What Does
Gunite Mean?
Gunite refers to an artificial mixture of cement, water and sand that is applied to a mold to produce a dense hard protective layer. Gunite is used to line tunnels and structures and for construction applications, such as sealing cracks, fissures and areas that could be sources of leaks and/or structural instability.
Gunite may also be known as shotcrete.
Corrosionpedia Explains Gunite
Gunite was invented in 1910 when a double chamber “cement gun” was developed based on Carl Akeley’s design and introduced to the construction industry as a method to rectify deteriorated concrete. In the 1900s plaster was typically used for such applications; however, this new unique substance composed of cement and sand mortar began being used instead. The results were better and resulted in the granting of a proprietary patent.
Some key advantages that gunite has over regular concrete:
- Better adherence to surfaces
- Lower water-cementitious material ratio
- Compatibility with steel fiber
- Better flexural strength, ductility and toughness