Environmental Performance of FRP
FRP products are continuously expanding applications and markets due to their outstanding properties. Improved functional performance of fibre-reinforced polymers compared to steel, most notably, corrosion and thermal resistance, durability, high tensile strength, and lightweight, has significantly widened FRP products’ applications.
Faster installation and lower transportation and maintenance costs of FRP composite resulted in higher demand for FRP products. However, the sustainability of the manufacturing process and final products represent a significant concern in a global society.
With the world going green and presenting new challenges for the manufacturing sector, one of the key aspects of any business is its environmental impact and ability to blend in the society, economy, and environment.
Initially, pultrusion production of fibre-reinforced polymers was developed to offer durable and cost-efficient alternatives to existing construction materials. Appreciated for their lightweight and thus lower transportation and installation costs, FRP products have proved their superiority in physical properties as well.
FRP & Sustainability
Longer service life based on corrosion- and chemical–resistant properties of GFRP products means that products shouldn’t be replaced often, which plays a vital role in the environment.
Being impervious to thermal, chemical, and corrosion reactions, FRP composite doesn’t require energy-intensive maintenance and replacement. In terms of sustainability, FRP rebar manufacturing has far less environmental impact than the production of traditional materials due to lower energy requirements and lower greenhouse gas production.
Despite the confirmed data that FRP composite materials are more environmentally friendly compared to concrete, aluminium, and steel production, the ongoing research studies further the recycling potential of FRPs. It has been proven that FRP composite recycling is more environmentally-friendly compared to steel and aluminium in terms of energy consumption, water and air output.
Versatile in their properties and applications (aerospace, industrial and civil engineering, agriculture, water treatment, chemical and pharmaceutical industries), FRP products demonstrate better performance across all major environmental indicators, including human toxicity, ozone depletion, freshwater eutrophication, and climate change emissions, which are lower by 78%, 40%, 85%, and 38% respectively compared to steel products. Besides, GFRP rebars showed lower (by around 40%) CO2 emission levels compared to steel rebars.
A recent study has compared bridge constructions built using FRP rebar and traditional concrete-reinforced compounds in terms of environmental impact. As a result, bridges with the FRP deck showed lower carbon emissions by around 20% compared to conventional bridge structures. Overall, researchers concluded that FRP bridges require twice less energy input compared to their traditional alternatives. [Zhang Y., Huang T, et al, Environmental Assessment of Concrete Beams Strengthened with Fibre-Reinforced Polymer, 2020]
Although the environmental advantages of GFRP products and manufacturing are obvious, the industry participants continuously ensure that employed production techniques are fully in-line with ethical and ecological standards. Therefore, all advanced industrial processes pass regular tests for air and soil emissions. Additionally, the manufacturing sector continues discovering advanced FRP capacities and improving disposal and recycling methods.
Composite-Tech’s Sustainability Commitment
Composite-Tech invites you to launch a high-yielding GFRP rebar production line business. Reliable and energy-efficient, our production lines will help in securing a niche in the fast-growing industry.
In Composite-Tech, we strive to decrease carbon output and maintain sustainable FRP manufacturing to decrease the environmental footprint. Committed to further improvement of FRP composite sustainability, we conduct continuous assessments of the production cycle and product applications to ensure lower environmental impact across a wider range of industries.
FRP products are indeed resources-, money-, and time-saving compared to conventional construction materials.
