Microwave Accelerated Production of Ferrocement Slabs-An Industrial Perspective

Normal portland cement concrete is the most widely used material in the construction industry in Singapore. Under normal curing conditions, it can take one day or more before the concrete can be safely handled without damage. In precast production, it is desirable for the concrete to attain sufficient strength within a short period of time so that moulds and other resources can be used more efficiently. A revolutionary method of curing using microwave heating utilizes the internal energy dissipation associated with the excitation of molecular dipoles in electromagnetic fields. This method enables faster and more uniform heating and has been found to shorten the process time necessary to achieve high early strength. At present, the use of microwave curing on an industrial scale is still in its infancy. The Prefabrication Technologly Centre in Singapore has developed the first prototype mechanized industrial microwave curing system in this region. This paper will discuss the use of this system for the production of ferrocement secondary roofing slabs on an industrial scale. It is believed that this technology has great potential to revolutionize curing of precast concrete.