| HS Code | 268252 |
| Material | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) monofilament |
| Fiber Geometry | Cylindrical straight micro-fiber |
| Fiber Length | 4 mm |
| Fiber Diameter | 0.04 mm (40 µm) |
| Aspect Ratio | 100 (length/diameter) |
| Density Specific Gravity | 1.30 g/cm³ |
| Tensile Strength | ≥1,600 MPa (N/mm²) |
| Elastic Young S Modulus | ≥40 GPa (kN/mm²) |
| Elongation At Break | ≤7% |
| Melting Point | 230 °C |
| Alkali Resistance | Excellent; stable in alkaline cementitious environments |
| Dispersion Property | Disperses uniformly as separate filaments when mixed in concrete |
| Surface Characteristics | Hydrophilic, providing good bond to the cementitious matrix |
| Color | Light yellow / cream |
As an accredited Kuraray RF400-PVA Fiber for Concrete Reinforcement factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Packed in 20 kg cartons containing twenty 1 kg water-soluble bags for safe, easy, and accurate dosing. Quantity: 20 kg. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20' FCL container loaded with palletized, secured Kuraray RF400-PVA fiber, preventing moisture damage and ensuring safe transport. |
| Shipping | Kuraray RF400-PVA fiber is shipped as dry, palletized bags in standard containers. Ensure packaging remains sealed to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Store away from direct sunlight and handle with standard industrial equipment. No special hazardous material restrictions apply, though secure loads to avoid bag damage during transit. |
| Storage | Store Kuraray RF400-PVA Fiber in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Keep it in its original unopened packaging or resealable containers to prevent moisture absorption. Avoid direct sunlight, high humidity, and contact with water. Maintain organized stacking to prevent damage, and keep away from ignition sources and incompatible chemicals. |
| Shelf Life | Store dry and protected from sunlight; shelf life is essentially indefinite, with fiber performance remaining stable over time. |
Kuraray RF400-PVA fiber is incorporated at 1.5–2.0 vol% into strain-hardening cementitious composites where multiple micro-cracking and tensile ductility are required for seismic coupling beams, bridge link slabs, and structural retrofit jackets. The matrix is formulated with Type I/II ordinary Portland cement, Class F fly ash at 1.0–1.4 kg/kg cement, densified silica fume at 0.05–0.10 kg/kg cement, and a high-range water-reducing admixture calibrated to offset the workability loss generated by the fiber’s hydrophilic surface; the water-to-binder ratio is kept between 0.24 and 0.28 to maintain packing density and matrix toughness. On production-scale high-shear countercurrent planetary mixers with a rotating pan and a star rotor, RF400-PVA is metered into the moving paste over a 40–60 s window after a visually homogeneous slurry is achieved. Plant-scale failure modes observed when the fiber charge is released below 30 s include fiber bridging at rotor tips and dense bundles embedded in the mix, which later appear as surface clumps at formwork edges. Delayed release beyond 90 s increases mixing torque and can entrain additional air in high-paste-volume batches, producing a measurable drop in flexural residual strength. Compliance for structural synthetic macrofiber applications is verified against EN 14889-2:2006 Clause 5.1 Class II and ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 Type III synthetic fiber-reinforced concrete; flexural performance is evaluated under ASTM C1609/C1609M-24 at a net deflection of L/150, and micro-crack width is assessed after water-sorptivity testing under ASTM C1585-20. Terminal downstream components include shear-dominant coupling beams in high-rise concrete cores, link slabs installed between bridge girders to replace expansion joints, and retrofit jackets applied to non-ductile reinforced concrete columns. Published independent PVA-ECC datasets for 2.0 vol% fiber commonly document tensile strain capacity of 3–5% and residual crack widths below 60 µm; RF400-specific production trials should be used to confirm local aggregate-cement interaction effects.
| Application stream | Volumetric dosage | Mass dosage equivalent at 1.30 g/cm³ fiber density | Primary compliance designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strain-hardening ECC | 1.5–2.0 vol% | 19.5–26.0 kg/m³ | EN 14889-2:2006 Class II; ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 Type III |
| Wet-mix shotcrete | 0.4–0.8 vol% | 5.2–10.4 kg/m³ | EN 14487-1:2005; ASTM C1436/C1436M-23 |
| Precast thin-wall elements | 0.5–1.2 vol% | 6.5–15.6 kg/m³ | EN 13369; ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 Type III |
| Industrial floor slabs | 0.4–0.9 vol% | 5.2–11.7 kg/m³ | ACI 302.1R-15; ASTM E1155-20 |
| Cementitious repair overlays | 0.3–0.6 vol% | 3.9–7.8 kg/m³ | EN 1504-3:2005 Class R4; ASTM C928/C928M-20a |
| Marine splash zone concrete | 0.5–1.0 vol% | 6.5–13.0 kg/m³ | EN 206:2013+A2:2021 XS3; ASTM C666/C666M-15 |
For wet-mix shotcrete used in NATM tunnel linings, shaft linings, and rock slope support, Kuraray RF400-PVA fiber is batched at 0.4–0.8 vol% (5.2–10.4 kg/m³) in the ready-mix plant or on-site batch mixer rather than introduced at the nozzle, because macrofiber addition at the nozzle disrupts air-flow mixing and creates localized fiber-rich lenses at the spray surface. The wet-mix process uses a maximum aggregate size of 8–10 mm, a cement content of 380–450 kg/m³, and a pump line with 50–65 mm internal diameter; field rebound panels typically show lower rebound at the upper end of the dosage range, although line pressure increases as fiber volume and paste viscosity rise. The fiber is first blended with coarse and fine aggregate for 15–20 s before water is added; this dry predispersion step prevents the fiber from floating on the wet paste and reduces lump formation in truck drum mixing. At the nozzle, an alkali-free liquid accelerator is dosed at 3–6% by cement weight for rapid set and overhead build-up, and the fiber-containing mix is sprayed in 25–50 mm lifts. Compliance is stated against EN 14487-1:2005 for sprayed concrete classification, ASTM C1436/C1436M-23 for shotcrete materials, and ACI 506.5R-20 for shotcrete practice; fiber suitability is demonstrated through EN 14889-2:2006 Annex ZA CE marking. Terminal products include primary and permanent tunnel linings, rock slope stabilization, underground shaft linings, and repair of deteriorated concrete surfaces where formwork is not practical.
Where concrete cover is limited and conventional steel mesh placement is slow or impossible, RF400-PVA fiber is dry-blended into low-slump precast mixes at 0.5–1.2 vol% (6.5–15.6 kg/m³) for thin-wall façade panels, stay-in-place formwork, cable troughs, and utility vault lids. The process begins in a twin-shaft counterflow mixer with dry aggregate and fiber blending for 30–45 s before water and plasticizer addition; the fiber must be dispersed before paste forms, otherwise hydrophilic fiber bundles absorb surface water and form clumps that plug the hopper discharge. The finished mix is kept at a Vebe time of 5–15 s or a slump of 10–30 mm depending on the casting method. Slipform extrusion and vibrating-table casting both tolerate this dosage if the fiber is added through a vibratory feeder over the dry aggregate stream; extrusion pressure and auger current are monitored as indirect dispersion indicators, and blockage at above 1.2 vol% has been observed in narrow sections under 100 mm wall thickness. Compliance is anchored to EN 13369 common rules for precast concrete products and EN 14889-2:2006 Annex ZA for CE-marked structural polymer fibers; third-party structural performance is evaluated under ASTM C1609/C1609M-24 for flexural residual strength and ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 Type III fiber-reinforced concrete. Terminal products include architectural façade panels, permanent stay-in-place bridge deck forms, underground utility vaults, and precast cable troughs for rail and highway infrastructure.
Distribution-center floor slabs and container terminal pavements produced with RF400-PVA fiber at 0.4–0.9 vol% (5.2–11.7 kg/m³) follow ACI 302.1R-15 placement rules, ASTM E1155-20 FF/FL flatness measurement, and ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 Type III fiber compliance, with the fiber dry-blended into aggregate for 10–15 s before water addition and the slab struck off by laser screed, bull-floated, and power-troweled only after bleed water has evaporated to avoid fiber protrusion; the resulting terminal products are high-bay automated storage floors, airfield apron slabs, and logistics warehouse pavements where crack control at sawn joints is required but steel dowels remain load-transfer elements.
In cementitious repair overlay production, RF400-PVA fiber is pre-blended at 0.3–0.6 vol% (3.9–7.8 kg/m³) into prepackaged dry mortars for bridge deck patches, concrete column repairs, parking structure decks, and overhead soffit rehabilitation. The fiber is incorporated in a horizontal ribbon mixer at a fill level not exceeding 70% to avoid dead zones; blending time is set between 5–10 min after all dry components are charged, and bulk density is checked before packaging to detect fiber segregation. At the job site, the premix is combined with clean water in a forced-action paddle mixer at 500–700 rpm; the water demand of the fiber is compensated by a dry polymer and polycarboxylate superplasticizer system that maintains a flow trough time of 10–15 s for pumpable repair grades. Vertical and overhead placement requires a thixotropic consistency without sag; fiber dosage above 0.6 vol% increases sag resistance but can reduce trowel finish if mixed for less than 3 min. Compliance is specified under EN 1504-3:2005 Class R4 structural repair mortar requirements and ASTM C928/C928M-20a for packaged dry cementitious repair materials; the hardened overlay is tested for bond strength under EN 1542:1999 and for chloride-ion penetration under ASTM C1202-22e1. Terminal products include high-build bridge deck overlays, formed and troweled column repair jackets, ramp and parking deck patches, and pumpable repair mortars for confined access areas.
Concrete placed in marine splash zones and ice-affected coastal structures incorporates RF400-PVA fiber at 0.5–1.0 vol% (6.5–13.0 kg/m³) to reduce surface spalling, early-age shrinkage cracking, and reinforcement exposure risk. The mix is designed under EN 206:2013+A2:2021 exposure classes XS3 for tidal, splash, and spray zone chloride exposure and XF2 or XF4 for freeze-thaw with deicing agent exposure; minimum cement content, maximum water-to-cement ratio, and entrained air content are specified by the applicable national annex. RF400-PVA fiber is added to the concrete batch after aggregate wetting and before the final water adjustment; a forced-action mixer is preferred over free-fall drum mixing because the fiber’s specific gravity of 1.30 g/cm³ is lower than that of the paste, and dry fiber can float on the surface of high-slump marine mixes. Cast-in-place formwork sections such as quay walls, bridge pier splash jackets, and breakwater armor units are consolidated with internal poker vibrators spaced at 300–450 mm; overvibration near the form face may draw fibers to the surface and create a fuzzy texture. Durability compliance is verified under ASTM C666/C666M-15 Procedure A for freeze-thaw resistance and ASTM C1202-22e1 for chloride-ion penetrability, while compressive strength is tracked according to EN 12390-3:2019. Terminal products include precast breakwater armor units, cast-in-place quay wall sections, bridge pier splash-zone repairs, and concrete elements in half-cell corrosion-monitored marine structures.
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Kuraray RF400-PVA fiber for concrete reinforcement is a polyvinyl alcohol monofilament supplied as discrete cut strands for dispersion in hydraulic-cement matrices. The RF400 designation corresponds to a 400 denier filament cross-section; for circular geometry this yields a nominal filament diameter of approximately 0.20 mm. The polymer specific gravity is approximately 1.30. Supplier-published room-temperature tensile values place tensile strength between 1400 MPa and 1600 MPa, initial modulus near 40 GPa, and elongation at break between 6% and 7%. These are fibre values measured before concrete mixing, not extracted from cured specimens. The fibre is alkali-resistant in saturated calcium hydroxide solution at pH 12.5–13.0 and does not rely on metallic passivation for durability. Surface hydroxyl groups on the PVA backbone provide hydrogen-bonding potential with cement hydrates; this differentiates it from untreated polyolefin surfaces that depend primarily on mechanical anchorage. Typical concrete cut length is 30 mm; other cut lengths may be permissible for shotcrete or thin repair mortars, but published data for those RF400-specific configurations is limited.
| Property | Kuraray RF400-PVA | Steel macrofibre | Polypropylene macrofibre | Test method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific gravity | 1.30 | 7.85 | 0.90–0.92 | ASTM D792-20 |
| Tensile strength | 1400–1600 MPa | 1000–1300 MPa | 400–650 MPa | ASTM D2256-22 / ASTM A820/A820M |
| Elastic modulus | 40 GPa | 210 GPa | 3–10 GPa | supplier tensile data |
| Elongation at break | 6–7% | 2–4% | 15–25% | ASTM D2256-22 / ASTM A820/A820M |
| Nominal length for concrete | 30 mm | 25–60 mm | 30–50 mm | supplier specification |
| Corrosion in chloride-bearing concrete | not susceptible | surface oxidation possible | not susceptible | material difference |
Polypropylene macrofibres typically exhibit a specific gravity of 0.90–0.92, tensile strength of 400–650 MPa, and elastic modulus of 3–10 GPa. RF400-PVA has a specific gravity of 1.30, tensile strength of 1400–1600 MPa, and elastic modulus of 40 GPa. The higher modulus changes post-crack load response: for the same dosage and fibre length, the crack-bridging stress mobilizes at smaller crack-opening displacements. Under flexural testing according to ASTM C1609/C1609M, this typically appears as higher residual loads at net deflections of 0.5 mm and 2.0 mm, provided the matrix does not exhibit shear failure. Compared with steel macrofibres with a modulus of 210 GPa and specific gravity of 7.85, RF400-PVA is non-corroding and lighter, but its lower modulus means that equivalent structural post-crack capacity should not be assumed; residual flexural performance must be verified under EN 14651 or ASTM C1609/C1609M using the specific concrete mixture. PVA also develops a higher chemical-bind component with cement paste than polypropylene, while steel relies on mechanical end hooks and frictional anchorage.
Compared with alkali-resistant glass fibre, PVA does not require a zirconia-rich alkali-resistant coating because its resistance derives from the backbone chemistry. The tensile modulus of 40 GPa is below E-glass at 72 GPa and steel at 210 GPa, but well above polyethylene at 0.8–2.0 GPa and polypropylene at 3–10 GPa. This places RF400-PVA in an intermediate niche where crack-width control is achieved without metallic corrosion and without the abrasive wear of steel fibres on mixer liners. The dimensional stability and lower elongation at break compared with polyolefin macrofibres also reduce the strain required to activate crack bridging, which is relevant when crack widths must remain below 0.3 mm in watertight structures.
For strain-hardening cementitious composite applications, RF400-PVA is dosed at 2.0 vol% in a fine-grained mortar with maximum aggregate particle size below 250 µm, water-to-cementitious ratio of 0.25–0.30, and a polycarboxylate ether high-range water-reducing admixture. The matrix fracture toughness is kept low by removing coarse aggregate; published ECC studies using PVA fibres report ultimate tensile strains in the range of 3–5% under direct uniaxial tension. Strain-hardening response does not follow from fibre content alone. It requires interfacial bond to transition from debonding to slip-hardening under increasing crack opening. If the fibre surface sizing is too strong, fibre rupture dominates; if too weak, pullout occurs before multiple cracking. RF400-specific single-fibre pullout data in the public literature is limited, so trial mixtures should be qualified using direct uniaxial tensile tests. For normal crack-control service in slab overlays, a dosage of 0.5 vol% yields approximately 5.3 fibres/cm³ based on 30 mm length and 0.20 mm diameter. Plastic shrinkage crack-width control can be assessed under ASTM C1579-21. In dry-mix or wet-mix shotcrete, addition rates of 0.3–1.0 vol% are used to reduce plastic settlement cracking; published rebound data for RF400 specifically is limited and should be obtained from site-specific nozzle trials using ASTM C1550 panels.
At 0.5 vol%, the calculated fibre count is 5.3 fibres/cm³, and the calculated lateral surface area is approximately 100 m²/m³. At 2.0 vol%, these values rise to 21.2 fibres/cm³ and 400 m²/m³. This surface area consumes paste and polycarboxylate ether, so high-volume dosage requires a matrix with sufficient paste fraction. Batch-to-batch variance in sand surface area can shift the water demand by 1–3 kg/m³ at a fixed fibre content. Plant batching records should include sand moisture correction before fibre addition and should measure slump retention at 5 minutes, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes after mixing.
Fibre balling is the primary production failure when the product is introduced before coarse aggregate or when the entire bag is discharged in less than 10 seconds into low-slump concrete. In a 1.5 m³ twin-shaft compulsory mixer operating at 18 rpm, clumps of undispersed fibres can persist for 90 seconds or more when the sequence is incorrect. The preferred sequence is to add coarse aggregate and half the batch water, meter the fibre at 20–30 kg/min, then add cement, fine aggregate, and the remaining water. After batch discharge, a washed sample through a 4.75 mm sieve should show no retained fibre agglomerates. Because RF400 has a specific gravity of 1.30, it remains in suspension more readily than steel fibres, but vertical segregation can occur if slump exceeds 200 mm or if external vibration is prolonged. This staged addition approach is consistent with the batching guidance in ACI 544.3R-08.
Pumpability is governed by the ratio of pipe diameter to fibre length. For 30 mm fibres, the minimum recommended line diameter is 90 mm. Hose reducers from 90 mm to 75 mm can accumulate fibre at the transition if the concrete is stiff; pressure monitoring at the pump inlet should be compared with baseline mixtures without fibre. Published field pressure data for RF400 is limited, so full-scale pump trials are recommended before large placements.
Compliance under EN 14889-2:2006 requires the fibre manufacturer to declare physical and mechanical characteristics, including tensile strength, initial modulus, elongation at break, and geometric dimensions, and to state the effect on concrete performance through the applicable system of attestation. The user should verify that the RF400 product is covered by a valid Declaration of Performance for the intended concrete application. Under ASTM C1116/C1116M, RF400-PVA is classified as a synthetic fiber-reinforced concrete constituent; flexural performance for comparative design is determined using ASTM C1609/C1609M or EN 14651. Storage above 60% RH should be avoided unless moisture content is measured and batch water adjusted, because PVA fibres can adsorb water and alter open-bag fibre weight. The fibre is not a direct replacement for primary steel reinforcement in structural members; any use for structural residual-strength applications must be supported by design calculations based on measured post-crack flexural parameters.
RF400-PVA increases paste demand because of the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of the filament. At a dosage of 0.5 vol%, batch records from central mix operations indicate an additional water demand of approximately 2–5 kg/m³ depending on aggregate angularity, sand fineness, and high-range water-reducing admixture efficiency. In air-entrained concrete, air content should be measured after fibre addition because the fibre network can alter bubble retention during mixing and transportation; published air-loss curves for RF400-specific mixtures are limited. For structural design, the residual load values from ASTM C1609/C1609M should be determined for the same fibre dosage and source, because post-crack performance is sensitive to fibre length, diameter, and matrix fracture toughness. The fibre aspect ratio of 150 for 30 mm/0.20 mm dimensions is high enough to provide crack-bridging efficiency but can reduce workability at dosages above 1.0 vol%; slump retention and fibre distribution should be checked with full-scale mixer trials before acceptance. Full-scale trials should include washout inspection, air-content verification, and flexural toughness samples from the same batch before production release.
Where fire resistance governs, RF400 should not be used as the primary tensile reinforcement because PVA softens at elevated temperature. The melting point of PVA is near 220°C; exposure above 150°C can reduce residual bridging efficiency. Published post-heat flexural data for RF400 specifically is limited, so fire-rated structures should be tested or rely on steel reinforcement for post-fire integrity.
