In this series, we are going to cover some frequently asked questions we hear when we introduce our product, GatorBar, to anyone new. The first and most basic question is the obvious one. What is FRP rebar? While it may surprise you FRP rebar has been with great success for over thirty years, and is in over 350 bridges across Canada and 90 in the United States.
So let’s answer the question: FRP stands for Fiber Reinforced Polymer. FRP rebar is comprised of two elements; a fiber (usually carbon, glass, aramid, or basalt) and a matrix resin (polyester, epoxy, or vinyl ester). The role of the matrix resin is to hold together, protect, and transfer the load between the fibers.
So how does the end product, FRP rebar, differ from steel rebar? There are two big differences someone will notice immediately when comparing the two side by side.
- First, FRP is much lighter than steel, up to 7 times to be exact!
- The second is that FRP rebar is much less stiff, or technically speaking, FRP has a modulus of elasticity that is 5 times less than that of steel. To learn about how the lower modulus of elasticity can be beneficial in slab on grade applications, see our whitepaper here.
But the difference goes further than that:
- FRP rebar is corrosion resistant, where steel will eventually rust and crack the concrete it’s supposed to reinforce. This leads to structural life that is up to 2 times longer when FRP rebar is used!
- FRP has a greater tensile strength than steel
- FRP rebar is thermally and electrically non-conductive
Now you know the basics. We are here to answer any additional questions you may have, just contact us!