More than 30 years of research and recent commercial success have proven the promise of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC). Its strength and durability have brought UHPC into the spotlight for public agencies and private firms seeking superior alternatives for concrete construction. Now the question is often not “will it work?” but “how is it made?”
Reluctance to adopt UHPC is often driven by an aversion to unnecessary changes to existing supply chains, distribution methods, and installation techniques. Ready-mix suppliers and batch plants seek seamless integration of UHPC, but many are under the impression that is not possible. UHPC skeptics see a new technology that has promise, but that also upends established norms of a successful industry— and these skeptics would be right, at least for most UHPC products.
All UHPC products are not created equal. Fibrous reinforcement is the common feature, but strength, curing, and handling are just a few areas that will vary depending on the manufacturer. UHPC manufacturers may have unique requirements for sourcing and mixing. Special oversight and equipment might be required. Pre-mixed bags are the most common packaging, often without the option to use locally sourced materials.
In fact, many purveyors of UHPC will have you believe that it is a complex, high-tech, heavily proprietary concoction of special sands and cements with unique admixtures that justifies its very high price. This is just a fairy tale.
Cor-Tuf has proven that UHPC can be mixed, distributed, and installed in line with traditional concrete techniques. Particular sands and specialized cements are required by most producers, but not by Cor-Tuf.
Local cements, sands, equipment and labor are crucial factors for competitive and reliable concrete production. Imported materials and high-handed restrictions are understandably deterring some stakeholders from other UHPC products. Less flexibility for distributors and contractors equates to missed deadlines and blown budgets. Compatibility with local production is a requirement promised and honored by Cor-Tuf.
Many UHPC products will claim compatibility with ready-mix trucks. What they don’t tell you is that they rented someone’s truck and took 30 minutes opening imported pre-mixed bags. This isn’t practical, and it’s not going to cut it in the real world of concrete construction. With Cor-Tuf UHPC, pull up your existing truck to the same batch plant used for the past three decades, and have it fully loaded and mixing within two to four minutes.
Cor-Tuf makes the message clear when it comes to UHPC. Our product stands out from the crowd due to versatility and quality. You get all the benefits of UHPC, including higher strength, weather resistance, and longer service life, using the same concrete procedures used for generations. Avoid the imitation products because all UHPC products are not created equal. Your sand, your cement, our Cor-Tuf UHPC.
