Christian Wurtz is a young man with ideas. At this spring's meeting of the Strategic Development Council, he introduced a new product he and partner John Schmidt have developed, the PT Plug to cap the end of a post-tensioning stressing pocket. To use, you first grind out the pocket with a special reaming tool then epoxy the precast concrete PT Plug into position.
Wurtz says that this technique has many advantages:
- Water cannot enter the pocket
- Minimizes the risk of post-tension corrosion
- Plugs are produced under a rigorous quality control program
- The best defense in aggressive coastal environments
- Zero waste
- Proven to be faster than grouting in time study of 200 PT pockets
- Stronger bond than traditional methods
- Grease cap coverage of (3/4”-1”) is met every time
- Provides a visual indicator that cable have been cut correctly
- Roughens surface for bonding purposes
- Decontaminates area of grease, dirt, and dust
- Easy to store
- Complies with preparation and minimum coverage requirements in ACI 301-10 Specifications for Structural Concrete
- Complies with the process of preparing Post Tension Cable Pockets in PTI M55.1-12 Specifications for Grouting of Post Tension Structures
- Complies with ASTM C 1107, Standard Specification for Packaged Dry, Hydraulic Cement
- Zero Shrinkage of the plug
- Max PSI is achieved through Pre Casting plugs
- Reaming tool has extremely long working life
- More cost effective than alternative methods
- Ensures circular pocket every time
- Tools and plugs available for most common pocket formers
- Better defense against corrosion in all climates
He has tested the water-tightness of the PT Plug and found it able to keep out moisture much better than the typical filed-applied patch. To learn more, go to the PT Plug web site.
