Carbon Fiber Takes on the Role of Repairing Traditional Infrastructure Materials

The infrastructure industry has turned to composite materials to replace traditional materials such as concrete, wood and steel. This is largely due to the fact that composite materials are resistant to corrosion and deterioration, which means the structures that they are used to build have a longer life span and require less maintenance than structures made from traditional materials. The move to composites has helped save the infrastructure industry time and money by not requiring the same amount of repair as traditional structures. 

While the infrastructure industry relies heavily on composites to build new structures, it also relies on composite materials such as carbon fiber and other composites to repair structures made from traditional materials. Composites such as carbon fiber and epoxy have been used often in this industry to repair pipelines and concrete, respectively. 

The Use of Carbon Fiber to Repair Pipelines in the Infrastructure Industry

Carbon fiber is an ideal composite material to use in the infrastructure industry due to its high tensile strength and low thermal expansion. It is also resistant to corrosion, allowing it to withstand the harsh environmental elements that some infrastructure buildings are exposed to. 

In the last few years, there have been reported several instances where carbon fiber will be pre-impregnated with epoxy and wrapped around damaged concrete pipes to provide structural stability and repair. This technique has also been reported to repair cracked walls in concrete buildings. 

The Future of Carbon Fiber in the Infrastructure Industry

The role of carbon fiber in the infrastructure industry extends beyond repairing traditional building materials. More and more manufacturing companies are turning to carbon fiber to build more effective infrastructure materials, such as carbon fiber underground pipes for water, gasoline and other chemicals. Because carbon fiber is corrosion resistant and features high tensile strength, the risk for environmental contamination due to a damaged pipe is significantly lower than that of a concrete pipe. Additionally, carbon fiber piping can be made to be miles long without requiring joints or other areas that are prone to damage over time. Another benefit of carbon fiber piping is that it weighs only 10 percent of the weight of traditional concrete piping, making installation significantly easier. 

Composites One is the Leading Supplier of Carbon Fiber and Other Composite Materials

Composites One is the leading supplier of composites and high-performance materials throughout North America. We provide technical support to the infrastructure industry to help manufacturers find the highest quality composite materials for their upcoming projects. Our technical specialists will walk you through your options to determine the best material within your budget, and we work with you to ensure timely delivery of the materials so your project isn’t delayed. Contact our team at Composites One today to learn more about how we can help you.