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construction is always a sign that the composites industry is doing
well. Composite applications in the construction market range from
bath/shower units and skylights to decorative paneling, curtain wall
panels and fascia materials.
© Mermet©
Hardcore Composites©
Nittobo FRP
Composites are ideal for use in the construction market because of
their dimensional stability, high strength, reduced weight, impact
resistance, low flammability, given an appropriate choice of resins
and additives, low maintenance and design flexibility.
From the exterior walls and the roof, to the interior, there are numerous
applications of glass strands, both visible and incorporated in a
plastic or cement matrix, for whatever type of building: individual
or collective dwellings, educational, industrial or agricultural buildings,
offices, sports halls or airports. |
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- Composites for exterior design are present
in columns,
pediments, domes, cornices.
- Composites are used for paneling, cladding and covering for protection
and insulation panels, shingles, translucent flat or corrugated sheets
(facing systems, decorative fascia, etc.).
 
- Fascia renovation using glass-cement composites contributes
to improving the appearance of buildings, external insulation and
coatings of facades where dimensional stability and prevention
against cracking is required.
- Composites form work and molds for concrete, easy to make
and corrosion-resistant.
- Roofing applications include sealing and waterproofing
(with bituminous felt and to prevent abrasion and perforation),
roofs (with panels of glass-reinforced polyesters, shingles or Canadian
clapboards), stretched veils (coated with PVC or
Teflon to create roof structure), roof fittings (to drain water
with gutters, downpipes and outlets).
- Technical glass fabrics are used in the industrial filtration
of gases, vapors and smoke.
- Doors and windows. |
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Inside composite applications are
also very numerous:
- Blinds (against sun or for decoration).
- Aesthetic coverings for use on walls, partitions, ceilings,
doors and furniture.
- Glass-reinforced plaster in a wide variety of shapes: columns, ceilings,
cornices.
- Decor and furnishings of reinforced plastics and glass-cement composites
- Gypsum boards and partition.
- Dry wall tapes.
- Partitions of glass-cement composites.
- Composite panels (double-sided insulated,
phenolic resins treated).
- Sanitary-ware (baths, wash basins, showers, sinks, toilets).
- Flooring (flexible flooring, hard flooring).
- Functional items (letter boxes, meter boxes).
- Decorative items.
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For rebuilding or creating new infrastructures,
composite
materials bring a number of benefits to various applications, including
high strength, reduced weight, corrosion resistance,
lower maintenance, dimensional stability, low installation costs
and design flexibility.
In bridge construction, for instance,
composites provide
a high load capacity with low material weight. This low
composite weight eliminates the costs of heavy equipment needed
to build the bridge, which in turn reduces the installation time.
Composites are also very durable; they won't corrode like steel
or rot like wood, so maintenance and replacement costs are reduced.
Other infrastructure applications are:
- Composite reinforcing for concrete products
(dowel bars,
reinforcing bars, post-tensioning and prestressing tendons,
stay-in-place framework).
- Infrastructure restoration systems (column
wrapping, structural cladding, in situ repair of structures, pipes).
- Primary structural items [piling (bearing, sheet and fender piles),
bridge decks, cable stays, structural profiles, architectural
structures)].
- Hybrid structural items: combining composites with conventional
materials (wood hybrid, steel hybrid, concrete hybrid).
- Electric power transmission and distribution (utility poles, transmission
poles, cross-arms).
- Highway safety and roadside installations (sign supports, guardrails,
posts and supports, noise barriers).
- Pavement reinforcement.
- Seismic-resistant structures (repair of
damaged structures,
new construction, upgrade of existing structures)
- Recycled products (decking, railway sleepers, piling). |
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