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Arkema (Cologne, Germany and King of Prussia, Pa., U.S.) and  (Arcore MB, Italy) have developed what is claimed to be the world’s first bendable composite rebar, providing an alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in construction. 

The rebar is a combination of Sireg’s Glasspree TP fiberglass bars and Arkema’s Elium recyclable thermoplastic resin. The use of Elium gives the rebar double the tensile strength of steel, the companies report. Moreover, the novel rebar is lightweight (75% lighter than steel), corrosion-proof and chemically resistant, and it offers dimensional stability even in the event of extreme thermal changes. Fully recyclable, the bendable rebar contributes to energy-efficient structures and reduces the carbon footprint of maintenance activities.

Moreover, the use of Elium ensures a major gain in productivity as well as greater flexibility for the supply of composite reinforcement, thus improving the overall profitability of construction projects, Arkema notes. Construction, maintenance or repair of buildings, bridges, tunnels, as well as marine and coastal structures are some key application areas, demonstrating the rebars’ adaptability. For bridges in particular, both companies ensure an estimated service life twice that of steel (100 years).