FERRO-CEMENT

Ferro-cement is the combination of ferrous product with cement. Usually in a portland cement mortar this combination is in the form of steel wires meshes embedded. Usually Wire mesh is of 0.8 to 1.00 m diameter steel wires at 5 mm to 50 mm spacing and the cement mortar is of cement sand ratio of 1:2 or 1:3. 6 mm diameter bars are also utilized at large spacing, preferably in the corners. By baby jelly Sand can be replaced. The water cement ratio used is in between 0.4 to 0.45.

Ferro-cement reinforcement is directly assembled into its final desired shape and plastered. There is no requirement for form work. Minimum 2 layers of reinforcing steel meshes are required. "Ferro cement is a thin walled reinforced concrete construction according to American Concrete Institute where with layers of continuous, typically hydraulic cement is reinforced and relatively small diameter mesh. The mesh used can be metallic or any other appropriate material."

Ferro-cement is fast emerging for timber as an alternate material .The history of ferro-cement goes back to 1843 (even before RCC). Joseph Louis Lambet constructed many plant plots, rowing boats, and garden seats by using ferro-cement. In early year 1940's noted down Italian engineer and architect Pier Luigi Nervi carried out scientific tests on ferro-cement and used it to replace wood wherever possible. He built small tonnage vessels which are largest being 165 tons motor sailor. Also in buildings Nervi pioneered the architectural use of ferro-cement. Ferro-cement may be given the finish of, rose wood, teak wood etc. and even it can be used for making chairs, tables and benches.