Highly Flexible Chopped Fiber Coating Apparatus

Ceramics, Composites and Coatings Company (3C Co) propose to demonstrate the feasibility of a flexible coating process to coat large volumes of metal fibers and wires in a unique and rapid way. The coating will contain a bonding layer of vitreous enamel ground coat and outer layer of reactive materials to bond to concrete. Both high and low temperature coating formulations will be evaluated. Several pounds of coated fibers will be produced in Phase I to show the potential benefits and scalability of the proprietary process. Concrete containing coated fibers will be compared with uncoated fibers to assess performance During Phase I, 3C Co will show the capability of coating various diameter and lengths of wire and fibers with repeatable and uniform thickness coatings. The unique process will clearly demonstrate fibers can be coated and fired in large quantities without sticking to one another. Production costs will be estimated in Phase I and a preliminary design of the manufacturing system will be completed in the Phase I Option. During Phase II, the results of Phase I will be used to design and build the pilot coating facility for the production of hundreds of pounds of reactive porcelain enamel coated fibers.