Concrete protection liners specialist manufacturer AKS Lining Systems has taken the "cast-in" liner concept and developed its design through the development of Anchor Knob Sheet technology (AKS), which surpasses concrete protection alternatives on both cost-saving and performance.

Concrete has been used as a structural material for over 2 000 years. The massive industrial progress made over the past 150 years, however, has resulted in more aggressive environments, which have significantly reduced the lifespan of unprotected concrete structures.

These increasingly demanding operating conditions created a need for more sophisticated corrosion protection solutions. While the advent of coatings extended the service life of concrete structures, it was only successful in delaying the inevitable and provided no long-term solutions.

Tiling and brick-based solutions enjoy limited success, but require regular maintenance, along with the associated costs and downtime. Other techniques, such as spray-on and paint-on systems also provide a solution, however, they may be limited in their flexibility and bond strength to the concrete substrate.

This evolutionary process moved the industry towards a new concept in concrete protection - "cast-in" concrete protection liners.

AKS is manufactured from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and supplied in wide sheets or rolls to suit the project requirements. AKS is unique in its design, having 1 230 anchors /m², ensuring that it is locked firmly into the concrete structure it is protecting.

Supplied in thicknesses from 1.65 mm up to 10 mm, it is used in a diverse range of chemically aggressive applications such as mining, water treatment and conveyance of sewage.

Once anchored firmly into the structure, AKS offers a chemically inert, flexible skin. It offers high abrasion resistance, is acid-proof and offers extremely long life expectancy in the harshest environments. Its superior crack bridging ability enhances the infrastructures’ structural integrity.

The cost saving through no maintenance and downtime is significant through a life span of more than 20 years.

This system uses the robust qualities of HDPE linings by enhancing the design through the creation of a close matrix of anchors, which permanently secure the sheeting to the structure.

AKS reliably adapts advanced sheeting technology to an age-old construction material.