If you’ve been living under a rock your entire life, you may be unaware that concrete is the #1 construction material in the world. It’s the backbone of our built world, from the buildings we call home to the stores we shop at to the roads we drive on. 

While traditional concrete reinforced with rebar and mesh has served the industry well for decades, there is a growing demand for high-performance concrete (HPC) that can help to make the buildings and infrastructure of the future more durable and stronger than ever.

There’s a not-so-secret additive that is changing everything…

What Makes Concrete “High-Performance”?

High-performance concrete is designed with specific materials and sometimes even additives that improve its properties, making it suitable for more demanding applications. 

Key aspects of high-performance concrete are:

• Enhanced Durability – High-performance concrete is engineered to withstand harsh environments, including freeze-thaw cycles, high moisture, intense load conditions and even chemical exposure.
  
• Increased Strength – Using higher-strength materials, HPC provides even better compressive and flexural strength, making it ideal for heavy loads.
  
• Better Workability – Removing some elements and adding others results in easier placement and finishability for your crew without compromising strength.

Helix Micro Rebar is the Crucial Component for High-Performance Concrete

That’s right, Helix Steel’s own American-made micro reinforcement is the answer to your concrete performance woes. Made of steel and twisted to ensure a lifetime of crack reduction, Helix Micro Rebar is designed to greatly improve the structural integrity of concrete without the need for rebar.

Combine this with superplasticizers, which increase the fluidity of concrete without adding extra water, and you will have a very workable and dense concrete without the water.

In essence, our one-inch product changes the equation for UHPC. It makes concrete easier to use and more cost-effective while our in-house team of engineers supports every stage.

Where to Use High-Performance Concrete

High-performance concrete is now essential in so many applications here in America and around the world, especially in projects that require an extra kick of strength, durability and resistance to external factors. Even something like reducing joints in slabs can be achieved this way!

Here are some of the common concrete applications that Helix Micro Rebar helps to make into high-performance:

• Infrastructure –  Bridges, highways and even tunnels require high-performance concrete using Helix Micro Rebar to withstand traffic loads, freeze-thaw exposure and the usual wear and tear of daily use.

• Industrial Facilities – Manufacturing plants, warehouses and refineries often rely on high-performance concrete for slabs, foundations and walls. The improved compressive strength and low permeability make HPC ideal for environments that have heavy loads.
  
• Commercial and Residential Buildings – High-performance concrete is increasingly used in the construction of both commercial and residential buildings, even in times when it’s not essential. It makes sense in ‘any’ application.
  
• Precast Concrete – Precast components such as septic tanks, manholes, grease traps, culverts, flared ends, cladding and highway barriers also benefit from HPC. Precasting high-performance concrete with Helix Micro Rebar allows manufacturers to produce higher-quality elements and saves days of time on every piece.

Recent Success With Helix Micro Rebar in High-Performance Concrete

Seretta HQ

Austin, Texas

This project resulted in a 6″ thick warehouse slab and 5″ thick office slab using 9 lbs. per cubic yard of Helix Micro Rebar along with 100 lbs. of Komponent shrinkage-compensating cement additive. The result: a completely joint-free slab solution!.

Consider the High Performance of Helix Micro Rebar

High-performance concrete absolutely is the next frontier in modern construction, creating concrete that is stronger, more durable and more cost-effective than anything else. 
When Helix Micro Rebar is chosen, HPC becomes even more effective at providing the structural integrity needed for the most demanding applications. Reach out to our sales engineers to learn more about how high-performance concrete can benefit your next project.