The IMAGINE Act champions infrastructure composites

Infrastructure composites have been around for decades now, but the U.S. government has been slow to adopt these materials in infrastructure projects. However, the recent introduction of the IMAGINE Act may be a sign that this is about to change.

How the IMAGINE Act promotes infrastructure composites

Composite materials have become available for a variety of infrastructure applications in the past decade or so. Some of the common infrastructure projects composites are used in include bridges, roads, utility poles and wind power turbine blades. All of these applications use composites because they offer some significant benefits over other materials. For instance, composites have a very high resistance to corrosion. They also offer lighter weight while at the same time providing a great degree of strength compared to traditional materials like metal and concrete.

With the IMAGINE Act, the U.S. government may be poised to begin actively recommending composites for its infrastructure projects. The primary purpose of this act is to encourage the research and use of composite materials in infrastructure applications. One way that the act seeks to meet these goals is by creating an Innovative Materials Task Force that will help to develop national standards for infrastructure composites. This task force will be made up of representatives from agencies, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Federal Highway Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency.

This act also provides for $138 million in funding for composite infrastructure research and usage grants between 2019 and 2023. The areas of research that the IMAGINE Act specifically mandates are highway, bridge and water infrastructure applications, and all of these areas would receive part of the total funding specified in the act. The remainder of the money would be earmarked for grants to help complete composite highway, bridge and water infrastructure projects.

Currently, the IMAGINE Act is still making its way through the legislative process in the House of Representatives and Senate. However, if it’s signed into law, it may lead to a new composite infrastructure for the U.S. in the very near future.

Composites One is the number one composite materials distributor in North America

Companies that manufacture composite infrastructure products would see a huge production boost if the IMAGINE Act becomes law, and it’ll be more important than ever that these businesses have the composite materials they need for their products.

Composites One is ready to help your business get all the composite materials it needs. We have thousands of composite materials in stock, and we only stock materials from the very best suppliers. In addition, our 41 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada ensures that you’ll receive your composite materials locally and on time.

Contact the Composites One team today to find out more about all of the products and services we offer.