Chapter 9 - The future for the advanced polymer composite in the civil infrastructure

Abstract

The use of polymers and polymer composites in the infrastructure commenced during the Second World War when progress was made with the manufacture of radomes to house electronic radar equipment. The requirements of the fabrication of large structural units using relatively low cost pultrusion in an environmentally conscious industry has led to the development of low viscosity, lower-styrene and lower volatile content vinylester, and phase-transforming resin systems. The ultimate cost of structural components, manufactured utilizing carbon fiber, is a function of the cost of the fiber, the fabrication procedure of the unit, the strength and stiffness required of the structural unit, and the durability and the maintenance of the material. One of the main reasons preventing greater implementation of FRP composites into the civil infrastructure is the lack of performance data and accepted engineering standards. Advanced composite materials are being seen to have benefits compared with traditional materials in many of these areas, particularly in low energy consumption during manufacture, construction, and subsequent building operation. The field environmental conditions, which structural components have to resist, such as a wide range of temperature and humidity levels, is leading to a considerable amount of research into areas related to alternative cure mechanisms, capable of achieving rapid cure and high ambient glass transition temperatures without the use of elevated temperature cure.