Rubber products are widely used in the construction industry. They are essential in material transportation and carrying out operations in construction projects. Hose, belts, mountings, rollers, sheets, floorings, tires, adhesives, and sealants are some of the rubber components used in construction sites. This article will focus on the discussion of rubber tubings used in the concrete sector.
Filtration Solutions Ltd. offers rubber tubings from the world-leading brand Filcoflex for all sorts of applications. Most rubber hoses are available in a roll, or cut lengths depending on the customer’s needs. For more information, check out Seamless Rubber Tubing, Seamless Hose on Roll and Hose on Roll.
Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, aggregates, and additives. It is produced either on-site or at ready-mixed batch plants, depending on the location of the construction site and the volume of concrete needed on a regular basis.
On-site production of concrete is beneficial when the location of the construction site is far from ready-mixed batch plants and for large construction projects where a steady supply of a huge volume of concrete is required. On the other hand, ready-mixed batch plants are advantageous for supplying multiple and smaller construction sites nearby.
Both on-site and ready-mixed batch plants use rubber tubings in handling wet and dry materials essential in the construction of foundations, floorings, and exterior surfaces of commercial and residential structures.
Specific applications of rubber tubings in the concrete sector are as follows:
Powder Discharge
Rubber tubings transfer dry materials such as cement, sand, and concrete powder using compressed air or by gravity. They are commonly used to load/unload dry bulk powders to/from silos, storage bins, and trucks. Rubbers are generally known for their resilience and toughness in harsh environments, making them suitable for use in the concrete sector. Rubber tubings are made of abrasion-resistant materials to withstand the high-abrasion effects of dry powders, dry cement, sand, etc.
According to ISO 4649, the typical abrasion resistance of the inner rubber layer or the rubber volume loss expressed in cubic millimeters ranges from 36 mm3 to 80 mm3. A smaller value of abrasion resistance means higher abrasion resistance of the material.
Dust Collection Systems
Transferring dry raw materials from storage bins to the central mixers and concrete mixing operations generates dust.
Raw material moisture levels, silt contents, size distribution, concrete raw material mix, production rates, wind speed, and wind direction all affect dust emission rates in a concrete batch plant. Having a system to collect these particulate matter emissions is needed to reduce environmental pollution and limit workers’ hazards.
Exposure to powders, particularly cement particles, can cause skin and eye irritation and respiratory illnesses. Rubber tubings and Flexible Connections are used in dust collection systems in many concrete batch plants and packaging areas.
Concrete Placement
Rubber tubings are attached to concrete pumps to pump liquid concrete to respective destinations. Rubber materials used in this application are synthetic and natural elastomers that can withstand high or very high-pressure requirements. They are also abrasion-resistant and are designed to have a high kink resistance rating.
One factor affecting the quality of concrete is the duration of discharge. Clogging due to hose kinking will prolong the time of discharge, which may lead to premature hardening of concrete during transfer.
Concrete is hazardous in all its forms. Reckless handling of its powder, liquid, and solid states resulting in spillage and pipes bursting can cause serious health and environmental damage. The careful selection of materials to be used for its handling is required.
Choose reliable suppliers such as Filtration Solutions Ltd to assist you in identifying rubber tubings for applications in concrete production.
If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact us.