Carbon-fibre composites to restore old buildings

Advanced carbon-fibre composites that can be used to strengthen decaying and historic buildings, allowing contractors to avoid using more cumbersome traditional methods, have been developed by a European Union research project.
The international project, known as Comrehab, has created high-resistance synthetic fibres from epoxy and polyester resins. These can be applied in thin layers to strengthen and stiffen areas under significant stress.
The project team said the materials would enable builders to avoid using wooden or steel buttresses, tie rods and scaffolding. It said such methods "have a negative effect on both tourism and traffic circulation, while long-term maintenance is also very expensive".
The team added: "The materials are lighter, exceptionally resistant to corrosion and easy to handle, adapting easily to irregular shapes and sizes. Unlike traditional approaches, the new method is also reversible."
The project was co-ordinated by the EU research and development network, known as Eureka.
For more information go to www.eureka.be.