| HS Code | 514044 |
| Product Name | SikaFiber PPM-6 - Micro Polypropylene Fiber |
| Manufacturer | Sika |
| Material | 100% polypropylene |
| Fiber Type | Micro monofilament polypropylene fiber |
| Color | White / natural |
| Form | Monofilament fibers |
| Length | 6 mm |
| Diameter | 18-20 microns |
| Aspect Ratio | 300-333 |
| Density | 0.91 g/cm³ |
| Specific Gravity | 0.91 |
| Melting Point | 160-170 °C |
| Ignition Point | >350 °C |
| Tensile Strength | 300-400 MPa |
| Elastic Modulus | 3.5-4.0 GPa |
| Alkali Resistance | Excellent |
| Acid Resistance | Excellent |
| Salt Resistance | Excellent |
| Water Absorption | Nil |
| Chemical Stability | Inert in concrete |
| Thermal Conductivity | Low |
| Electrical Conductivity | Low |
| Magnetic Properties | Non-magnetic |
| Typical Dosage | 0.6-1.8 kg/m³ |
| Packaging | 600 g bags |
| Shelf Life | 24 months |
| Storage Conditions | Dry, cool, protected from direct sunlight |
As an accredited SikaFiber PPM-6 - Micro Polypropylene Fiber factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | SikaFiber PPM-6 packaging: 600 g water-soluble bags, supplied 20 bags per carton, total quantity 12 kg. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | SikaFiber PPM-6 micro polypropylene fiber, palletized bags loaded into a 20′ FCL dry container, secured and braced for transport. |
| Shipping | SikaFiber PPM-6 is shipped as a non-hazardous, solid construction fiber in sealed moisture-resistant bags, typically palletized and shrink-wrapped. Transport in clean, dry vehicles; protect from moisture, punctures, and extreme heat. No hazardous-materials placarding normally required. Follow the SDS and local transport regulations. Store and handle per manufacturer guidelines. |
| Storage | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in original, unopened packaging. Keep away from moisture, direct sunlight, heat, ignition sources, and incompatible chemicals. Protect from physical damage; keep containers sealed and palletized off the ground. Ensure clean, dry conditions; prevent water or contaminant contact. Avoid extreme temperatures, stack safely, practice first-in, first-out rotation, and observe shelf life and local regulations. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life: 24 months from production when stored in original, unopened packaging, dry conditions, away from moisture and direct sunlight. |
Plastic shrinkage cracking in exposed ready-mix slab placements is driven by the imbalance between bleed water delivery to the surface and evaporation demand from wind, concrete temperature, and ambient humidity. ACI 305.1 identifies an evaporation rate of 0.5 kg/m²/h as the threshold above which mitigation is required. SikaFiber PPM-6 is a 6 mm monofilament polypropylene microfibre added at 0.6–0.9 kg/m³ for this failure mode. The filaments disperse through the cement paste and increase the strain capacity of the fresh mortar phase during the plastic state. This is not a structural reinforcement mechanism; the hardened flexural strength of the slab remains controlled by the concrete grade and steel reinforcement. The critical process variable is mixing energy. In a twin-shaft mixer operating at 18–22 rpm, the fibre is usually introduced after 60% of the batch water has been added to prevent electrostatic adhesion to dry aggregate. In truck-mixed delivery, a minimum of 5 min at full mixing speed is required for uniform distribution. Slump loss from the fibre addition is typically within 10–20 mm at 0.9 kg/m³, but the exact value depends on aggregate fines content and high-range water reducer dosage. Dose-response verification should be performed with ASTM C1579-21 to measure cracked area ratio under controlled evaporation. Field fogging and wind barriers remain part of the placement protocol because the fibre does not eliminate evaporative demand. Published data for this specific product in non-air-entrained paving mixes with unusual local aggregates is limited, so each aggregate combination should be subjected to a small-scale batching trial before full production.
At stripping ages between 8–12 h, thin-walled precast elements remain in the pre-fibre microcracking phase, and the edges are vulnerable to shock loading applied by tilting tables or lifting anchors. SikaFiber PPM-6 at 0.6–0.8 kg/m³ reduces the propagation of microcracks from form corners and inhibits edge pop-outs during transport to the curing chamber. The fibre is mixed in a pan mixer or planetary mixer, and the dosing should be directed into the moving aggregate stream rather than into the cement powder. Agglomeration is a known field failure when a low-shear pan mixer receives the entire bag as a single discharge; the resulting fibre balls appear on the cast surface and cannot be removed by normal vibration. Static electricity aggravates balling in dry conditions below 40% RH. The use of pre-blended dry mortar packaging or a slow metering hopper eliminates the problem. CE marking for this application is covered by EN 14889-2:2006; SikaFiber PPM-6 is classified within the polymer fibre category used for concrete reinforcement, and the manufacturer’s declaration of performance should list fibre length, equivalent diameter, tensile strength, and alkali resistance. For precast elements that also use steel reinforcement, the microfibre does not change the structural load path. Its function is confined to the first 24 h after placing. The dosage should not be increased beyond 1.0 kg/m³ without a slump retention test because the higher surface area of the filaments can increase water demand in low water/cement ratio mixes. Compaction should follow the standard external vibrator schedule; excessive vibration can segregate the microfibres toward the form face and create a surface finish defect.
In dry-mix shotcrete for rock slope stabilization and temporary tunnel linings, the sprayed concrete loses rebound mass and develops plastic shrinkage cracks when the nozzle discharge rate exceeds the surface absorption capacity of the substrate. Adding SikaFiber PPM-6 to the dry pre-bagged shotcrete mix at 0.6–0.9 kg/m³ provides a three-dimensional fibre network within the fresh sprayed layer. The fibres are blended into the dry mix before the nozzle water ring is introduced. The principal function is not to increase hardened flexural toughness; that role belongs to steel or synthetic macro fibres tested under EN 14488-3. The microfibre instead restricts crack opening during the first 4–8 h after spraying, when the cement paste has not developed enough tensile strength to resist rapid moisture loss from the surface. Rebound behaviour is affected by fibre length: at 6 mm the filaments do not significantly increase the rebound rate, but overdose above 1.0 kg/m³ can increase dust generation during dry-mix spraying and reduce pump stability in wet-mix operations. In wet-mix shotcrete, the fibre is added to the concrete truck at the plant and the mix is discharged through the piston pump. The fibre should be fully dispersed before the accelerator is dosed at the nozzle; otherwise, fibres may be trapped in the accelerator spray zone and form local agglomerates or nozzle blockages. Compressive strength test specimens should be prepared in accordance with EN 14488-1, and plastic shrinkage performance can be checked with ASTM C1579-21 on sprayed material. Published data for this specific product in dry-mix shotcrete with rapid set accelerators is limited, but the fibre is compatible with alkali-free accelerating admixtures used at standard dosage rates for these mixes.
When a high-strength concrete tunnel segment is exposed to fire, the dense microstructure and low permeability restrict the escape of water vapour during heating. Pore pressure builds until the tensile capacity of the concrete is exceeded, causing layers to spall from the hot surface. Polypropylene microfibres melt between 160–170 °C, leaving an interconnected network of microchannels that relieve pore pressure before thermal stress becomes critical. SikaFiber PPM-6 is used for this passive fire protection function at dosages of 1.5–2.0 kg/m³ in high-strength mixes. The dosage is not a fixed rule; it depends on concrete moisture content, aggregate type, compressive strength, and the fire curve selected for testing. Verification should be conducted under ISO 834-1:1999 or a specified hydrocarbon fire curve using slab or panel specimens that represent the actual segment thickness and reinforcement arrangement. In tunnel segment production, the fibre is weighed in a separate hopper and dosed into the pan mixer after 70% of the mixing water has been introduced. Mixing time is extended by 45–60 s after the fibre addition. High-range water reducer should be added after the fibres are dispersed to prevent co-absorption on the fibre surface. The microfibre does not contribute meaningful post-crack flexural toughness; its fire function is governed by the number of filaments per unit volume and the percolation threshold of the melt channels. A dosage below 1.2 kg/m³ may not provide a continuous channel network in very dense mixes, while a dosage above 2.5 kg/m³ can produce unacceptable workability loss and increases the risk of fibre balling in low water/cement ratio mixes. Published data for this specific product in segment mixes with C90/105 strength is limited; furnace tests on production panels are the only reliable validation.
| Application verification parameter | Standard or test designation | Relevant fibre property |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic shrinkage cracking of concrete | ASTM C1579-21 | Fresh-state fibre network at 0.6–0.9 kg/m³ |
| Polymer fibre conformity for concrete | EN 14889-2:2006 | Class I microfibre classification, alkali resistance |
| Sprayed concrete hardened performance | EN 14488-3 | Not primary for microfibre; used for macro-fibre flexural toughness |
| Fire spalling test exposure | ISO 834-1:1999 | Melt channel formation at 160–170 °C |
| Repair mortar performance | EN 1504-3 | Early-age crack bridging in overlays |
In flowable calcium sulfate screed installations, surface evaporation, settlement, and restrained shrinkage act during a prolonged curing phase. The setting time of anhydrite screeds is longer than that of cement-based screeds, which widens the vulnerability window for plastic settlement cracks along pipe positions and at the edges of large pours. SikaFiber PPM-6 at 0.5–0.8 kg/m³ can be incorporated into the screed mix to reduce crack formation without altering the self-leveling behaviour. The fibre is mixed in a continuous high-shear mixer or a paddle mixer, depending on the site batching arrangement. In silo-based mixing systems, the fibre is often pre-blended with the dry binder and added through the screw conveyor. The low water/sulfate ratio of pumpable screeds can cause fibre clumping if the filaments are added too late in the mixing cycle. The addition point should be separated from the water inlet so that the fibre sees a wetting and dispersion zone before entering the pump hopper. For screeds, the requirements of EN 13813:2003 apply to the hardened performance, while the fibre contribution is evaluated by visual crack mapping and surface flatness measurements under DIN 18560 installation conditions. The fibre does not increase the compressive or flexural strength of the screed to a structural level; it only reduces the early-age crack pattern. Overdosage above 1.0 kg/m³ can cause surface fuzz on the trowelled finish, especially in gypsum-based screeds where the surface is worked after initial stiffening. The surface can be sanded or trowelled after the initial hydration phase to remove any protruding filaments. The use of a low-alkali polypropylene microfibre is compatible with anhydrite and gypsum matrices because the fibre is not affected by the sulfate environment.
Because polymer-modified repair mortars contain fine-graded aggregates and high cement content, early-age shrinkage is restrained by the substrate and generates surface cracking in thin overlays. These materials are applied in layers often 3–10 mm thick, where the restrained stress state is most severe during the first hydration cycle. SikaFiber PPM-6 at 0.5–0.7 kg/m³ reduces the width and frequency of shrinkage cracks in the first 24–48 h after application. The fibres are added to the dry mortar in a forced-action mixer before the liquid polymer component is introduced. In this mixing sequence, the fibres are wetted by water and polymer gradually, which minimizes the formation of dry fibre balls. The fibre does not affect the bond strength to the substrate when the dosage remains below 0.8 kg/m³; adhesion should be measured by pull-off testing according to EN 1504-3 or ASTM C1583. For structural repairs, the microfibre is not a replacement for reinforcement bars or welded wire mesh required by the design. Its role is limited to the early hydration phase and the first thermal cycles before the repair mortar has achieved its design modulus. In applications exposed to repeated wet-dry cycles, the fibre also provides resistance to surface microcracking from restrained differential movement. The processed surface can be trowelled to a closed finish, but fibres that remain partially exposed at the surface can be removed by final smoothing with a steel trowel. Published data for this specific product in epoxy-modified repair formulations is limited; adhesion and crack bridging should be verified on the actual substrate before full application.
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Classified under ASTM C1116/C1116M Type III and specified to EN 14889-2:2006 class Ia, SikaFiber PPM-6 is a monofilament polypropylene microfibre supplied in 0.9 kg water-soluble dosing bags for a nominal addition rate of 0.9 kg/m³ in ready-mixed concrete, precast elements, mortar, and cementitious screeds. The fibre has a nominal length of 6 mm, a circular cross-section, a density of approximately 0.91 g/cm³, and negligible water absorption; it does not extract batch water, does not corrode, and is insoluble in the alkaline pore solution of portland cement. Its primary function is reduction of plastic shrinkage cracking during the first 6–24 h after placement, when evaporation from an unprotected surface creates capillary tensile stresses in fresh mortar before the concrete has developed sufficient tensile strain capacity. The product is not a substitute for structural reinforcement, dowel load transfer, joint design, or tensile reinforcement in hardened concrete. It is specified for control of early-age surface cracking caused by moisture loss and for reduction of fibre-ball tendency compared with fibrillated tape fibres at equivalent mass. The monofilament geometry also assists dispersion in thin sections, overlays, and shotcrete where longer macrofibres would interfere with surface finishing or nozzle flow.
The functional boundary among fibre classes is governed by geometry and modulus, not by polymer identity alone. SikaFiber PPM-6 with a length of 6 mm and an equivalent diameter in the 18 µm range has an aspect ratio near 333; at 0.9 kg/m³, the dispersed fibre population forms a dense network spanning incipient cracks before they reach visible width. Plastic shrinkage cracks are typically below 0.1 mm at the onset of visible surface damage, and the controlling stress is capillary tension from water menisci rather than external loading. A macro synthetic fibre of 40–65 mm length at 3–8 kg/m³ is required for post-crack residual flexural capacity, while a hooked-end steel fibre at 20–60 kg/m³ provides hardened-state moment redistribution and structural crack-width control. The product therefore occupies the pre-hardening crack-control class, not the structural fibre class.
| Fibre class | SikaFiber PPM-6 | Macro synthetic fibre | Hooked-end steel fibre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary reference | ASTM C1116/C1116M Type III | EN 14889-2 class II | ASTM A820/A820M |
| Nominal length | 6 mm | 40–65 mm | 35–60 mm |
| Typical dosage | 0.9 kg/m³ | 3–8 kg/m³ | 20–60 kg/m³ |
| Elastic modulus | below 10 GPa | below 10 GPa | approximately 200 GPa |
| Crack-control window | plastic shrinkage, 0–24 h | long-term shrinkage and load-induced cracking | hardened concrete structural cracking |
| Post-crack flexural role | none at 0.9 kg/m³ | yes at design dosage | yes |
| Corrosion risk | none | none | surface staining if exposed |
Compared with a 12 mm polypropylene microfibre, the 6 mm length gives a higher number of fibres per kilogram at equal diameter, which improves distribution in thin repair mortars and overlays. In a section thickness below 30 mm, longer fibres may remain visible on the trowelled surface or produce fibre stand-up during steel trowelling. In a 150 mm slab, the difference in plastic crack control between 6 mm and 12 mm microfibres at equal dosage is generally small, because the principal mechanism is crack-bridging in the plastic state rather than anchorage length after hardening. Published data for PPM-6 in very thin overlays is limited; a test panel is recommended when the overlay thickness is below 30 mm or when the specified finishing process includes a power trowel followed by a hard-trowel pass.
During production-scale slab placements where pump and laser screed operations are continuous, the handling sequence controls whether the monofilaments disperse without balling or surface fuzz. The 0.9 kg water-soluble bag is added to the truck mixer after the concrete is batched and before the final high-speed mixing period; the drum is held at 8–10 rpm for 4–5 min after addition. The bag film dissolves and the fibres distribute through the paste fraction. In a twin-shaft compulsory mixer, adding the bag with the coarse aggregate at the start can produce clumps on moist aggregate surfaces when aggregate moisture is above 3%; instead, the bag is added after the cementitious slurry has formed. Field checks on truck mixers show that adding fibres to an empty drum or to dry materials before water can lead to static cling on drum fins and a visual fibre deficiency in the first 2 m³ discharged. For that reason, batching records should include truck number, mixing time after addition, and fibre bag count per load. Slump measured by ASTM C143/C143M is taken after fibre addition, not before. Air content measured by ASTM C231/C231M in exterior flatwork is held at 5–7%; the fibre itself does not act as an air-entraining agent, but prolonged mixing beyond 5 min after bag addition can increase air content slightly. Finished surface appearance with this monofilament product is generally less hairy than fibrillated tape fibres, but if the surface is over-finished before the fibres have fully wetted, exposed monofilaments may be raised by trowel action. Delaying the final steel trowel pass until the bleed water has evaporated below a visible sheen reduces this condition. When placing by pump, the addition of 0.9 kg/m³ does not normally require changes in boom pressure, but concrete with very low paste volume below 260 L/m³ may show increased rebound in shotcrete or slugging at hose reductions. For slab-on-ground placed with a laser screed, the fibre network can slightly reduce bleed water accumulation because the monofilaments slow upward water migration in the top 25 mm; this can shorten the waiting time before final finishing but also increases the risk of crusting in hot, windy conditions if evaporation exceeds the reduced bleeding rate. When ambient evaporation rates exceed 1.0 kg/m²/h, the surface should be protected with an evaporation retarder or fogging, not by adding water, because the fibre does not replace consistent moist curing after initial set.
At the nominal rate of 0.9 kg/m³, workability loss is manageable and finishing characteristics remain close to plain concrete. Above approximately 1.2 kg/m³, the response becomes mix-specific and processing conflicts are more likely. The product’s polypropylene monofilament melts at approximately 160–170 °C; specifications for explosive spalling resistance in high-strength concrete sometimes use monofilament polypropylene fibre at 1.5–3.0 kg/m³ to create pressure-relief channels during fire exposure. Published data specific to SikaFiber PPM-6 at these elevated addition rates is limited, so trial batching is required before production use. At 1.2 kg/m³ and above, the increase in fibre surface area can reduce slump by 30–50 mm, depending on aggregate shape, paste volume, and admixture dosage. Exceeding 1.5 kg/m³ in a congested structural element can increase pump line pressure and may require a line diameter increase from 100 mm to 125 mm or a reduction in vertical lift. The product is not a fire-rated material; if fire spalling control is the project objective, the fibre type and dosage must be specified through fire test data for the actual concrete strength, moisture condition, section thickness, and heating curve. The difference between plastic shrinkage dosage and fire spalling dosage is the main reason a single fibre type cannot be assumed to serve both functions without verifying dispersion and hardened properties. No adverse chemical interaction is known with normal-range water reducers or superplasticizers, but the fibres should not be added to dry cement before water because static charging can segregate the monofilaments and increase bag residue in the mixer.
Purchase-order language should state that the micro fibre is monofilament polypropylene, 6 mm long, with a nominal dosage of 0.9 kg/m³ unless project-specific testing justifies a different rate. The product category is Type III micro synthetic fibre under ASTM C1116/C1116M; for CE-marked supply, the performance declaration is based on EN 14889-2:2006 class Ia. Quality-assurance submissions may include ISO 9001 manufacturing certification, batch-specific fibre length and melt-flow data, and confirmation that the polypropylene raw material satisfies REACH and RoHS requirements for the destination market. The specification should not state that the fibre increases flexural strength; that is a misapplication of the product. It should define the crack-control objective by ASTM C1579-21 or an equivalent restrained plastic shrinkage test, with acceptance based on reduction in total crack width relative to a plain concrete reference mix. A separate clause is required when the fibre is used as partial replacement for welded wire mesh in restrained slabs; the replacement applies only to early-age crack control, not to structural reinforcement.
| Standard designation | Verification role |
|---|---|
| ASTM C1116/C1116M Type III | Product category for micro synthetic fibre used in concrete |
| EN 14889-2:2006 class Ia | Performance declaration basis for concrete fibres |
| ASTM C1579-21 | Restrained plastic shrinkage cracking comparison |
| ASTM C143/C143M | Slump verification after fibre addition |
| ASTM C231/C231M | Air content verification in air-entrained concrete |
| EN 1363-1 | Furnace testing only when fire spalling control is claimed |
Quality control for fibre count in delivered concrete is performed by washing out a known fresh concrete mass through a 75 µm sieve and counting retained fibres in a clear tray; this detects under-dosing in the first 2 m³ of a truck load. When plastic shrinkage cracking is assessed, panels are cast according to ASTM C1579-21 at a surface evaporation rate above 0.5 kg/m²/h, and the fibre-containing mix is compared with the same mix without fibre. Project data for this product at 0.9 kg/m³ typically show reductions in total crack width, but the magnitude must be established for the local aggregate, cement content, and finishing sequence. Storage should be in dry conditions below 50 °C and away from direct sunlight to prevent softening of the dosing bag film. The product should not be used below a concrete temperature of 5 °C without confirming that the water-soluble bag film dissolves at the lower mixing speed; cold concrete increases bag dissolution time and can leave undispersed film residue on the formed surface.
