Diamond saw blades for cutting 'green' concrete

Tyrolit's new range of Tyrrex high-performance diamond saw blades are said to be one of the fastest and most productive saw blades on the market

Cutting of expansion and tension release joints in large areas of newly laid concrete is best carried out when it is barely set, or green, as this has the advantage of minimising crack formation, which is more pronounced if cutting is carried out after the slab has cured.

The problem with working on green concrete, however, is that as the sands and aggregates have not set properly into the cement, slurry and debris in the cut tends to prematurely wear the steel core of the blade, particularly at the point where the diamond coated segments are laser-welded on.

Aimed at this market is Tyrolit's new range of Tyrrex high-performance diamond saw blades, which feature redesigned cutting segments and geometry.

They are said to be one of the fastest and most productive saw blades on the market due to their optimisation for use at peripheral cutting speeds from 50 to 55 m/sec, rather than the more usual 40 to 50 m/sec.

Developed by Tyrolit in Austria, the blades underwent exhaustive field trials before launch.

Green concrete areas on the A1 West motorway and Vienna Airport were cut, as were the A4, A9 and A14 in Germany and other roads in Belgium and Hungary.

Availability of the blades in the UK is through the company's subsidiary in Crick, Northamptonshire, and its distributor network.

High profitability arises from durability of the blades when cutting green concrete and quick completion of the cut, which lowers manning costs, reduces machine usage and minimises energy consumption.

Increased cutting speed also helps contractors to keep up with modern, highly productive concrete levelling equipment, with reduced need for additional machines and staff.

Low feed pressure is sufficient to complete a cut, resulting in the ability to use lightweight saws, reducing stress on the operator and ensuring clean edges to the cut.

Lighter cutting forces also reduce servicing costs.

Typical applications are to be found in road and airport construction, for which three blade types are available.

Dimensions range from 300 to 450 mm in diameter, 2.8 to 3.9 mm thick.

Mounting hole diameter is 25.4 mm and useable height of the diamond segments is 9 mm.

Type FSL-G3 is for low power, very fast cutting of concrete that has cured for up to 48 hours and contains medium to very hard aggregates such as flint.

FSM-G3 is a universal, long life blade for use with medium power floor saws, intended for fast cutting of concrete with medium to hard aggregates.

FSH-G3 is for the greenest concrete, cured for 12 hours or less, and is also a long life blade ideal for use with high power machines, suitable for producing sealing joints and widening cuts in concrete containing abrasive aggregates.

Cutting of expansion joints up to 50 mm deep in industrial floors is another main application area, for which two further blade types are available.

Dimensions are 300 x 2.4 x 25.4 mm or 350 x 2.8 x 25.4 mm and useable segment height is again 9 mm.

FSL-G4 is for low power, high speed cutting of concrete with very hard aggregates or steel fibres.

The long life FSM-G4 may be used with medium power machines for fast cutting of concrete containing medium to hard aggregates and perhaps also steel fibres.

Any make of electrical/hydraulic or petrol/diesel floor saw may be used with Tyrrex diamond saws blades for green concrete, including Tyrolit's own Hydrostress machines.

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