WHAT IS Composites Reinforcement?
Carbon fiber is the strongest, man-made material in the world. It is incredibly lightweight and will not stretch. It can be woven into fabric sheets or melted down and molded into various shapes to create hundreds of different products. It is a material made up of small fibers of carbon. These small fibers were found to be exceptionally strong individually, but when thousands of these fibers are woven and bonded together, they are stronger than steel.
Carbon fiber is affordable to use in residential foundation repair applications. Once carbon fiber is bonded to the wall with epoxy, the wall can no longer deflect or move. When carbon fiber is applied, it actually makes the wall stronger than it was before. Carbon fiber applications are commonly used prior to basement remodeling projects so that homeowners can remodel with the assurance that their walls are solid and are as strong as they can be.
Benefits include:
- Huge tensile capacity – stronger than steel.
- Adds only a 1/16 of an inch to the repaired surface.
- Reduces installation time since heavy equipment and welding is eliminated.
- Low thermal expansion.
- Flexible wrap conforms to any shape.
- Light and easy to apply.
- Minimal mess, waste, or disruption to operation.
- Allows for existing buildings to be renewed for a larger load bearing capacity without replacement.
- Can be applied on the external surfaces of a structure without risk of rusting.
- Can be loaded within 24 hours with the right weather conditions.
CARBON FIBER REINFORCEMENT FABRIC
The Beyond Materials Anchoring Carbon Fiber is a carbon fiber fabric used to strengthen structural elements. The fabric is composed of bi-directional carbon fibers that will be field laminated using Beyond Materials Anchoring Epoxy.
The Carbon Fiber Anchoring System is an ideal choice for foundation damage of two inches or less in width because they provide maximum stability repair without requiring invasive drilling or excavation in a basement. Woven fiber comes in uni-directional and bi-directional options, allowing for the resistance of movement in one direction or two directions, respectively. The type of carbon fiber for your repair will be dependent upon the severity and characteristic of the offending crack.
An added steel angle at the top of the wall effectively concludes the repair. The finished product can easily be painted over to blend in with the space and contribute to a clean, comfortable living area. This fix is permanent, as carbon fiber repairs require zero maintenance.
CARBON-FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER PLATE
Carbon Fiber Plate is a system for reinforcement of concrete, wood and steel structures, particularly recommended in cases of increased loads, structural deterioration or damage –due to aging, rust or fire–, change in the structural diagram, design or construction defects resulting in insufficient reinforcing steel or section of concrete, or the necessity to improve service conditions by reducing deflections, deformations or crack widths.
The system consists of a 50, 80, 100 and 120 mm wide and 1.2 or 1.4 mm thick carbon-fiber reinforced polymer plate with a very high tensile strength, attached with an epoxy resin adhesive .
The advantages of this method compared with reinforcements using steel plates are the light weight of the material, its availability in any length without the necessity of joints, the easy overlapping and the possibility of interlacing the plates, as well as installation in small spaces or spaces with difficult access.
CFRP Rebar (carbon fiber) & BFRP Rebar (basalt)
CHARACTERISTICS:
- Tensile strength greater than steel
- Transparent to magnetic fields and radio frequencies
- Electrically and thermally non-conductive
- Impervious to chloride ion and chemical attack
Basalt Reinforcement Mesh Geo-Grid
Strengthen concrete with basalt mesh
Basalt Mesh Geo-grid is available in different sizes with epoxy coatings for concrete and composites and asphalt coatings for asphalt reinforcement.
Basalt Mesh is better than steel for many reasons
• Stronger than steel wire of comparable size
• By far lighter and easier to handle and install (no nasty cuts).
• Will not rust or corrode or cause cracking of concrete
• Flexible for easier design
• Basalt does not conduct electricity or induce electric fields
• Basalt Mesh binds well with both asphalt and concrete
• Many mesh sizes available: 5x5mm, 10x10mm, 25x25mm and 50x50mm
Basalt Fiber Geo-Grid Mesh
Used for reinforcing asphalt-concrete (covering in construction, reconstruction and repair of airport, runways, highways and any pavements, pedestrian ways, road inclines and banks).
The reinforcement with basalt mesh Geo-grid increases the overall reliability, safety and the cutting process output. The strength of basalt mesh is as good as metal reinforcement, however it is also 2.6 times lighter, thereby simplifying transportation and handling in construction.
Basalt Geo-grid Mesh is more durable than metallic and glass-fiber reinforcement due to basalt fiber’s excellent performance. Like all the basalt articles it is an ecologically safe material.
Window size 5mm x 5mm. 10mm x 10mm. 25mm x 25mm. 50mm x 50mm. Each roll is 1 meter wide by 50 meters (total 50 square meters). Purchase by the roll or square meter.
Basalt Chopped Fibers
Basalt Chopped Fibers can be mixed directly into polymers and concrete to increase tensile strength and reduce cracking and chipping. ( Carbon Chopped Fibers are also available)
Basalt Chopped Fibers – Features & Benefits
• High tensile strength
• Resistant to alkali in concrete and require no special coatings
• Resist cold down to -260°F and heat up to 1,500°F
• Do not conduct electricity or induce electrical fields
• Do not absorb or wick water
• Will not harbor bacteria or microbial growth
• Has good fatigue resistance
Basalt Chopped Fiber – Specifications
• Basalt Chopped Fiber Diameter: 13 microns to 20 microns
• Basalt Chopped Fiber Lengths: 3mm to 50mm
• Basalt Chopped Fiber with sizing (binder) for applications: portland cement and asphalt
• Basalt Chopped Fiber with sizing (binder) for resins: thermoplastic, epoxy, polyester, pva, & phenolic
Basalt fibers unlike other fibers will not harbor bacteria or microbial growth. For example corrosion is caused in municipal sewers by aerobic bacteria. These convert into sulfuric acids which quickly dissolve concrete. Basalt fibers will not harbor these bacteria. Due to basalt’s low thermal conductivity, deposition of salts and paraffin’s inside the pipes is also reduced.
Structural basalt composite components (such as pipes and rods) are made from unidirectional basalt reinforcement. In combination with its high specific strength (9.6 times as high as steel), high resistance to aggressive media, and high electrical insulting properties, this results in specialty products such as insulators for high voltage power lines.
For asphalt applications, over one half inch less thickness can be laid down saving tons of asphalt while gaining a 30-50% better lifespan!
Auto body parts
An obvious requirement of any high performance racing car, motorbike or powerboat construction is that it should be strong and lightweight. For these reasons, carbon fiber has become acknowledged as the best material for the job. Formula One cars are some of the most expensive pieces of sporting equipment and as a result, a huge amount of money and research has been put into the development of safety and performance of various materials and composites over the years. The modern formula one car is based around a central monocoque which protects the driver and acts as a connecting point to the other components of the car. This part of the car is composed virtually entirely of carbon fiber as it is lightweight and provides extreme protection against the phenomenal forces involved in the sport due to its high torsional rigidity and high tensile strength. In addition to this, carbon fiber is flame and corrosion proof and, when properly used, shatters in an accident thereby absorbing a huge amount of energy, which would otherwise be transferred directly to the driver.
Many other components of the car are also made from carbon fiber, from the suspension to the gearbox and even the brakes, where carbon fiber has taken over from more traditional materials such as steel, again because it is light weight and that the latest carbon fiber brakes can produce phenomenal stopping power.
Beyond Materials™ offers a range of carbon fiber fabrics to produce an auto body part. Shop online for 3k and 12 k fabrics with a 200-1500 mm width range
Marine Industry
Carbon fiber and Composite materials have been used in the marine industry for a number of years. The more traditional applications for composites include gratings, ducts, shafts, piping, hull shells, etc for several decades. Wood and ferrocement are some of the other composites techniques that are still being used for marine applications.
Marine Composite Materials
Glass reinforced plastic
Glass fibers became available just after the development of polyester resins. Soon, glass reinforced plastic boats came into existence since the early 1950s and continue to be a significant composite construction technique in Marine applications today.
Aramid fiber Composites
Aramid fibers are being widely used to strengthen sailing yacht structures like keel and bow sections. Also, Aramid Fiber composites also have improved shock absorption characteristics, perfect for ocean racing applications.
Carbon fiber
Carbon fibers are increasingly used for sailboats, furniture on super-yachts and high strength interior moldings as they offer vessel stability benefits and high performance with minimal weight. Carbon fiber is also seen as a trendy material, often substituted for not only superior material characteristics but the aesthetics component of the woven material.
Some of the key benefits of marine composites include:
- Excellent strength to weight characteristics
- Corrosion resistance — adaptable for different applications
- Structures with complex shapes and geometry can be made relatively easily compared to traditional methods / materials
- Lower maintenance costs
- Ease of repair
- Enhanced stiffness
- Customizable flexibility
Marine Composite Applications — Examples
Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites are increasingly being used in the hull of boats covered with honeycomb or foam, in structural frames, keels, masts, poles and boom, and even in carbon winch drums and shafting. The use of composites can contribute to improved performance and minimize the risk of failure in extreme sailing conditions. Racing yachts employ advanced polymer composites more extensively than any other marine structures to save weight and improve durability.
Racing powerboats are now increasingly made of advanced and hybrid composites for high performance craft and safety. Fothergill Composites Inc., Bennington, has designed a safety cell cockpit from carbon and aramid fibers with aramid honeycomb core to protect the driver in all conditions, particularly in the event of a high speed crash. This structure is capable of withstanding a 100-foot drop test without any significant damage!
Beyond Materials™ offers a range of fiberglass and carbon fiber fabrics . Shop online for 80g and 200g fiberglass fabrics for your boating needs.
Industrial Automation and Robotics
Industrial automation and robotics is a field starting to realize the benefits of carbon fiber designs. For many applications, the ability to reduce weight and increase structural stiffness reflects directly in faster response time and reduced motor and actuator loads. This in turn results in improved productivity and longer maintenance cycles. In the business of automation, where machines often run as fast as possible 24/7, reduced inertial loads due to the replacement of heavy metal components with optimized carbon fiber structures can in turn reduce part fabrication time, dramatically increasing profitability. In such applications, the return on investment due to increased material costs associated with carbon fiber is often very short.
Beyond Materials™ fabrics and plates can be easily used for a wide variety of robotic applications.
Carbon Fiber Electronics Enclosures
There are several benefits of lightweight carbon fiber electronics enclosures. The primary reason our customers look to carbon fiber for these applications is to reduce weight. In addition to reduced weight and increased natural frequency, carbon fiber electronics enclosures maintain dimensional tolerances over a much wider temperature range than plastic or metal enclosures. The thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) of carbon fiber is approximately the same as Invar
Medical Imaging, X-Ray and Gamma Ray Applications
Carbon fiber has rapidly become one of the primary materials utilized in medical imaging, x-ray and gamma ray applications. In particular, carbon fiber provides a radiolucent material with sufficient strength and stiffness to maintain critical dimensions under load, and will not break down over time, even after high doses of x-ray and gamma ray radiation.
Metrology and Scientific Equipment
Carbon fiber is rapidly becoming one of the choice materials in the field of metrology due to its high stability and low thermal expansion. In applications where thermal changes will move comparable metal measurement and alignment tools out of tolerance due to expansion or contraction of the material, carbon fiber will remain virtually unchanged over a wide temperature range.
Carbon Fiber Luxury Items and Corporate Gifts
Beyond Materials™ offers a wide variety of luxury items and executive gifts. Carbon fiber offers you a high-tech, classy look and feel.
Musical Instruments
For guitars, carbon fiber’s durability, sound, consistency, and weight make it an attractive option.
Durable
Carbon fiber is essentially a matrix of strands composed of the element carbon. These strands, typically 5-10 micrometers in diameter, are woven together like yarn to create synthetic-like sheets of fabric. When infused with certain types of resin, the carbon fiber cures to produce ultra durable materials that are even used in building parts for airplanes and space satellites. Not only is the material tougher to dent, scratch, or crack than wood, it’s also resistant to changes in temperature or humidity. You wouldn’t have to worry about your carbon fiber guitar as much when going camping with it, taking it on planes as a carry on, or going over to your friend’s place to jam.
Great sound
The pure carbon fiber sound is definitely one you will remember. What’s immediately noticeable is that carbon fiber guitars are louder than your typical wooden guitar. The sound is clear and resonant, projecting sound in all directions. Just listen to Yo-Yo Ma play his carbon fiber Luis and Clark cello to know these instruments sound good. Reviews of carbon fiber guitars out there agree that these instruments have a uniquely rich and resonating sound.
Consistency
Because carbon fiber is a man made material, it can be reproduced consistently and predictably for each guitar. This means that if you see one good guitar, you can assume the next one will be nearly identical. There is no unpredictability when it comes to the grain or age as there is with wood. The finished product can therefore be engineered to perfection and repeated with high precision and accuracy.
Lightweight
When it comes to bicycles, the main attribute that cyclists love about carbon fiber is that they get a much lighter bike without compromising the strength usually offered by metal. Although weight does not matter in guitars as much as it does in bikes, carbon fiber guitars are definitely lighter than their wooden counterparts.