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How to make carbon fiber reinforced components more durable and age resistant?

In the construction industry, there are numerous construction methods. Among them, choosing carbon fiber as the reinforcement material is quite common, mainly for two reasons. On the one hand, the carbon fiber cloth material itself is relatively light in weight. While enhancing the bearing capacity, tensile and shear resistance of components, it won't impose a burden on the original components. On the other hand, it is also a very environmentally friendly material, and there is no need to worry about generating too much construction waste. For such an excellent reinforcement method, how can we make it even better, making the reinforced components more durable and having a longer service life?

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  1. The quality of the material is crucial: Carbon fiber cloth is mainly made of carbon fiber filaments. The quality of the carbon filaments is directly related to the service life of the carbon fiber cloth. The finished product of 12K tow high-precision carbon filaments has a more even distribution of carbon filaments, and each carbon filament can bear the force evenly. Also, the manufacturing machines for building carbon fiber cloth are advanced. Such equipment won't damage the carbon filaments and can maintain the inherent characteristics of carbon fiber. If the production process of the carbon filaments in the carbon fiber cloth itself is affected, the quality of the carbon fiber cloth will also be affected.
  2. The impregnating glue used in conjunction with the carbon fiber cloth: The role of the impregnating glue is to firmly bond the carbon fiber cloth and the building components together, enabling them to bear the force jointly, thereby enhancing the bearing capacity of the building. If the adhesive used in the building reinforcement process is not compatible or has quality problems, it will also affect the service life of the building carbon fiber cloth. Carbon fiber can only play its due role when used in conjunction with the appropriate adhesive.
  3. Standardized operating procedures are the key: If the reinforcement construction is not carried out in accordance with the relevant operating specifications during the construction process, for example, if the substrate is not ground or dusted off, the carbon fiber cloth and the surface are not completely bonded, and there are gaps between the cloth and the substrate, the carbon fiber cloth may develop hollowing phenomena after curing; insufficient impregnating glue, or the impregnating glue not being prepared in proportion will to a large extent affect the reinforcement effect of the carbon fiber cloth. After the construction is completed, maintenance is also required. Only when the maintenance is done properly and passes the inspection can the reinforcement be considered effective.


Carbon Fiber Cloth Construction Process


  1. Construction Preparation: Remove the load from the part to be reinforced. According to the design drawings, formulate a construction plan.
  2. Substrate Treatment: Grind the substrate by 0.3 - 0.5 mm until the new surface of the substrate is exposed. For the parts with exposed reinforcing bars, rust removal and anti-rust treatment should be carried out. For the cracks, epoxy resin should be applied to seal the cracks. For the cracks with a width greater than 0.2, grouting treatment should be carried out first. For the parts with edges and corners, they can be ground into rounded corners, and the radius of the rounded corners should not be less than 20 mm.
  3. Preparation and Application of Carbon Fiber Series Glues: Prepare the carbon fiber leveling glue according to the proportion, stir it evenly, and apply it to the uneven parts of the substrate. Use tools to scrape and apply the glue for repair and leveling. Wait for the glue to cure. Prepare the carbon fiber primer glue according to the proportion. Use a roller or a brush to evenly apply the prepared carbon fiber primer glue on the surface of the substrate. Wait for the glue to cure.
  4. Bonding of Carbon Fiber Cloth: Prepare the carbon fiber impregnating glue according to the proportion, evenly apply it on the substrate to be reinforced, cut the carbon fiber cloth according to the required length, paste it along the direction of the force, and then use a squeegee to drive out and smooth out the air under the carbon fiber cloth. After drying, paste the battens or proceed to the next construction step. The pasting method of the battens is basically the same as the above operations. Special attention should be paid to the interval of the battens' pasting. For the pasting of multiple layers of carbon fiber cloth, simply repeat the above steps.
  5. Maintenance: After natural maintenance for 24 hours, the initial curing effect can be achieved. After maintenance for 1 - 2 weeks, the design strength requirement can be achieved.

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The materials and the environment in which the building is located also have an impact. Under normal circumstances, building carbon fiber cloth can achieve a good reinforcement effect and can also reach the expected service life. However, in a harsh environment, low-quality carbon fiber materials will reduce the durability of the reinforced components. High-quality carbon fiber materials have excellent performance in terms of durability, acid and alkali resistance, and corrosion resistance. Even when constructed in a harsh environment, the performance of the building structure reinforcement is rarely affected.
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