100 WWW.HOGSLAT.COM Longer Lasting Slats that Are Easier on Feet and Joints The water-cement ratio refers to the ratio of the water weight to the cement weight used in a concrete mix. A lower ratio leads to higher strength and durability but makes the mix difficult to work with and form. For this reason, most slats are produced with wet cast concrete using a water-cement ratio of 0.5. Hog Slat manufactures slats Low Cement-Water Ratio Yields Longer Lasting Slats After casting, each slat is STEAM CURED in climate-controlled tents. Steam provides the heat necessary for accelerated curing and the moisture to prevent stress cracks and Steam Curing Reduces Variation Many methods used for producing concrete slats consist of placing wet cast concrete into multiple steel forms and hand troweling to finish. It is harder to build slats with a consistently flat surface by hand finishing methods. We produce slats with a different process that eliminates the uneven surface found on hand cast slats. Automated Rotoscreeds “strike off” the mold creating a level, uniformly flat top that is easier for pigs to move across. After placing the concrete, spinning ROTOSCREEDS strike off the mold. This machine process enables us to work the ZERO slump mixture. It’s not possible to work ZERO slump concrete by hand troweling. Our automated process eliminates the variation caused by hand troweling. One of the key features of our slats is the uniform FLAT top which is easier on your pigs’ feet. There are no humps on the slats caused by hand troweling the edges. Machined Slat(cross-section) shrinkage. In only a few hours, we are able to harden slats that exceed 28-day strengths of normally cured concrete. Hot, dry weather or cold, wet conditions don’t affect the quality of the slats delivered to your farm. It is very important proper steam curing procedures are followed to ensure long-term durability of the slats. The rate of temperature gain and the maximum temperature in the curing chamber must be controlled and monitored using accepted industry guidelines and practices. Failure to do this can result in a shortened life span of the concrete slats due to delayed ettringite formation (DEF), a condition that leads to early deterioration of the concrete when exposed to an environment similar to that found in a hog barn. from dry cast concrete with a water-cement ratio of less than .39. A cubic yard of wet cast concrete formulated with 500 pounds of cement contains 250 pounds of water, while a dry cast mix only contains 195 pounds. As the excess water leaves during the curing process, it creates microscopic pores that reduce the final strength of a slat. Dry Cast Concrete Wet Cast Concrete .38 Cement-Water Ratio 500 lbs. Cement .50 Cement-Water Ratio 500 lbs. Cement 30 GALLONS WATER 23.4 GALLONS WATER
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