Ductal® ?
If we told you that it is possible to have a beautiful design, thin, colorful and resistant equipment, what material do you think of? Concrete is last on the list most of the time. This traditional gray, thick, unattractive concrete. But do you know about ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete? More commonly called UHPC or Ductal® concrete by its developer, this material appeared in the 1990s, and is now increasingly widespread in design and construction. Nearly 10 developers are now on the market, but m3béton has been working with Ductal® since its inception, due to its particular resistance and its very clean finish.
It is now essential to make structures more durable, more resistant and more aesthetic. The UHPC makes this possible through several innovative features. Firstly, this material is composed of small, very fine metallic or organic fibers (between 0.1 and 0.3 mm in diameter, 10 to 20 mm in length), making it more malleable and light than traditional concrete - called reinforced - composed of massive steel bars. This lightness makes it possible to produce more technical and adaptable structures, which are particularly resistant. Thus, the corners of the work are just as resistant as the base or the center of the realization. In addition, the technique thus developed gives this concrete a soft finish to the touch. Finally, performance and design features aside, UHPC is remarkably durable. For the same quantity of concrete, you need on average two to four times less raw material (water, cement), for resistance twice as long over time at a minimum. This concrete does not need maintenance and is resistant to all outdoor conditions (snow, freeze/thaw, UV, salt, etc.). It is also possible to color it with dyes from natural origin, incorporated into the mass for flawless durability.
Here are some examples of achievements with Ductal® concrete:
The design fishnets of the Mucem (Marseille, France)
Bridge of Peace (Seoul, South Korea)
Louis Vuitton Foundation (Paris, France)
Great Mosque of Algiers (Algiers, Algeria)
Yuhang Opera (Hangzhou, Chine)
The furniture of the Place des Nations (benches, steles, bus shelters) (Geneva, Switzerland)
If you are not yet convinced, we advise you to see for yourself one of our many achievements available in Montreal !