approximately 40° C. for 1 to approximately 7 days from the time of concrete placement, most preferably above approximately 45° C. for 1 to approximately 7 days from the time of concrete placement. It is also desirable that the temperature of the concrete be maintained above ambient temperature for 1 to approximately 3 days from the time of concrete placement; 1 to approximately 5 days from the time of concrete placement, for 1 to approximately 7 days from the time of concrete placement, for 1 to approximately 14 days from the time of concrete placement, preferably approximately 3 to approximately 14 days from the time of concrete placement, especially approximately 7 to approximately 14 days from the time of concrete placement. It is also desirable that the temperature of the concrete be maintained above ambient temperature for approximately 3 days, approximately 5 days, approximately 7 days or approximately 14 days from the time of concrete placement. It is further desirable that the temperature of the concrete be reduced from the maximum temperature to ambient temperature gradually, such as in increments of approximately 0.5 to approximately 5° C. per day, preferably approximately 1 to approximately 2° C. per day, especially approximately 1° C. per day.
The term “temperature profile” includes increasing the temperature of curing concrete in the concrete form of the present invention to a maximum temperature at least 10% greater than the maximum temperature the same concrete mix would have reached in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form or mold of the same configuration. The term “temperature profile” also includes reducing the temperature of curing concrete in a concrete form or mold from its maximum temperature at a rate slower than the rate the same concrete mix would reduce from its maximum temperature in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form or mold of the same configuration. The principle behind concrete maturity is the relationship between strength, time, and temperature in young concrete. Maturity is a powerful and accurate means to predict early strength gain. Concrete maturity is measured as “equivalent age” and is given in temperature degrees×hours (either ° C.-Hrs or ° F.-Hrs). The term “temperature profile” includes controlling the temperature of curing concrete by first retaining the heat of hydration and selectively adding heat so that at 3 days it has a concrete maturity or equivalent age at least 25% greater than the same concrete mix would have in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form or mold of the same configuration under the same conditions; preferably at least 30% greater, more preferably at least 35% greater, most preferably at least 40% greater, especially at least 45% greater, more especially at least 50% greater. The term “temperature profile” includes controlling the temperature of curing concrete by first retaining the heat of hydration and selectively adding heat so that at 3 days it has a concrete maturity or equivalent age about 70% greater than the same concrete mix would have when cured in accordance with ASTM C-39; preferably at least 75% greater, more preferably at least 80% greater, most preferably at least 85% greater, especially at least 90% greater, more especially at least 95% greater, most especially at least 100% greater. The term “temperature profile” includes controlling the temperature of curing concrete by first retaining the heat of hydration and selectively adding heat so that at 7 days it has a concrete maturity or equivalent age about 70% greater than the same concrete mix would have when cured in accordance with ASTM C-39; preferably at least 75% greater, more preferably at least 80% greater, most preferably at least 85% greater, especially at least 90% greater, more especially at least 95% greater, most especially at least 100% greater. The term “temperature profile” specifically does not include adding a constant amount of heat to the concrete followed by stopping adding heat to the concrete, such as would be involved when turning an electrically heated blanket or heated concrete form on and then turning the heated blanket or heated concrete form off.
Corners are a particularly weak area in concrete forms. Insulted concrete form corners are particularly weak and prone to blowouts. Therefore, corners require reinforcement especially in the foam insulating panels of the present invention.
The lateral dimension “A” of the key slot 1004 at 1008 (the wider portion) is chosen so that it is larger than the effective diameter or dimension of the end 50 of the panel anchor member 24; i.e., the dimension “A” at 1008 is greater than the width of the leg members 44, 48 (
Therefore, as shown in
Instead of attaching the siding members 1100, 1102 to the U-shaped stud members 1104, 1104′, 1104″, other types of wall cladding or decorative finishes can be substituted for the siding members. For example, plywood, gypsum board, prefinished paneling or the like can be attached to the U-shaped stud members 1104, 1104′, 1104″ instead of the siding members 1100, 1102. Alternatively, if the U-shaped stud members 1104, 1104′, 1104″ are not used, various decorative finishes can be applied to the layer of reinforcing material 20, if used, or to the outer surface 11 of the foam insulating panels, such as the foam insulating panel 12. For example, ceramic tile, stone, thin brick, stucco, limestone, granite, marble or the like can be applied to the exterior face of the foam insulating panel 12.
After the concrete 390 has achieved a desired amount or degree of cure, an exterior non-structural (i.e., decorative) architectural layer (not shown) can be applied to the outer surface 11 of the foam insulating panel 12 and the layer of reinforcing material 20, if present. The exterior architectural layer can be applied by any suitable means, such as by spraying, hand troweling, dry casting, wet casting or by extrusion to the necessary thickness, depending on the material and the thickness of the exterior decorative layer. The exterior architectural layer can be made of conventional concrete, mortar, stucco, synthetic stucco, plaster or any other cementitious material, cementitious polymer modified material or polymer coatings. A particularly preferred exterior architectural layer is a layer of polymer modified cementitious material, such as polymer modified concrete, polymer modified plaster or polymer modified mortar, with decorative aggregate only partially embedded into the layer of polymer modified plaster. The decorative aggregate particles can be any decorative and/or colorful stone, semi-precious stone, quartz, granite, basalt, marble, stone pebbles, glass or shells. The decorative aggregate particles can be made from stone including, but not limited to, amethyst, azul bahia, azul macaubas, foxite, glimmer, honey onyx, green onyx, sodalite, green jade, pink quartz, white quartz, and orange calcite. The decorative aggregate particles can be made from crushed glass including, but not limited to, recycled clear glass, recycled mirror glass, recycled clear plate glass, recycled cobalt blue glass, recycled mixed plate glass, and recycled black glass. The decorative aggregate particles can be made from recycled aggregate including, but not limited to, recycled amber, recycled concrete and recycled porcelain. The decorative aggregate particles can be made from non-recycled glass including, but not limited to, artificially colored glass, reflective glass, transparent glass, opaque glass, frosted glass and coated glass. The decorative aggregate particles can be made from tumbled glass including, but not limited to, jelly bean and glass beads. Decorative aggregate can be obtained from Arim Inc., Teaneck, N.J., USA. The decorative aggregate particles can be any suitable size, but preferably are size #000 (passes mesh 16, retained on mesh 25) to size #3 (½ inch to % inch), more preferably size #00 (passes mesh 10, retained mesh 16) to size #2 (% inch to ¼ inch) and most preferably size #00 (passes mesh 10, retained mesh 16) to size #1 (¼ inch to % inch). The decorative aggregate particles preferably have irregular, random shapes. However, for certain applications it may be desirable for the aggregate particles to have uniform shapes, such as are obtained by tumbling the aggregate, for example jelly bean shaped or bead shaped. The decorative aggregate can be partially embedded in the layer of polymer modified cementitious material by any suitable method, such as by broadcasting into the layer of polymer modified cementitious material followed by pushing the decorative aggregate particles partially into the layer of polymer modified cementitious material by using a roller. However, the layer of decorative aggregate is preferably formed in the layer of polymer modified cementitious material by blowing decorative aggregate particles into the layer of polymer modified cementitious material using compressed air. After blowing the decorative aggregate particles into the layer of polymer modified cementitious material if additional embedment of the decorative aggregate particles in the layer of polymer modified cementitious material is necessary, the decorative aggregate particles can be pushed partially into the layer of polymer modified cementitious material by using a roller.
The exterior architectural layer can be sprayed or have an integrated color pigment and/or it can have any type of architectural texture or color finish. To provide greater flexural strength and impact resistance, a particularly preferred material for the exterior architectural layer is polymer modified concrete, polymer modified cement plaster, polymer modified geopolymer or polymer modified mortar. Polymer modified concrete, cement plaster, geopolymer or mortar is known in the art and comprises a conventional concrete, plaster, geopolymer or mortar mix to which a polymer is added in a polymer-to-cement ratio of 0.1% to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1% to 25% by weight, more preferably approximately 1% to 25% by weight, most preferably approximately 5% to approximately 20% by weight. Polymer modified concrete can be made using the polymer amounts shown above in any of the concrete formulations shown below. Polymers suitable for addition to concrete, plaster or mortar mixes come in many different types: thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, elastomeric polymers, latex polymers and redispersible polymer powders. A preferred thermoplastic polymer is an acrylic polymer. Latex polymers can be classified as thermoplastic polymers or elastomeric polymers. Latex thermoplastic polymers include, but are not limited to, poly(styrene-butyl acrylate); vinyl acetate-type copolymers; e.g., poly(ethyl-vinyl acetate) (EVA); polyacrylic ester (PAE); polyvinyl acetate (PVAC); and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). Latex elastomeric polymers include, but are not limited to, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR); nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR); natural rubber (NR); polychloroprene rubber (CR) or Neoprene; polyvinyl alcohol; and methyl cellulose. Redispersible polymer powders can also be classified as thermoplastic polymers or elastomeric polymers. Redispersible thermoplastic polymer powders include, but are not limited to, polyacrylic ester (PAE); e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate); poly(styrene-acrylic ester) (SAE); poly(vinyl acetate-vinyl versatate) (VA/VeoVa); and poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate) (EVA). Redispersible elastomeric polymer powders include, but are not limited to, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). Preferred polymers for modifying the concrete, plaster or mortar mixes of the present invention are polycarboxylates. Geopolymers are generally formed by reaction of an aluminosilicate powder with an alkaline silicate solution at roughly ambient conditions. Metakaolin is a commonly used starting material for synthesis of geopolymers, and is generated by thermal activation of kaolinite clay. Geopolymers can also be made from sources of pozzolanic materials, such as lava, fly ash from coal, slag, rice husk ash and combinations thereof.
It is specifically contemplated that the cementitious-based material from which the exterior architectural layer is made can include reinforcing fibers made from material including, but not limited to, steel, plastic polymers, glass, basalt, Wollastonite, carbon, and the like. The use of reinforcing fiber in the exterior architectural layer made from polymer modified concrete, polymer modified mortar or polymer modified plaster provide the layer of cementitous material with improved flexural strength, as well as improved impact resistance and blast resistance.
Wollastonite can be used in the exterior architectural layer to increase compressive and flexural strength as well as impact resistance. Also, Wollastonite can improve resistance to heat transmission and add fire resistance to the exterior plaster. Therefore, the exterior architectural layer can obtain fire resistance properties as well as improved energy efficiency properties. A fire resistant material over the exterior face of the foam can increase the fire rating of the wall assembly by delaying the melting of the foam. Increased resistance to heat transmission will also increase the building energy efficiency and therefore lower energy cost, such as heating and cooling expenses.
Before the hybrid insulated concrete form 10 is set in place on the concrete slab 68, an elongate L-shaped angle (not shown) is anchored to the concrete slab, such as by shooting a nail through the L-shaped bracket into the concrete slab. The L-shaped angle extends the full width of the exterior foam insulating panels 12, 16; e.g., 4 feet wide or more to span multiple foam insulated panels. The L-shaped angle is positioned on the concrete slab 68 so that when the outer surface 11 (or the layer of reinforcing material 20, 22, if present) of the exterior foam insulating panels 12, 16 are placed against the L-shaped angle, the outer surfaces (or the layer of reinforcing material 20, 22, if present) of the exterior foam insulating panels are flush with the concrete slab 68.
After the hybrid insulated concrete form 10 has been installed on the concrete slab 68, as shown in
While the present invention can be used with conventional concrete mixes; i.e., concrete in which portland cement is the only cementitious material used in the concrete, it is preferred as a part of the present invention to use the concrete, plaster or mortar mixes disclosed in applicant's co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/588,467 filed Nov. 11, 2011, a the patent application entitled “Concrete Mix Composition, Mortar Mix Composition and Method of Making and Curing Concrete or Mortar and Concrete or Mortar Objects and Structures,” Ser. No. 13/626,540 filed Sep. 25, 2012 (the disclosure of which are both incorporated herein by reference in their entirety). Concrete is a composite material consisting of a mineral-based hydraulic binder which acts to adhere mineral particulates together in a solid mass; those particulates may consist of coarse aggregate (rock or gravel), fine aggregate (natural sand or crushed fines), and/or unhydrated or unreacted cement. Specifically, the concrete mix in accordance with the present invention comprises cementitious material, aggregate and water sufficient to at least partially hydrate the cementitious material. The amount of cementitious material used relative to the total weight of the concrete varies depending on the application and/or the strength of the concrete desired. Generally speaking, however, the cementitious material comprises approximately 25% to approximately 40% by weight of the total weight of the concrete, exclusive of the water, or 300 lbs/yd3 of concrete (177 kg/m3) to 1,100 lbs/yd3 of concrete (650 kg/m3) of concrete. The water-to-cementitious material ratio by weight is usually approximately 0.25 to approximately 0.7. Relatively low water-to-cementitious material ratios lead to higher strength but lower workability, while relatively high water-to-cementitious material ratios lead to lower strength, but better workability. Aggregate usually comprises 60% to 80% by volume of the concrete. However, the relative amount of cementitious material to aggregate to water is not a critical feature of the present invention; conventional amounts can be used. Nevertheless, sufficient cementitious material should be used to produce concrete with an ultimate compressive strength of at least 1,000 psi, preferably at least 2,000 psi, more preferably at least 3,000 psi, most preferably at least 4,000 psi, especially up to about 10,000 psi or more.
The aggregate used in the concrete used with the present invention is not critical and can be any aggregate typically used in concrete including, but not limited to, aggregate meeting the requirements of ASTM C33. The aggregate that is used in the concrete depends on the application and/or the strength of the concrete desired. Such aggregate includes, but is not limited to, fine aggregate, medium aggregate, coarse aggregate, sand, gravel, crushed stone, lightweight aggregate, recycled aggregate, such as from construction, demolition and excavation waste, and mixtures and combinations thereof.
The preferred cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises Portland cement; preferably Portland cement and one of slag cement or fly ash; and more preferably Portland cement, slag cement and fly ash. Slag cement is also known as ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS). The cementitious material preferably comprises a reduced amount of Portland cement and increased amounts of recycled supplementary cementitious materials; i.e., slag cement and/or fly ash. This results in cementitious material and concrete that is more environmentally friendly. One or more cementitious materials other than slag cement or fly ash can also replace the Portland cement, in whole or in part. Such other cementitious or pozzolanic materials include, but are not limited to, silica fume; metakaolin; rice hull (or rice husk) ash; ground burnt clay bricks; brick dust; bone ash; animal blood; clay; other siliceous, aluminous or aluminosiliceous materials that react with calcium hydroxide in the presence of water; hydroxide-containing compounds, such as sodium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, or any other compound having reactive hydrogen groups, other hydraulic cements and other pozzolanic materials. The portland cement can also be replaced, in whole or in part, by one or more inert or filler materials other than Portland cement, slag cement or fly ash. Such other inert or filler materials include, but are not limited to limestone powder; calcium carbonate; titanium dioxide; quartz; or other finely divided minerals that densify the hydrated cement paste.
The preferred cementitious material for use with a disclosed embodiment of the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; preferably, 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement. The ranges of 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement and 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement include all of the intermediate percentages; such as, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% and 95%. The cementitious material of the present invention can also comprise 0% to approximately 90% by weight portland cement, preferably 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement, preferably 0% to approximately 70% by weight portland cement, more preferably 0% to approximately 60% by weight portland cement, most preferably 0% to approximately 50% by weight portland cement, especially 0% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement, more especially 0% to approximately 30% by weight portland cement, most especially 0% to approximately 20% by weight portland cement, or 0% to approximately 10% by weight portland cement. In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement, more preferably approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement, most preferably approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight portland cement, especially approximately 33⅓% by weight portland cement, most especially approximately 10% to approximately 30% by weight portland cement. In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the cementitious material comprises approximately 5% by weight portland cement, approximately 10% by weight portland cement, approximately 15% by weight portland cement, approximately 20% by weight portland cement, approximately 25% by weight portland cement, approximately 30% by weight portland cement, approximately 35% by weight portland cement, approximately 40% by weight portland cement, approximately 45% by weight portland cement or approximately 50% by weight portland cement or any sub-combination thereof.
The preferred cementitious material for use in one disclosed embodiment of the present invention also comprises 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, preferably approximately 20% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, more preferably approximately 30% to approximately 80% by weight slag cement, most preferably approximately 30% to approximately 70% by weight slag cement, especially approximately 30% to approximately 60% by weight slag cement, more especially approximately 30% to approximately 50% by weight slag cement, most especially approximately 30% to approximately 40% by weight slag cement. In another disclosed embodiment the cementitious material comprises approximately 33⅓% by weight slag cement. In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the cementitious material can comprise approximately 5% by weight slag cement, approximately 10% by weight slag cement, approximately 15% by weight slag cement, approximately 20% by weight slag cement, approximately 25% by weight slag cement, approximately 30% by weight slag cement, approximately 35% by weight slag cement, approximately 40% by weight slag cement, approximately 45% by weight slag cement, approximately 50% by weight slag cement, approximately 55% by weight slag cement, approximately 60% by weight slag cement, approximately 65%, approximately 70% by weight slag cement, approximately 75% by weight slag cement, approximately 80% by weight slag cement, approximately 85% by weight slag cement or approximately 90% by weight slag cement or any sub-combination thereof.
The preferred cementitious material for use in one disclosed embodiment of the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 50% by weight fly ash; preferably approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight fly ash, more preferably approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight fly ash, most preferably approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight fly ash, especially approximately 33⅓% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the preferred cementitious material comprises 0% by weight fly ash, approximately 5% by weight fly ash, approximately 10% by weight fly ash, approximately 15% by weight fly ash, approximately 20% by weight fly ash, approximately 25% by weight fly ash, approximately 30% by weight fly ash, approximately 35% by weight fly ash, approximately 40% by weight fly ash, approximately 45% by weight fly ash or approximately 50% by weight fly ash or any sub-combination thereof. Preferably the fly ash has an average particle size of <10 μm; more preferably 90% or more of the particles have a particles size of <10 μm.
The preferred cementitious material for use in one disclosed embodiment of the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 75% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 70% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 65% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 60% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 55% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 50% by weight fly ash, preferably approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight fly ash, more preferably approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight fly ash, most preferably approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight fly ash, especially approximately 33⅓% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the preferred cementitious material comprises 0% by weight fly ash, approximately 5% by weight fly ash, approximately 10% by weight fly ash, approximately 15% by weight fly ash, approximately 20% by weight fly ash, approximately 25% by weight fly ash, approximately 30% by weight fly ash, approximately 35% by weight fly ash, approximately 40% by weight fly ash, approximately 45% by weight fly ash or approximately 50% by weight fly ash, approximately 55% by weight fly ash, approximately 60% by weight fly ash, approximately 65% by weight fly ash, approximately 70% by weight fly ash or approximately 75% by weight fly ash, approximately 80% by weight fly ash or any sub-combination thereof. Preferably the fly ash has an average particle size of <10 μm; more preferably 90% or more of the particles have a particles size of <10 μm.
In one disclosed embodiment, the preferred cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately equal parts by weight of portland cement, slag cement and fly ash; i.e., approximately 33⅓% by weight portland cement, approximately 33⅓% by weight slag cement and approximately 33⅓% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, a preferred cementitious material for use with the present invention has a weight ratio of portland cement to slag cement to fly ash of 1:1:1. In another disclosed embodiment, the preferred cementitious material for use with the present invention has a weight ratio of portland cement to slag cement to fly ash of approximately 0.85-1.15:0.85-1.15:0.85-1.15, preferably approximately 0.9-1.1:0.9-1.1:0.9-1.1, more preferably approximately 0.95-1.05:0.95-1.05:0.95-1.05.
The cementitious material disclosed above can also optionally include 0% to approximately 50% by weight ceramic fibers, preferably 0% to 40% by weight ceramic fibers, more preferably 0% to 30% by weight ceramic fibers, most preferably 0% to 20% by weight ceramic fibers, especially 0% to 15% by weight ceramic fibers, more especially 0% to 10% by weight ceramic fibers, most especially 0% to 5% by weight ceramic fibers. A preferred ceramic fiber is Wollastonite. Wollastonite is a calcium inosilicate mineral (CaSiO3) that may contain small amounts of iron, magnesium, and manganese substituted for calcium. In addition the cementitious material can optionally include 0.1-25% calcium oxide (quick lime), calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime), calcium carbonate or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups.
In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement, 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement, 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 70% by weight portland cement, 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 60% by weight portland cement, 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 50% by weight portland cement, 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises less than 50% by weight portland cement, 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement, approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement, approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight portland cement, approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement, and 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, latex, acrylic, or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 20% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 70% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 60% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 50% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises less than 50% by weight portland cement; 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to 15% by weight ceramic fiber. In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 15% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 70% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 60% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 50% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises less than 50% by weight portland cement; 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 10% by weight ceramic fiber.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, latex, acrylic or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 70% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 60% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 50% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises less than 50% by weight portland cement; 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; 0% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite; and 0% to approximately 25% by weight calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, or latex or polymer admixtures, either mineral or synthetic, that have reactive hydroxyl groups, or mixtures thereof.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to 30% by weight Wollastonite. In one disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 70% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 60% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 50% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises less than 50% by weight portland cement; 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 40% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 35% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 30% by weight Wollastonite.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash, wherein the combination of portland cement, slag cement and fly ash comprise at least 50% by weight; and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight polymer for making polymer modified concrete, mortar or plaster. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight polymer for making polymer modified concrete, mortar or plaster.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash, wherein the combination of portland cement, slag cement and fly ash comprise at least 50% by weight; and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight ceramic fiber. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight ceramic fiber.
In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises 0% to approximately 100% by weight portland cement; 0% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 0% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash, wherein the combination of portland cement, slag cement and fly ash comprise at least 50% by weight; 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight ceramic fiber and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight polymer for making polymer modified concrete, mortar or plaster. In another disclosed embodiment, the cementitious material for use with the present invention comprises approximately 10% to approximately 45% by weight portland cement; approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement; 10% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash; and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight ceramic fiber and 0.1% to approximately 50% by weight polymer for making polymer modified concrete, mortar or plaster.
The portland cement, slag cement and fly ash can be combined physically or mechanically in any suitable manner and is not a critical feature. For example, the portland cement, slag cement and fly ash can be mixed together to form a uniform blend of dry material prior to combining with the aggregate and water. If dry polymer powder is used, it can be combined with the cementitious material and mixed together to form a uniform blend prior to combining with the aggregate or water. If the polymer is a liquid, it can be added to the cementitious material and combined with the aggregate and water. Or, the portland cement, slag cement and fly ash can be added separately to a conventional concrete mixer, such as the transit mixer of a ready-mix concrete truck, at a batch plant. The water and aggregate can be added to the mixer before the cementitious material, however, it is preferable to add the cementitious material first, the water second, the aggregate third and any makeup water last.
Chemical admixtures can also be used with the preferred concrete for use with the present invention. Such chemical admixtures include, but are not limited to, accelerators, retarders, air entrainments, plasticizers, superplasticizers, coloring pigments, corrosion inhibitors, bonding agents and pumping aid. Although chemical admixtures can be used with the concrete of the present invention, it is believed that chemical admixtures are not necessary.
Mineral admixtures or additional supplementary cementitious material (“SCM”) can also be used with the concrete of the present invention. Such mineral admixtures include, but are not limited to, silica fume, glass powder and high reactivity metakaolin. Although mineral admixtures can be used with the concrete of the present invention, it is believed that mineral admixtures are not necessary.
The concrete mix cured in a concrete form in which the temperature of the curing concrete is controlled in accordance with the present invention, especially controlled to follow a predetermined temperature profile, produces concrete with superior early strength and ultimate strength properties compared to the same concrete mix cured in a conventional form without the use of any chemical additives to accelerate or otherwise alter the curing process. Thus, in one disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the preferred cementitious material comprises at least two of portland cement, slag cement and fly ash in amounts such that at seven days the concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 25% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form under ambient conditions. In another disclosed embodiment, the preferred concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250% or at least 300% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form under the same conditions.
In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the preferred cementitious material comprises portland cement, slag cement and fly ash in amounts such that at seven days the concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 25% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional concrete form under ambient conditions. In another disclosed embodiment the preferred concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250% or at least 300% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form under the same conditions.
In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the preferred cementitious material comprises portland cement and slag cement in amounts such that at seven days the concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 25% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional concrete form under ambient conditions. In another disclosed embodiment, the preferred concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250% or at least 300% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form under the same conditions.
In another disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the preferred cementitious material comprises portland cement and fly ash in amounts such that at seven days the concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 25% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional concrete form under ambient conditions. In another disclosed embodiment the preferred concrete mix cured in accordance with the present invention has a compressive strength at least 50%, at least 100%, at least 150%, at least 200%, at least 250% or at least 300% greater than the same concrete mix would have after seven days in a conventional (i.e., non-insulated) concrete form under the same conditions.
As a part of the present invention, it has been found that concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials, especially polymer modified concrete, will bond quite securely with expanded polystyrene foam that has not been formed in a mold so that the surface of the foam does not have a polished or shinny surface. Suitable polystyrene foam can be obtained by cutting, such as with a knife blade, a saw or a hot wire, foam panels of a desired thickness from a larger block of polystyrene foam. The bond between the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials and polystyrene foam is also enhanced by using the concrete mix comprising portland cement, slag cement and fly ash, as disclosed above. Furthermore, the bond between the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials and polystyrene foam is also enhanced by curing the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials in insulated concrete forms or molds, as disclosed herein. Additionally, the bond between the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials and polystyrene foam is also enhanced by curing the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials at elevated temperatures, such as produced by the insulated concrete forms, electrically heated blankets, electrically heated concrete forms or steam curing, for example above 100° F. (approximately 35° C.), preferably at approximately 60 to 65° C., for an extended period of time, such as 1 day to 3 days; preferably, 1 day to 7 days. Under these conditions, the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials and polystyrene foam seem to fuse together. Especially stronger bonds are formed between expanded polystyrene foam panels cut from a larger molded block. When cutting the expanded polystyrene foam panels, the individual polystyrene cells are cut creating interstitial space. In contact with and under the concrete pressure, the interstitial space is filled with concrete at an elevated temperature. Since the expanded polystyrene melting point is between 140-180° F., the concrete pressure and elevated temperature retained by the insulated concrete form, filling the interstitial space between the polystyrene cells, create a temperature induced fusion between the foam and the concrete. It is believed that the concrete heat of hydration retained by the insulated concrete form reaches a temperature close, but slightly below the polystyrene melting point temperature, thereby creating a heat fusion and achieving a far greater bond between the foam and the concrete. In fact, the bond between the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials and polystyrene foam, as disclosed above, is so strong that the bond between individual polystyrene foam beads will fail before the bond between the concrete, mortar or other cementitious-based materials and the polystyrene foam.
It is specifically contemplated that the cementitious-based material from which the concrete 390 is made can include reinforcing fibers made from material including, but not limited to, steel, plastic polymers, glass, basalt, Wollastonite, carbon, and the like. The use of reinforcing fiber is particularly preferred in the concrete 390 made from polymer modified concrete, mortar and plasters, which provide the concrete wall in accordance with the present invention improved flexural strength, as well as improved wind load capability and blast and seismic resistance.
The concrete form system of the present invention provides a very versatile building system. And, unlike the modular insulated concrete forms of the prior art, the concrete form system of the present invention provides a building system that can perform all of the same tasks as conventional steel and/or wood concrete form systems, including building high-rise buildings.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates only to certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention and that numerous modifications or alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/834,697 filed Mar. 15, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,074,379.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13834697 | Mar 2013 | US |
| Child | 14788153 | US |
