MasterFiber® MAC Matrix product news

Now meets requirements to replace conventional steel reinforcement in concrete pipe with synthetic macrofibers

CLEVELAND, OH, February 2, 2016 – BASF’s Admixture Systems business announced that its MasterFiber MAC Matrix synthetic macrofiber meets the performance requirements of the ASTM C1818 Specification for Rigid Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete Culvert, Storm Drain, and Sewer Pipe. The standard, published in December 2015, follows an industry-wide research study to help increase the competitiveness of concrete pipe through the use of synthetic macrofibers.

The new ASTM standard allows the use of synthetic fibers with a serviceability factor of 0.90 or higher in place of traditional steel

MasterFiber MAC Matrix product is currently the only fiber to successfully undergo the long-term field and laboratory testing required to meet this standard.
"Fibers like MasterFiber MAC Matrix allow the concrete pipe to be lighter, safer, and easier to install than concrete pipe made with traditional steel reinforcement," said Kenneth Kruse, Industry Manager, BASF. "The use of fibers can also improve long-term durability, and provide operational benefits to a producer when compared to producing pipe using traditional steel cages. In turn, this makes concrete pipe more competitive with pipe made from plastic and other materials."
BASF was part of the industry-wide research team whose work led to the development of the new standard. The team included the American Concrete Pipe Association, researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington, and concrete pipe producers Forterra Building Products and Northern Concrete Pipe.

For more information about MasterFiber MAC Matrix, visit this page on our site. 

For the complete press release, please click here

For additional information, please contact:

Nora Glauberman
     Marketing Communications Manager for Admixture Systems
  Tel.:   1-216-839-7000