Plastic formwork is a new type of building material that has been gaining popularity in the construction industry. It is used for Plastic Concrete which is lightweight concrete.
It is ideal for forming light weight, high strength type of concrete which increases productivity and enhances the quality of the product.
It’s used to create large, rigid structures for buildings and other projects. This article will explore some of the ways in which plastic formwork can be used effectively by contractors to keep costs down while creating beautiful results.
Types of Plastic Formworks
There are a number of different types of plastic formworks available in the market. The Plastic Sheet System is a relatively new system which is made from uPVC sheets with joints held together by clamps.
Sheet Plastic Formwork :
This type of system can be dismantled and reassembled without any loss of time or quality, however it can only be used once because it has no reusable value after the formwork has been dismantled.
It also does not require external support for fixing onto the wall. There are pre-made holes to attach ties (or reinforcements) at intervals throughout the panel widths – this helps prevents panels from warping or breaking during removal.
Alucobond Plastic Formwork :
Alucobond formworks are made from aluminium-faced polypropylene sheets. They are usually used for small walls, as the reusability factor makes them expensive to use for large projects. This system is also easy to dismantle without any loss of quality or time .
Wood Plastic Tensile Reinforced formworks (WPTR) :
Wood Plastic Tensile Reinforced formworks are very similar to prefabricated wood sandwich panels, which means that they provide the best thermal insulation properties and maximised load bearing capacity at a minimum weight per square metre.
It consists of an insulating core with plywood facings that are finished with a thin, smooth coating of plastic.
Wood Plastic Sandwich formworks (WPS):
Wood Plastic Sandwich forms are the most common types of Plastic Formwork. It is suitable for slopes and walls with heights up to 3 metres.
The process involves stitching the sheets together using metal ties which makes it quick and easy to make panels in any length or width. This system can be reused several times without any quality loss .
Metal Plastic Tensile Reinforced formworks (MTPTR) :
Metal Plastic Tensile Reinforced formworks have been on the market since 2006, which means that they have stood the test of time .
They are ideal on constructions sites where there is a need for reusable systems on a limited budget. It consists of a galvanized steel core with plywood facings completed with a plastic coating.
Metal Plastic Formwork (MPT) :
Metal Plastic formworks are the most widely used Plastic formworks available in the market today. It consists of an aluminum core with plywood facings and is finished with a plastic coating, which means that it has excellent thermal insulation properties.
This type of Plastic Formwork can be used several times and still provide the same quality each time without any loss in quality.
Features of Plastic Formwork:
The advantages of using plastic formwork are numerous.
Plastic is very durable
Easy to use
Less expensive than traditional steel or aluminum materials.
Plastic forms don’t warp or splinter.
More environmentally friendly than steel and aluminum.
Plastic is recyclable with low energy requirements
Plastic can be easily formed to create complex shapes which are ideal for curved walls, sloping surfaces and other difficult to build shapes.
Plastic can be easily cut and drilled in order to make connections to the surrounding wall forms in a formwork system.
Plastic formwork also has less potential for corrosion when compared with steel or aluminum materials.
Plastic requires much lower energy inputs when it’s time to melt, mold and cool the plastic into new products
Material of Plastic formwork:
Plastic Formwork Elements are made from different types of materials like plywood, aluminum, steel etc. Plastic formwork that utilizes corrugated plastic sheets on a wood or metal frame to create smooth surfaces that can be used in conjunction with traditional forms for pouring walls and slabs must be strong enough to hold material under pressure but also flexible enough to allow easy release.
Use of Plastic formwork:
Plastic form work elements can be moved around easily to adjust their position over a wall section before being fixed into place.
They can even be stored flat against a wall when not required thus saving valuable space.
It is also used for making window and door openings, lintels and beams. Plastic formwork can be made to any size or shape.
Plastic Formworks are ideal for the construction industry and Plastic Forming Systems have been proved time and again in numerous projects throughout Australia and overseas.
Conclusion:
Plastic formwork is a type of temporary construction used for concrete. The idea behind it is to create the shape of the structure without having to build any permanent structures.
This can save time and money, not only because it does not require as much labor, but also because the finished structure will be lighter than one made with traditional materials like wood or metal.
