Residential Uses for Carbon Fiber

Concrete is the most common material used throughout the world for construction. Bridges, commercial buildings and skyscrapers, sidewalks, sewers and culverts, dams, and even highways—concrete is everywhere you look. And if you look around your neighborhood, concrete is just as prevalent for residential construction: basement walls, foundations, footings, walkways, driveways, patios, and so on.

Concrete has been common since before Roman times, because it can be poured to form any shape, and will cure as hard as stone. As a construction material, concrete is strong, durable, readily available, stands up to any kind of weather, and can be recycled. But, while strong, concrete is not impervious to damage and degradation.

Unfortunately, the tensile strength of concrete is low, the weight of concrete is high compared to its strength, and it is not ductile. And contrary to what many people believe, concrete is not waterproof; it becomes porous as it dries. If mixed too wet or improperly cured, concrete will deteriorate. If severely impacted, concrete will spall (flake or chip), and, once damaged, may begin to crumble. Because of these qualities, or lack thereof, it is common to see cracked sidewalks, driveways, structural foundations—any of the concrete components on your property. Problems occur primarily because of settling beneath the concrete. The soil that supports the concrete on your property moves as it expands and contracts with seasonal changes in its water content. Because concrete is rigid and rarely settles evenly, that movement creates torsion, which results in damage.

The Strength of CFRP

Concrete, however, can be made stronger by reinforcing it with carbon fiber. Ten times stronger than steel and five times lighter, carbon fiber is quickly becoming a go-to material to use hand-in-hand with concrete construction, and for concrete repair. Cracked and bowed basement walls can be permanently reinforced with straps cut from carbon fiber. The same is true for retaining walls that may be compromised by a continued buildup of weight behind the wall. Cracked foundations, concrete stairs—there are innovative ways to use carbon fiber as additional support for the concrete components on your property.

To learn more about how carbon fiber can protect your home, contact Carbon Fiber Support today!