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© Concrete Canvas Ltd. 2012
The information contained herein is offered free of charge and is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate. However, since the circumstances and conditions in which such information and the products
discussed therein can be used may vary and are beyond our control, we make no warranty, express or implied, of merchantability, fitness or otherwise, or against patent infringement, and we accept no
liability, with respect to or arising from use of such information or any such product.
www.concretecanvas.co.ukinfo@concretecanvas.co.uk+ 44 (0) 845 680 1908 www
In late 2011, Concrete Canvas (CC) was specified to line melt water channels at an open pit mine in southern Chile. The pit, mined for gold,
silver, copper and other minerals is located in the Andes mountains, in the southern reaches of the Atacama Desert, at the border between
Chile and Argentina.
Melt water erosion, high UV levels and wind speeds of over 100km/hr had degraded the existing channels over a number of years. The integrity
of the channel network is vital to avoid flooding of the pit from glacier melt water. Located at over 5000m above sea level and subject to sub-
zero conditions, traditional concrete solutions are cost prohibitive, time intensive and difficult to install.
Using plant, spreader beam equipment and bulk rolls of CC, the contractors were able to line the channels at a rate of over 200m/hr. The speed
and ease of installation was critical to the safety of the installers. To combat the low temperature conditions, frost sheets and warm water from
the nearby mine were used to hydrate the CC.
Different thicknesses of CC were used to match variations in ground quality and profile at different sections of the channels. 1, 2 or 3 longitudinal
CC layers were used as the width and depth of the channels varied. Adjacent CC layers were overlapped and screwed together using collated
auto-fed screws, whilst joints and steep sections were fixed to the rocky substrate using steel ground pegs.
In total, over 52’000sqm of CC was used to successfully line the remote network of channels in extreme conditions.
Project Info
CC5, CC8 and CC13
22 / 02 / 2012
52’000sqm
1-3 longitudinal layers
Alta Montaña III region,
Chile
- Melt water channel
network.
- High altitude.
- Low temperature.
- Variable ground
conditions.
- CC installed at
200m/hr.
- 52’000sqm CC used.
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Channel section being lined with CC at high altitude
Extreme
conditions
YTRADELP www.polytrade.cl

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Canal Alta Montaña, Chile
Alta Montaña III region, Chile
Spreader beam and plant bulk roll dispensing
Fixing longitudinal CC layer to channel bank
CC bulk rolls
Cutting CC layer to length using hand knives
Degraded melt water channel
CC laid at rate of 200m/hr

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Project Info
Bulk CC8 and CC13
22 / 02 / 2012
10’150sqm
Transverse layers
British Columbia,
Canada
- Carrier drain directing
effluent from coal
mine to settling pond.
- Low temperature.
- Variable ground
conditions.
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Completed lined ditch channel and culvert.
Concrete Canvas (CC) is a versatile construction material that has a wide variety of applications across a range of sectors. CC has predominantly
been used for ditch lining in the private civil construction industry, but increasingly CC is being specified in the mining sector for general water
management projects across the globe. CC can be installed quickly, and is uniquely suited for installation in remote, difficult to access sites of
all terrains and in all weather conditions making it ideal for time-critical mining works.
Following the recent success of a 52’000sqm CC installation in the Alta Montaña III region of Chile, Ledcor Group, acting on behalf of Walter
Energy, specified CC as a protective liner for a large carrier ditch, directing mining industrial waste water from Willow Creek mine to a nearby
settling pond.
Willow Creek is a large open pit mine located 45 kilometres west of the town of Chetwynd, in northeast British Columbia. The mine is a truck
and shovel operation and is capable of producing both hard coking coal and low-volatile PCI coal for steelmaking.
The customer specified that the lined ditch had to be as water proof as possible, handle freeze/thaw conditions, and be easy to repair. The
carrier ditch was 10.5-12 meters wide, between 3 and 5 meters deep and approximately 650 metres long. The overall size, performance
requirements of this particular application, as well as the cost potential meant that Ledcor were reluctant to use Shotcrete.
CC was dispensed in bulk rolls from spreader beam equipment and was cut to length on site, minimising waste as lengths were cut specifically
to each section of profile. No perishable formwork or additional reinforcement was required.
Tailings
containment

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British Columbia Ditch Lining cont.
Large settling pond collecting effluent from nearby Willow Creek coal mine, British Columbia, Canada
Using plant to unroll CC bulk rolls across channelCC dispensed from bulk rollsExcavating the sump and constructing the culvert
CC layers were laid transversely across the width of the ditch, with adjacent layers overlapped by 100mm and beaded with Sikaflex 1A to
create water tight joints. Overlaps were fixed together using 25mm screws for neatness and flushness. Where possible, end edges were buried
with loose shale and aggregate to prevent water ingress under the CC and to provide a neat seamless termination with the crest of the ditch.
The ditch was excavated from a blasted rock substrate, with some sections reinforced with concrete block work. CC layers were pinned into
position at the top of the profile using 10” Ardox galvanized spikes. When fixing CC to the concrete block work sections, Hilti rock anchors
were used. In its unset flexible state prior to hydration, CC can be fixed to almost every type of substrate using standard off-the-shelf fixings
or adhesives.
The ditch terminated in a 4m diameter corrugated steel and concrete block work culvert and sump which was also lined with CC to ensure
minimum water loss, as water was contaminated from tailings and could not come into contact with any other water sources.
Grouting was chosen in areas that may be prone to heavier flows and related scouring. In an effort to minimize the possibility of potential debris
dams, grouting also eliminated the lip that was caused from the overlap of CC layers.
The fibre reinforcement inherent in CC gives a durability and design life well above competitor geomembrane products, whilst the integral PVC
backing ensures minimal water loss in the carrier ditch. The CC will moss over in time, blending in with the surrounding environment but will
prevent root growing vegetation, reducing the need for maintenance of the ditch.

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Swale was formed on the north ridge of the ditch at a nearby tree line to collect surface rainfall from an adjacent hillside.
6” steel anchor nails with 1” hex head washersApplying Sikaflex beading to joints
Hydration of CC using bowser equipment
Lining the culvert with CC8
British Columbia Ditch Lining cont.

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Project Info
Bulk CC8
24 / 02 / 2012
125sqm
Longitudinal layers
Chillepin, Chile
Pacifitek LTDA
Ditch to divert irrigation
waters from a mineral
transport pipeline
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Completed lined ditch channel.
In February 2012, Concrete Canvas (CC) was specified to line a ditch that would channel irrigation water away from a mineral transport pipeline
owned by the Los Pelambres Mining Company in Chillepin, Chile.
Traditionally, poured concrete would have been used to line the ditch. However, site access for plant and machinery was limited and the project
had time constraints due to upcoming work on an archeological site adjacent to the proposed location of the ditch. CC was deemed to be the
perfect solution to these problems due to its portability, speed of installation and ease of use in difficult to access areas.
The ditch site was prepared and cleared and two bulk rolls of CC8 delivered to site using a crane truck and spreader beam equipment. The
CC8 was unrolled at the foot of the site and carried by the installation team along the length of the proposed ditch in two sections, before being
shaped to the ditch profile and fixed in place with ground pegs. A 200mm overlap was created on the join between each section in the direction
of water flow and secured with screws. The CC was then hydrated using man-portable water tanks, poured along the full length of the ditch.
A 14-man installation team were able to complete the 125sqm ditch in four hours, with little training and readily available hand tools. The nearby
archaeological site remained undisturbed and the Los Pelambres Mining Company, impressed with the ease and speed with which CC was
installed have already specified that it be used in several future projects.
No plant
required

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Cleared and prepared ditch site
CC fixed in place using ground pegs and hand tools
CC8 delivered by crane truck and spreader beam
CC undergoing hydration
One length of CC8 carried to site by installation team

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Project Info
CC8 Batched Rolls
06 / 06 / 2011
20sqm per opening
Nuna Innovations Inc.
Vertical layers
Creighton Mine,
Ontario, Canada
CC used to create a
simple, effective vent
closure in remote,
hard to access areas
of the mine in a timely,
safe and cost effective
manner.
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Completed vent wall closure
In underground mining, up to 35% of the cost of
running the mine is devoted to supplying a fresh
air supply and ventilation. When the mining is
finished in a particular shaft it is often closed
and a vent wall is erected, as a fresh air supply
is no longer needed. In the past this could
prove logistically difficult, requiring multiple
work crews and specialised equipment, which
are often difficult to mobilise in remote areas
of a mine.
Nuna Innovations Inc. were commissioned
by mine owners Vale Canada Ltd, to supply
Concrete Canvas (CC) and relevant installation
advice on erecting vent seals at Creighton
Mine, an underground nickel mine in Ontario,
Canada. The use of CC has changed the way
vent walls are now constructed within the mine.
Traditionally shotcrete would have been used,
which not only requires multiple crews for
installation but also planning and considerable
expense.
Batched rolls of CC8 were chosen for the
project; these are man-portable and the length
of each roll matched the diameter of the vent
openings, reducing waste. CC also gave
favourable results during concussion testing,
which was important due to the fact that
blasting was still taking place in nearby shafts. CC interface with floor and joints screwed every 200mm

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CC undergoing hydration prior to installationCC trimmed to size using hand tools
Attaching CC to the wire frame using 8mm gauge industrial cable ties
Spray foam was used to fill any voids between the vent wall and the surrounding rock

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Creighton Mine Vent Wall Closure Case Study Cont.
Very little training or instruction is required in the use of CC; the mine’s installation team were fully instructed in just under two hours and the
installation was completed without the need for specialist equipment or labour.
Several vent seals were constructed using CC, each with an average area of 20sqm. On each vent opening a brattice-backed wire frame was
erected and CC was cut and hydrated, before being fastened to the frame using 8mm industrial gauge cable ties to create the vent wall. Voids
between the surrounding rock and the CC vent wall were then filled with a low off-gassing spray foam that is approved for underground use.
Vale were impressed with their first experience of CC and cited the following advantages over their traditional methods as reasons for the
success of the installation and why they would recommend CC for future projects:
- Quick installation
- Less challenging to install than shotcrete
- Safe in remote locations
- Cost savings of around 20% compared to traditional methods
The speed of installation on the project reduced planned closure times, which in turn resulted in financial and time savings. The use of CC in
remote areas also meant that fewer workers were involved in moving equipment, supplies and machinery, allowing further savings.
CC is now used to erect vent walls in three Vale properties and is scheduled for use in other underground mines.
“We think that the CC is tailor-made for our remote mine locations. It offers us a
reliable solution for these areas and makes our daily work lives easier.”
Paul Aho
Ventilation Specialist
Creighton Mine
Detail showing partial opening used to control/interrupt air flow

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Vent walls had also been constructed out of the gypsum board the mine produced, but these were prone to rotting
Concrete Canvas (CC) was specified in the construction of vent walls at Marblaegis Mine, an underground gypsum mine in
Loughborough, UK. The mine’s owners, British Gypsum, had encountered problems in building vent walls in the past; using
concrete blocks was a slow, expensive process requiring specialist labour. Brattice cloth could only be used as a temporary
measure due to its durability, whilst their self-produced gypsum boards were quick to install but prone to rotting. British
Gypsum therefore required a durable, flexible, cost-effective alternative.
Using batched rolls of CC5 meant that the 3-man installation team were able to carry the material to site without any
plant or specialist equipment. After being cut to length on site using hand tools, the CC5 was hung, shaped and fixed to a
British Gypsum branded aluminium stud wall system and securely fastened using wooden battens, 200mm steel strips and
screws. The whole structure was then hydrated using a portable water supply.
British Gypsum were very impressed with the end result. They were confident that CC would prove to be more durable
than brattice cloth, whilst being less expensive and easier to mobilise and install than concrete block walls
Project Info
CC5 Batched Rolls
25 / 10 / 2012
20sqm per opening
British Gypsum
Vertical layers
Marblaegis Mine,
Loughborough, UK
CC used as effective
alternative to traditional
mining vent wall
solutions.
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Completed vent wall closure

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Battens, 200mm steel and screws used to provide strong fixing to rockConcrete Canvas cut to size, held in place and screwed to frame
Completed vent wall closure using Concrete CanvasCC hydrated using on-site equipment
Frame created using British Gypsum branded aluminium stud wall system

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Project Info
CC5 Bulk Rolls
02 / 10 / 2012
53,200sqm
Transverse layers
3rd Region of
Atacama, Chile
Lined ditch to divert
glacial melt waters
away from copper mine
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Section of CC-lined ditch undergoing hydration
The Caserones Project is a ditch-lining project located in the 3rd Region of Atacama, 800 kilometres to the north of Santiago,
with the aim of diverting glacial melt water that threatens to flood a nearby copper mine, owned and operated by Minera
Lumina Copper Chile (MLCC). The project was being undertaken in a remote and challenging environment, with the bulk of the
installation over 4,000m above sea level in an area subject to temperatures ranging from -10o
C to 20o
C.
CC5 was delivered to site in bulk rolls and dispensed using a spreader beam and crane truck. Lengths of 6.4m were
cut on site to allow the CC to be laid across the width of the ditch, then held in place with ground pegs before being buried in
an anchor trench situated at the head of the ditch sides. Adjoining layers of CC were overlapped by 100mm in the direction of
water flow and held together with screws. The CC was hydrated using a sprayer truck, dispensing water that had been mixed
with a CC-approved accelerant to help the material set faster in the cold environment. The hydrated CC was then covered in
plastic sheeting for three days to again protect it from freezing temperatures during setting.
CC’s ease of use meant that two 5-man teams were able to install it at an average rate of 144sqm/hour, without the
need for specialist training, equipment or heavy plant. 53,200sqm of CC5 was installed in total.
Extreme
conditions

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Parts of the ditch had been lined using poured concrete in the past
Water/accelerant mix dispensed from water tanker during hydration
Completed lined section of ditch
The ditch was graded and cleared of rocks and debris prior to installation
CC pegged to head of ditch edges and buried in anchor trench
Hydrated CC covered with plastic sheeting to protect from low temperatures

Concrete Canvas Ltd.
CF37 5SP, United Kingdom
11
EN12467:2004
Concrete Canvas:
Fibre cement sheet
NT
Oversize sheets
Class 1, Category A
Reaction to Fire B-s1,d0
TM
Concrete Canvas™
Material Data Post Set CC Properties
Pre-Set CC Properties
CC Physical Properties*
Setting
Method of Hydration
Working Time 1-2 hours subject to ambient temperature
CC will achieve 80% strength at 24 hours after hydration.
Spray the fibre surface with water until it feels wet to touch
for several minutes after spraying.
Re-spray the CC again after 1 hour if:
- Installing CC5
- Installing CC on a steep or vertical surface
- Installing in warm climates
Notes:
- CC cannot be over hydrated and an excess of water is always
recommended.
- Minimum ratio of water:CC is 1:2 by weight.
- Do not jet high pressure water directly onto the CC as this may wash
a channel in the material.
- CC can be hydrated using saline or non-saline water.
- CC will hydrate and set underwater.
- CC has a working time of 1-2 hours after hydration. Do not move CC
once it has begun to set.
- Working time will be reduced in hot climates.
- CC will set hard in 24 hours but will continue to gain strength for
years.
- If CC is not fully saturated, the set may be delayed and strength
reduced. If the set is delayed, re-wet with a large excess of water.
* Indicative values
Freeze-thaw testing (ASTM C1185)
Freeze-thaw testing (BS EN 12467:2004 part 5.5.2)
Soak-Dry testing (BS EN 12467:2004 part 5.5.5)
Water impermeability (BS EN 12467:2004 part 5.4.4)
Patent Protected
Pat Pend/Granted: AE (766/2011), AE (932/2006), ARIPO (AP/P/2011/005842), AU (2010209524), AU (2005254788),
BR (PI1005309-3), CA (2655054), CA (2749991), CA (2570532), CL (01809-2011), CN(201080005835.6), CO (11-092824),
EP (2027319), EP (2393970), EP (1766162), GB (2455008), HK (12100037.1), ID (W00 2011 028 25), IL (214350),
IN (5429/DELNP/2011), IN (20/DELNP/2007), JP (2011-546952), KR (10-2011-7020005), MN (3644),MX (MX/a/2011/007802),
MY (PI2011003536), NO (20070245), NZ (594823), OM (OM/P/2011/00162), PH (1-2011-501468), RU (2011134016),
RU (2386767), SG (201105143-0), TH (1101001335), US (8287982), US (US-2010-0233417-A1), US (13/146836),
US(7721749), US (13/708074), VN (1-2011-02023), ZA (2009/00222), ZA (2011/06289), ZA (2007/0471) and other patents
pending.
Strength
Other
Abrasion Resistance (DIN 52108)
- Similar to twice that of OPC
Manning’s Value (ASTM D6460)
CBR Puncture Resistance EN ISO 12236: 2007 (CC8 & CC13 only)
- Min. Push-through force
- Max. Deflection at Peak
Standard Test Method for Impact Resistance of Pipeline Coatings
ASTM G13 (CC13 only)
Very high early strength is a fundamental characteristic of CC.
Typical strengths and physical characteristics are as follows:
Compressive tests based on ASTM C109 – 02 (initial crack)
- 10 day compressive failure stress (MPa)
Bending tests based on BS EN 12467:2004 (initial crack)
- 10 day bending failure stress (MPa)
- 10 day bending Youngs modulus (MPa)
Tensile data (Initial crack)
40
3.4
180
2.69kN
38mm
Passed
Passed**
n = 0.011
Passed
200 Cycles
Passed
Passed
Max 0.10 gm/cm2
Tensile strength (kN/m)
Length direction Width direction
CC5 6.7 3.8
CC8 8.6 6.6
CC13 19.5 12.8
The information contained herein is offered free of charge and is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate. However, since
the circumstances and conditions in which such information and the products discussed therein can be used may vary and
are beyond our control, we make no warranty, express or implied, of merchantability, fitness or otherwise, or against patent
infringement, and we accept no liability, with respect to or arising from use of such information or any such product.
** For containment applications where a 100% waterproof seal is required, it is recommended to
use CC as a protective overlay in combination with an appropriate sealed membrane liner. CC is
not recommended as the sole barrier layer where 100% impermeability is critical.
Post set data is based on CC hydrated in accordance with the CC
Hydration Guide.
Reaction to Fire
CC has achieved Euroclass B certification:
BS EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 B-s1, d0
CC has achieved MSHA approval:
30 CFR, Part 7, Subchapter B, Section 7.24
© Concrete Canvas Ltd 2013
Contact Concrete Canvas
CC Patent Information
CC Thickness
(mm)
Batch Roll
Size (sqm)
Bulk Roll
Size (sqm)
Roll Width
(m)
CC5 5 10 200 1.0
CC8 8 5 125 1.1
CC13 13 N/A 80 1.1
CC Mass (unset)
(kg/m2)
Density (unset)
(kg/m3)
Density (set)
(kg/m3)
CC5 7.0 1500 +30-35%
CC8 12.0 1500 +30-35%
CC13 19.0 1500 +30-35%
For further information or technical support contact:
www www.concretecanvas.co.ukinfo@concretecanvas.co.uk+ 44 (0) 845 680 1908
* Occasionally there will be a Beam Fault (fabric imperfection under 100mm wide running across
the width) in a Bulk Roll. This fault is unavoidable due to the manufacturing process and the fault
will be clearly marked with a red tag, there will be a maximum of (1) one Beam Fault in any Bulk
Roll. A joint may need to be made on site where there is a Beam Fault as the material at a fault
will not reach the performance specified in this Data Sheet. The maximum un-useable material
due to any Beam Fault will be 100mm. There are no beam faults in standard batched rolls.
Address
Unit 3, Block A22,
Trefforest Ind. Estate,
CF37 5SP, UK
Email: info@concretecanvas.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 845 690 1908
Web: www.concretecanvas.com

Concrete Canvas Lining Protects Chilean Mine Channels

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