I. POPULAR FORMWORK MATERIALS

     The selection of materials suitable for formwork should be based on the price, safety during construction, and the quality required in the finished product. Approval of formwork materials by the engineer/architect, if required by the contract documents, should be based on how the quality of materials affects the quality of finished work.
     Materials used for the construction of concrete formwork range from traditional materials such as timber, steel, aluminum, and plywood to nontraditional materials such as fiberglass. The systems used can be a combination of two materials. Wood products are the most widely used material for formwork.

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1/ Timber

     Timber is widely used for many construction applications including concrete formwork. Timber is harvested from trees and is classified as hardwood and softwood. Hardwood comes from trees that have broad leaves such as oaks, maples, and basswood. Softwood comes from trees that have needle-like leaves such as pines, cedars, and firs. Softwoods are most commonly used in the construction of formwork.

1.1 Advantages

   - Timber can even make it perfect in any size you want.
   - Timber is extremely lightweight so that it can be managed rapidly.
   - Timber is indeed a good thermal resistance, which helps prevent concrete harm in colder areas.
   - The fabrication process for that kind of sort of formwork is easily understandable, so it does not involve skill labor.

1.2 Disadvantages

   - Dry timber contains moisture from concrete, which also reduces the workability of the material.
   - Timber formwork should only be modified 5 to 6 times.
   - Timber with such a higher moisture content (<= 20%), wet concrete would then reduce as well as cement slurry would then spill.

2/ Plywood

 Plywood is a manufactured wood product consist a number of veneer sheets, or plies Type of plywood can be grouped as exterior and interior. For formwork, exterior plywood is used. The adhesive used to bond the piles in the manufacturing of exterior plywood is watertight and gives a maximum number of reuses. The plywood industry manufactures special plywood called Ply form specifically for use in forming concrete structures. 

Film Faced Plywood - Plywood formwork 

2.1 Advantages

   - Plywood can also be cut into the required size easily.
   - Plywood is Strong, durable, and light in weight.
   - Provides a smooth finish on the surface.
   - Very Large size plywood sheets are available which makes the construction of formwork quicker and easier.
   - Curved formworks can also be prepared using plywood.
   - When compared to timber, it gives more number of reuses.

2.2 Disadvantages

   - When compared to timber it is costly.
   - Thin plywood sheets cannot sustain the weight of concrete they may bow out if proper thickness is not provided.

3/ Steels

     The initial cost of metal formwork is more than timber formwork but the number of reuses of metal formwork is higher than that of timber. In the long run metal formwork can be economical. In heavy construction works metal formwork may require a lifting mechanism to handle the formwork panels or props. Steel or aluminum or magnesium is the most widely used metals.



     Steel can also be used as formwork material. It is very costly but it can be used for more times than others. They provide an excellent finish to the concrete surfaces. For mass structures like dams, bridges, etc. steel from work is so strong and safe.

3.1 Advantages

   - Steel forms are durable and stronger.
   - Provides uniform and smooth surface finish to the structure.
   - Great reusability.
   - Easy to fix the formwork and also easy to dismantle.

3.2 Disadvantages

   - Cost is very much higher.
   - It is heavy in weight and requires lifting equipment for large structure formworks.
   - Corrosion will occur when there is frequent contact with water.
   - The size and shapes of forms available are limited.

4/ Aluminum

     Aluminum formwork is used often for pre-fabricated formworks. It is getting more popular because of its lightweight and good strength. It requires fewer supports and ties.

4.1 Advantages
   - Easy to fix and easy to dismantle.
   - It can be handled easily because of its lightweight.
   - It can be re-used for many times.
   - The walls and slabs of structures can be casted simultaneously.
   - Monolithic crack free structures can be built using aluminum formwork.
4.2 Disadvantages
   - When the load reaches its maximum limit, the lighter sections may deflect.
   - Architectural modifications are not possible when aluminum formwork is used.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Formwork Props For Sale. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

5/ Plastics

     Plastic is another type of formwork material that is used for small concrete structures or for complex portions of the structure. It is light in weight and durable for long periods. For complicated concrete structures, Glass-reinforced plastics (GRP) and vacuum-formed plastics are used.

5.1 Advantages

   - Plastic is light in weight and can be easily handled.
   - Formwork for complex-shaped structures can be prepared easily.
   - Good resistant against water.
   - The damaged plastic sheets can be recycled and useful to make new sheets.
   - Good quality plastic has great re-usability.

5.2 Disadvantages

   - Plastic is weak against heat.
   - It is a costly material.
   - It does not take much load when compared with others.

II. FORMWORK RECOMMENDATION

1. Requirement of good formwork materials

TECON Plastic formwork is made from ABS or PP with fibreglass. It is the lightest system among all other material formwork systems.

As one of the leading plastic formwork suppliers, we currently offer a variety of options, including Plastic Formwork TP60+, Plastic Adjustable Column Formwork, and Plastic Round Column Formwork right now for your option. With a daily productivity of up to 40 sqm/person, it has wide application areas such as remote areas where construction machines can’t go or project sites with no crane available.

Advantages of plastic formwork for Concrete

The plastic formwork system is made of a specific grade of plastic, neither placing any attached material nor chemical reaction between the poured material and the plastic formwork. Therefore, the surface of the reinforced concrete element will not have any spots.

Due to the perfect adaptability of each part of the system, the leakage of water or newly poured concrete from different parts is avoided. In addition, it is the most labour-saving system because it is easy to install and insert and lightweight compared to other formwork systems.

There is no need to nail and lubricate the board before pouring concrete because the automatic levelling of the plugging system can automatically level the board, so compared with the traditional formwork system, the time spent during installation and disassembly is reduced.

In addition, the plastic concrete formwork can be easily washed with water after use. If it breaks due to improper handling, it can be sealed with a low-pressure hot air gun.

Other formwork materials (such as wood, steel, aluminium) will have various disadvantages, exceeding their benefits. For example, wood is quite expensive and has a significant impact on the environment due to deforestation.

For plastic formwork, it can be used many times. However, because the plastic formwork price is higher than some other types of formwork, it is wrong in many cases. In contrast, plastic formwork can be recycled, and in addition to reducing processing time and improving reusability indicators, it is also environmentally friendly.

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