| HS Code | 815872 |
| Fibermaterial | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) |
| Fiberform | Chopped monofilament |
| Length | 15 mm |
| Equivalentdiameter | 40 μm (0.04 mm) |
| Crosssection | Round |
| Surfacefinish | Oil-coated / proprietary surface treatment |
| Color | Light ivory or pale yellow |
| Specificgravity | 1.30 |
| Density | 1.30 g/cm³ |
| Tensilestrength | 1600 MPa |
| Youngsmodulus | 40 GPa |
| Elongationatbreak | 6.0% |
| Alkaliresistance | Excellent; retains high strength in alkaline concrete pore solution |
| Acidresistance | Good |
| Meltingpoint | 230°C |
| Thermalstability | Stable up to approximately 220°C |
| Moistureregain | Low (<1%) |
| Chlorideioncontent | Nil or negligible |
| Aspectratio | Approximately 375 (length/diameter) |
As an accredited Kuraray RSC15-PVA Fiber for Concrete Reinforcement factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Kuraray RSC15-PVA fibers for concrete reinforcement are packaged in 20 kg moisture-resistant paper bags, palletized and shrink-wrapped for safe handling. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20' FCL container loading of Kuraray RSC15-PVA Fiber for concrete reinforcement, securely packed in cartons/pallets, ensuring safe transport and handling. |
| Shipping | Kuraray RSC15-PVA Fiber ships as non-hazardous bundles in moisture-protective packaging. Keep sealed and dry in original containers, away from humidity and high temperatures. Secure loads, protect from puncture during transport, and avoid damage. No special shipping restrictions exist; handle with normal industrial care to minimize airborne dust. |
| Storage | Store in a cool, dry area away from moisture and direct sunlight. Keep in original, unopened packaging or sealed containers to prevent dampness. Avoid prolonged exposure to high humidity, which can affect fiber dispersion. Handle carefully to maintain product integrity. Shelf life is typically long under proper conditions. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is indefinite when stored in original packaging, dry conditions, and protected from direct sunlight. |
Kuraray RSC15-PVA fibre is supplied as a high-tenacity polyvinyl alcohol staple for concrete and mortar reinforcement. Compliance documentation is handled under EN 14889-2:2006 for polymer fibres in concrete and under ASTM C1116/C1116M-10a for synthetic fibre-reinforced concrete. Manufacturer technical data for the RSC15 grade list a nominal cut length of 15 mm, a nominal filament diameter from 0.10 mm to 0.20 mm, a density of approximately 1.30 g/cm³, a tensile strength from 880 MPa to 1,100 MPa, and a Young’s modulus from 25 GPa to 40 GPa. Elongation at break is reported from 6% to 10%. The fibre disperses in pan mixers, planetary mixers, and truck mixers when the addition sequence is controlled and when the mixer blades are not heavily worn. Alkali resistance allows the fibre to remain stable in hydrating cement paste, but structural contribution is determined by the governing concrete design standard and project-specific qualification testing, not by fibre tensile data alone.
The mass addition per cubic metre is calculated from the fibre density of 1.30 g/cm³. Table 1 gives the conversion for common design volume fractions.
| Volume fraction | Mass dosage |
|---|---|
| 0.25 vol% | 3.25 kg/m³ |
| 0.50 vol% | 6.50 kg/m³ |
| 0.75 vol% | 9.75 kg/m³ |
| 1.00 vol% | 13.00 kg/m³ |
| 1.50 vol% | 19.50 kg/m³ |
| 2.00 vol% | 26.00 kg/m³ |
In wet-mix shotcrete for rock support in NATM sequential excavation, RSC15-PVA fibre is batched at 0.5 vol% to 1.2 vol%, corresponding to 6.5 kg/m³ to 15.6 kg/m³. The mix typically combines CEM I 42.5 N or CEM I 52.5 N cement at 400 kg/m³ to 480 kg/m³, silica fume at 6% to 10% by binder mass, a water-to-binder ratio between 0.40 and 0.45, and a maximum aggregate size of 8 mm. The fibre is introduced after the aggregate and before full paste shearing; this sequence reduces balling in the transfer hose. Wet-mix machines with rotor capacities from 5 m³/h to 30 m³/h and nozzle air flows from 6 m³/min to 9 m³/min are used. Rebound on rough rock is influenced by nozzle angle, air pressure, and accelerator type. Published studies on PVA wet-mix shotcrete report rebound reductions of 20% to 40% relative to plain shotcrete at 1.0 vol% fibre addition, although site rebound also depends on nozzleman technique and rock surface preparation. Setting time is verified under EN 14488-2:2006, and flexural toughness is determined under EN 14488-3:2005. For temporary rock support, the residual strength class is set by the designer under the EN 14487-1:2005 sprayed concrete specification. The terminal product is a primary lining layer generally 50 mm to 150 mm thick. High fibre dosage increases pump pressure and may require a larger piston pump or wider hose. Alkali-free accelerating admixtures based on aluminium sulfate should not be assumed compatible with every fibre lot without a full-scale pumping trial, because paste flocculation can produce nozzle blockages.
In carousel-mould production of precast tunnel lining segments, external vibrators operate at 50 Hz to 100 Hz. RSC15-PVA fibre is added at 0.4 vol% to 0.9 vol%, equivalent to 5.2 kg/m³ to 11.7 kg/m³, to improve demoulding edge integrity and reduce spalling around gasket grooves. The concrete typically contains 420 kg/m³ to 480 kg/m³ of CEM I 52.5 N cement, silica fume or metakaolin at 6% to 10% by binder mass, a water-to-binder ratio between 0.32 and 0.38, and a maximum aggregate size of 10 mm. Workability is controlled by Vebe time or slump flow; the upper fibre limit is therefore determined by the ability of external vibration to remove entrained air and consolidate concrete around reinforcement cages and mould inserts. Production trials under EN 13369 and EN 206:2013+A2:2021 verify compressive strength, water absorption, and void density. Steam curing at 55°C to 60°C is common. The RSC15 grade retains tensile contribution at those temperatures, but autoclave curing above 120°C is outside the normal service condition and requires fibre-specific heat-ageing validation. Flexural tensile properties are measured on notched beams according to EN 14651:2005+A1:2007; designers commonly control residual strength values fR1 and fR3 at 0.5 mm and 3.0 mm crack mouth opening displacement. The terminal product is a high-precision segment ring with rubber gasket grooves and bolt pockets. Visible fibre clumping is a batch rejection criterion. The most common production limit is not compressive strength loss but a rise in vibrator power draw and incomplete consolidation around inserts.
Where heavy-duty ground-supported slabs require crack-width control without welded wire mesh, RSC15-PVA fibre is batched at 0.5 vol% to 1.0 vol%, equivalent to 6.5 kg/m³ to 13.0 kg/m³, in C32/40 concrete with a water-to-cement ratio not exceeding 0.45. The fibre functions as crack-width control, not as a replacement for structural reinforcement or arris protection at movement joints. Flexural toughness is verified by ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a or EN 14651:2005+A1:2007; the designer selects the required residual strength class based on racking loads and floor flatness categories under TR34 or ACI 360R-10. Fibre addition reduces visible plastic shrinkage cracking, but joint spacing and panel sizing still follow slab geometry and curling analysis. A production concern is the appearance of fibre fuzz on the trowelled surface. Delaying final power-trowel passes until fibre ends are buried and avoiding excessive dosage above the minimum crack-control level are the relevant control measures when a high-gloss surface is specified.
Repair mortars placed on reinforced concrete quay walls, dolphins, and bridge piles in splash and tidal zones are specified under EN 1504-3:2005 as structural or non-structural repair products. RSC15-PVA fibre is added at 0.25 vol% to 0.75 vol%, equivalent to 3.25 kg/m³ to 9.75 kg/m³, to reduce plastic settlement cracking and improve crack distribution around section changes. The mortar matrix usually has a maximum aggregate size between 2 mm and 4 mm, a polymer-modified or silica-fume-modified binder, and a compressive strength class of R3 or R4. Substrate preparation follows ICRI Guideline No. 310.2R-2013, with surface profile in the CSP 5 to 10 range. Bond strength is tested by EN 1542. Chloride ingress is characterised by NT Build 492 or ASTM C1202-22; fibre addition does not change the chloride diffusion coefficient of a sound matrix, but it reduces the probability of through-cracking that would create rapid ingress paths in service. The terminal product is a repaired tidal zone overlay of 20 mm to 40 mm thickness. The fibre is not a substitute for corrosion inhibitors or cathodic protection, and it must not be used with chloride-based set accelerators when embedded steel is present. Any claim of chloride resistance must be supported by migration coefficient data from the specific repair mortar under consideration.
| Application | Governing standard | Measured property | Acceptance output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet-mix shotcrete | EN 14488-3:2005 | Flexural toughness | Residual strength class |
| Precast segments | EN 14651:2005+A1:2007 | Load-CMOD | fR1, fR3 |
| Ground-supported slabs | ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a | Load-deflection | T150, f600 |
| Marine repair mortar | EN 1504-3:2005 | Compression, bond, chloride ingress | R3/R4 class, migration coefficient |
| Seismic ECC joint | ACI 374.1-05 | Interstory drift, damage | Prototype acceptance |
| Thin-shell panels | EN 12390-5 | Flexural tensile strength | Characteristic flexural strength |
In seismic retrofit and new construction of moment-resisting frames, synthetic fibre has been investigated for reducing stirrup congestion in external beam-column joints. RSC15-PVA fibre is added at 1.0 vol% to 2.0 vol%, equivalent to 13.0 kg/m³ to 26.0 kg/m³, when the mix is designed as an engineered cementitious composite rather than conventional concrete. Published laboratory data for PVA-ECC at 2.0 vol% report tensile strain capacity in the range of 3% to 5% under uniaxial loading, with average crack widths below 100 µm. Published data for the specific RSC15 cut length in full-scale beam-column prototypes is limited; mill certificates and large-scale cyclic tests under ACI 374.1-05 are required before replacement of shear links can be considered. The governing reinforced concrete codes, ACI 318-19 or EN 1992-1-1:2004, do not generally permit fibre to fully replace confining reinforcement in primary seismic elements without performance-based qualification. The terminal product is typically a self-consolidating joint infill or a permanently bonded retrofit panel. The limiting factors are matrix rheology at high fibre volume, dispersion in a high-torque pan mixer, and the need for a mould geometry that allows complete filling without vibration shadows.
For thin-shell architectural cladding panels and permanent formwork elements cast in vertical battery moulds, RSC15-PVA fibre is used at 0.4 vol% to 0.8 vol%, equivalent to 5.2 kg/m³ to 10.4 kg/m³, to reduce handling damage and drying shrinkage cracking after demoulding. The panels are cast with self-compacting concrete or high-slump concrete, with a maximum aggregate size of 8 mm. Demoulding is often completed at concrete compressive strengths as low as 10 MPa to 15 MPa; the fibre improves edge integrity during crane turnaround and transport. Flexural tensile strength of the concrete is tested according to EN 12390-5. The terminal product is a thin panel with thickness from 30 mm to 60 mm, used either as architectural cladding or as permanent formwork for cast-in-place walls. The critical production boundary is the battery mould gap; fibre balls larger than the gap cause surface defects, so the fibre should be dispersed in a planetary mixer for at least 60 seconds before the superplasticizer is introduced.
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Kuraray RSC15-PVA Fiber for Concrete Reinforcement is a synthetic polyvinyl alcohol monofilament fibre produced for cementitious matrices where crack-width suppression, plastic-shrinkage reduction, and post-crack residual flexural response are specified. The product is classified under ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 Type III synthetic fibre-reinforced concrete and, for European conformity, falls within the scope of EN 14889-2:2006 Class II polymer fibres where a CE marking requires declaration of fibre diameter, cut length, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and alkali resistance. The RSC15 designation identifies a specific fibre geometry and surface treatment within the Kuraray PVA portfolio; exact lot values for denier, cut length, and tensile capacity must be verified against the manufacturer’s certificate of analysis, but public technical literature on high-tenacity PVA cement reinforcement reports typical fibre diameters of 0.04 mm to 0.10 mm, cut lengths from 6 mm to 12 mm, density of approximately 1.3 g/cm³, tensile strength of 0.9 GPa to 1.6 GPa, elastic modulus of 25 GPa to 41 GPa, and elongation at break of 6 % to 10 %. The intrinsic hydrophilicity of PVA, derived from pendant hydroxyl groups, gives a higher fibre–cement interfacial affinity than olefinic polypropylene surfaces and eliminates the corrosion half-cell risk associated with steel fibres. Published data for RSC15-specific performance in every application configuration is limited; therefore compliance studies should be executed using the lot certificate and project-specific aggregate packing.
In contrast to polypropylene fibre systems, which depend on fibrillated surface texture and hydrophobic pull-out friction, PVA fibre in the RSC15 family is wetted by the aqueous cement pore solution. This wetting behaviour is directly measurable by comparing contact angle on PVA film to polypropylene film; PVA surfaces exhibit a water contact angle below 60° whereas polypropylene surfaces typically exceed 90°. In a hydrating portland cement matrix with pH above 12.5, the fibre surface develops interaction with calcium hydroxide and calcium silicate hydrate, increasing the critical fibre pull-out resistance. The consequence is that a lower volume fraction of PVA fibre can meet a specified residual strength target compared with polypropylene, although the exact equivalence depends on fibre length, aspect ratio, and aggregate type. For RSC15, the manufacturer-published data sheet remains the primary source for fibre length and aspect ratio; public studies of high-tenacity PVA fibres with aspect ratios from 40 to 100 report residual flexural strength improvement, but published data for RSC15-specific configuration is limited.
Unlike polypropylene fibrillated fibres that rely principally on mechanical interlock and pull-out friction, high-tenacity PVA fibres in the RSC15 family develop a strong interfacial shear resistance through hydrophilic hydration products. In a cement pore solution at pH above 12.5, the fibre surface is wetted by calcium hydroxide–saturated water, which promotes increased friction and potential low-level chemical bonding at the fibre–matrix interface. The resulting crack-bridging mechanism is characterized in flexural testing according to ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a: as the matrix cracks, fibres transfer tensile stress across the opening, and the load–deflection curve displays residual strengths at net deflections of L/150 and L/300. In comparison to polypropylene, the higher elastic modulus of PVA reduces early crack widening because fibre elongation is lower than that of olefinic fibres under equivalent stress. The post-crack residual capacity of a given dosage is measured by the residual strength indices at L/150 and L/300; published studies on PVA fibre-reinforced concrete with dosages up to 2.0 kg/m³ show residual flexural strengths in the range of 15 % to 35 % of the fibre-reinforced first-peak strength when tested under ASTM C1609. Higher-volume fractions used in strain-hardening cementitious composites, typically up to 26 kg/m³, produce multiple microcracking and tensile strain capacities above 1 %, but those formulations require high-range water reducers and viscosity-modifying admixtures to maintain fibre dispersion.
For RSC15, the distinction from lower-modulus synthetic fibres is most pronounced in early-age slab restraint testing under ASTM C1579-21, where the fibre reduces total crack area by bridging microcracks before coalescence into visible shrinkage cracks. The technical interpretation is that PVA fibre provides a higher specific bond strength than polypropylene at equal fibre volume because the fibre–matrix interface does not rely solely on surface friction; hydration products adhere to the fibre surface and create a denser interfacial transition zone over time. This mechanism is not identical to steel fibre anchorage, which depends on mechanical end hooks and a significantly higher modulus. Consequently, RSC15 can reduce crack spacing in non-structural elements but does not replicate the flexural stiffness enhancement of steel fibre at a given mass per cubic metre.
In production-scale batching, RSC15 addition requires sequencing that prevents fibre balling in twin-shaft compulsory mixers and planetary counter-current mixers. The fibres are added after coarse aggregates and a portion of batch water have been mixed for 30 s to 60 s, or through automated fibre dosing systems on ready-mixed concrete plants. The mixing time after fibre addition is extended by 2 min to 5 min compared with plain concrete to break agglomerates and distribute individual filaments. Slump measured under ASTM C143/C143M-20 typically decreases with increasing fibre dosage; the magnitude depends on aggregate surface texture, fines content, and water-reducing admixture dosage. For conventional concrete with 0.5 kg/m³ to 2.0 kg/m³ PVA fibre, no adjustment beyond standard water reducer is usually required, but dosages above 3 kg/m³ may require a high-range water-reducing admixture conforming to ASTM C494/C494M-24 Type A or Type F to restore target workability. In ready-mixed production, discharge time and drum revolutions must be monitored because extended mixing at elevated slurry temperatures can increase PVA fibre fibrillation and surface wear, though no corrosion reaction occurs. Batch-to-batch variation in fibre count and cut length can be assessed by washing fresh concrete through a 75 µm sieve and counting retained fibres; published data for RSC15-specific retention rates is limited.
The long-term behaviour of PVA fibres in concrete is governed by the resistance of polyvinyl alcohol to alkaline hydrolysis. In portland cement pore solution at pH 12.5 to 13.5, PVA fibres are generally stable at ambient service temperatures, but continuous hot-water or steam-curing above 80 °C can accelerate hydrolysis and reduce fibre tensile strength. Published data for RSC15 under autoclave curing cycles is limited; therefore the fibre should not be assumed suitable for autoclaved aerated concrete without testing. Absorption of moisture by PVA fibre is higher than that of polypropylene; polyethylene storage bags must remain sealed when relative humidity exceeds 60 %. Fibres that have absorbed surface moisture may agglomerate in the mixer and produce spherical fibre balls, particularly in mixes with low water-to-cement ratios below 0.35 and high superplasticizer content. A dispersion fault mode observed on ready-mixed plants is the accumulation of fibre balls behind the stationary blade sweep of a twin-shaft mixer; correcting this requires a longer dry-mix distribution phase before water addition. Slump loss induced by fibre addition can be quantified by ASTM C143/C143M-20; when slump retention beyond 60 min is specified, mixing water and admixture sequences should be validated with a full-scale trial batch rather than extrapolated from laboratory mortar tests because the shear environment and moisture interaction differ.
| Property | High-tenacity PVA fibre (RSC15 family) | Fibrillated polypropylene fibre | Hooked-end steel fibre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.3 g/cm³ | 0.91 g/cm³ | 7.85 g/cm³ |
| Tensile strength | 0.9–1.6 GPa | 0.3–0.7 GPa | 1.0–2.0 GPa |
| Elastic modulus | 25–41 GPa | 3–10 GPa | 200 GPa |
| Elongation at break | 6–10 % | 15–25 % | 3–5 % |
| Surface chemistry | Hydrophilic hydroxyl/acetate groups | Hydrophobic olefinic surface | Metallic substrate; corrosion-dependent |
| Alkaline resistance in pH 12.5 pore solution | Stable; no corrosion | Stable; no corrosion | Corrosion possible after chloride ingress |
Values in the table represent typical ranges for fibre classes reported in public technical literature, not lot-specific certified RSC15 data. Project qualification requires the manufacturer’s certificate of analysis and trial-batch performance data.
Selection between PVA fibre and hooked-end steel fibre involves a trade-off between modulus and durability. Steel fibre with a density of 7.85 g/cm³ and elastic modulus of 200 GPa provides higher post-crack residual capacity for a given fibre volume, but requires minimum concrete cover and is vulnerable to chloride-induced corrosion at crack mouths where passivation breaks down. PVA fibre with a density of 1.3 g/cm³ and modulus of 25 GPa to 41 GPa does not carry the same stiffness and cannot replace primary steel reinforcement in structural design; however, it eliminates the need for corrosion-control cover in non-structural crack-control slabs, tunnel linings, and repair mortars. In comparison with fibrillated polypropylene, RSC15-family PVA fibres provide higher interfacial bond strength due to surface hydroxyl groups, which increases residual strength at smaller crack openings and reduces plastic-shrinkage crack severity under ASTM C1579-21. The lower elongation at break of PVA relative to polypropylene means that PVA fibres engage load at smaller deformations but may rupture in wide cracks, whereas polypropylene fibres tend to pull out. Published direct comparisons of RSC15 with specific steel fibre grades are limited; performance equivalence must be tested under ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a for flexural residual strength and ASTM C1550-20 for round panel energy absorption.
The difference from other synthetic PVA fibre products in the same portfolio is often controlled by fibre length, surface treatment, and denier. RSC15 should be differentiated from lower-tenacity PVA products intended for textile or paper reinforcement because cementitious applications require a fibre that retains its geometry during the high-shear mixing sequence and remains distributed after placement. The model is not intended as a tensile reinforcement replacement for rebar, prestressing strand, or structural welded-wire reinforcement. Its function is crack control and toughness improvement in appropriate matrices.
| Standard | Scope | Use in RSC15 evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM C1116/C1116M-23 | Type III synthetic fibre-reinforced concrete | Classification of PVA fibre concrete |
| EN 14889-2:2006 Class II | Polymer fibres for concrete | CE marking and declaration of performance |
| ASTM C1609/C1609M-19a | Flexural performance of fibre-reinforced concrete | Residual strength at L/150 and L/300 |
| ASTM C1579-21 | Plastic-shrinkage cracking | Early-age crack-area reduction |
| ASTM C1550-20 | Round panel energy absorption | Toughness comparison with steel fibre |
| ASTM C143/C143M-20 | Slump of hydraulic-cement concrete | Workability loss after fibre addition |
| ASTM C39/C39M-21 | Compressive strength | Verify no unacceptable strength regression |
Because RSC15 is a synthetic fibre, it should not be substituted for structural reinforcement without calculation under ACI 544.4R-18 or equivalent design standards. The operational boundary for the product is defined by the certified dosage range, fibre length, and aspect ratio on the lot certificate; exceeding the recommended upper dosage without a corresponding increase in fine aggregate or admixture can create fibre clumps that reduce compressive strength measured under ASTM C39/C39M-21 and compromise surface finish. In mixes with silica fume content above 8 % by mass of cement, additional water-reducing admixture should be batched before fibre addition to avoid local paste viscosity spikes that inhibit fibre distribution. No significant incompatibility with normal portland cement, slag cement, or fly ash is reported for PVA fibres, but compatibility with lithium-based admixtures and specialty cementitious systems must be confirmed by batching trials because published data for RSC15 in those matrices is limited. Storage of fibre packages below 60 % relative humidity and protection from direct solar exposure are required to maintain fibre count accuracy and prevent pre-hydration of the surface film. The product is not classified as a hazardous substance under REACH for normal handling; nonetheless, airborne fibre dust generated during cutting of palletized bulk bags should be controlled with local exhaust ventilation. Final acceptance on a project should be based on a full-scale trial mix evaluated for slump retention, plastic-shrinkage crack reduction, and residual flexural strength according to the standards referenced above.
