Grouting is an important construction process that helps increase structural integrity, stability, and durability. It is the process of injecting a pasty material into a structure to improve its physical characteristics. The industry has numerous grouts; however, Conbextra GP2 grouting is unique and provides multiple advantages and versatile applications. This blog provides an overview of Conbextra GP2 grout and everything you need to know about it.
What is Conbextra GP2?
Conbextra GP2 is a ready-to-use dry grouting material primarily used to fill gaps, voids, and places where both static and dynamic loads are involved. This dry powder is made using Portland cement, graded fillers, and chemical additives. When mixed with an adequate amount of water, it forms a free-flowing grout suitable for thicknesses up to 100 mm.
Properties of Conbextra GP2 in Construction
- Conbextra GP2 has an extraordinary compressive strength of 55 MPa, making it more durable and able to withstand heavy loads and stresses acting on it.
- It has the minimum shrinkage rate that the Conbextra GP2 does not contract after hardening.
- It has good flowability and can fill narrow gaps and voids precisely.
- It takes approximately 30-40 minutes to set after mixing with water, making it workable enough to apply the grout.
- It undergoes controlled expansion during the curing process, ensuring that the bond to the surrounding surfaces is tight and secure.
- Conbextra GP2 can withstand loads and resist impact, vibration, and chemicals, making it more durable.
- This grouting option is suitable for places where the temperature is between 5℃ and 40℃, above which a special curing process should be followed as a precaution.
Applications of Conbextra GP2 in Construction
- Due to its load-bearing and durable properties, Conbextra GP2 is used to fill the gap between machine baseplates and concrete foundations.
- It is used to fill voids around the anchor bolts, dowels, and other reinforcement elements to ensure that they are firmly attached to the foundations.
- It acts as an interface in the RCC structure, providing a strong bond between the steel structure and the concrete. It is widely used to grout the spaces between columns, footings, slabs, and beams.
- Due to its flowability, Conbextra GP2 is used to repair concrete structures by filling the cracks, voids, and damaged parts, ensuring structural integrity.
- It provides smooth and durable surface flooring options for industrial structures such as factories, warehouses, and manufacturing units.
- Due to its excellent adhesive properties, it can be used in marine, underwater, and offshore structures.
- It is used to join the precast concrete panels together for efficient sealing and effective load transfer.
Advantages of Using Conbextra GP2
- It has high compressive and tensile strength, making it suitable for carrying heavy machinery loads and equipment efficiently.
- This grouting material is highly durable and can resist stresses such as wear, tear, vibration, and impact loads.
- The minimal shrinkage ensures structural stability and helps protect structural integrity.
- It has excellent flowability, so it can easily flow through voids and gaps to provide a strong and uniform bonding.
- The initial strength gain of Conbextra GP2 is high, which allows a faster equipment installation process.
- It has good resistance against moisture and chemical attacks, protecting the structure from corrosion.
- It provides good stability and strength between machinery and the foundation, helping to achieve optimal performance.
GP2 Cement Mixing Ratio
The Conbextra GP2 is made of Portland cement, graded fillers, and chemical additives that can be directly mixed with water to achieve a workable consistency. In general, around 3.8 to 4.2 litres of water are required to mix a 25 kg GP2 cement bag. The mix ratio may vary based on the consistency and flowability of the grout.
A forced-action mixer or a paddle mixer is used to ensure that the grout is free from lumps and has a smooth, creamy consistency. However, it is always recommended to follow the manufacturer’s information and engineer’s advice before mixing the cement.
How Long Does Conbextra GP2 Take to Cure?
The curing process of Conbextra GP2 takes place in stages, with the setting and strength development occurring over time. The curing duration depends on factors such as temperature, humidity, and other external conditions.
- The initial setting time of the GP2 cement grout is 2 to 4 hours when kept under a controlled temperature of 30℃, where the grout attains a solid shape.
- The grout’s final setting time is 4 to 6 hours when kept under a controlled temperature of 30℃ when it finally sets to bear certain loads.
- Although it achieves the final setting time within a few hours, it develops 30% of its strength after 1 day, 70-80% of its strength after 7 days, and a full compressive strength of 55 MPa after 28 days.
The curing process should keep the grout moist for at least 7 days. In hot and dry conditions, the grout needs to be covered with damp cloths, or a curing compound should be used as a precautionary measure.
Conclusion
Conbextra GP2 is a high-performance, non-shrink grout that offers a wide range of benefits. This grouting option is exceptionally known for its high strength, flowability, and minimal shrinkage, making it ideal for versatile applications, especially in machinery bases and grouting steel structures. Since it comes in powdered form, consisting of all the ingredients, it can be readily used for the construction and repair process. All these make it one of the unique grouting materials in the industry.