Glossary of composite reinforcement terms

A

alkali resistance: The property of a fibre material to not be attacked by the alkaline environment in concrete and mortar. AR-glass and basalt fibre are alkali-resistant, as is carbon fibre. More about alkali resistance →
anchoring: Umbrella term for non-corrosive connectors and anchors used for seismic strengthening, crack repair and connecting masonry components. More about anchoring →
AR-glass (alkali-resistant fibreglass): Fibreglass specially treated to withstand the alkaline environment in concrete and mortar ('AR' stands for alkali-resistant). Remarkable uses AR-glass in, among others, BRIKSY AR-glas and GRID glass. More about AR-glass (alkali-resistant fibreglass) →

B

basalt reinforcement: Reinforcement material made from basalt fibre, like fibreglass and carbon non-corrosive and electrically non-conductive. General material literature highlights basalt fibre's heat resistance and chemical stability. Remarkable applies it in FLEX GRID basalt. More about basalt reinforcement →
bed joint reinforcement: Reinforcement installed in the horizontal joint (bed joint) of a masonry wall to prevent cracking around window and door openings. Remarkable supplies this in carbon (BRIKSY Carbon) and AR-glass (BRIKSY AR-glas). More about bed joint reinforcement →
brickwork reinforcement: Umbrella term for reinforcement that strengthens brickwork, including bed joint reinforcement but also wider applications such as crack repair and seismic strengthening of walls. More about brickwork reinforcement →

C

carbon fibre reinforcement: Reinforcement material made from carbon fibre: non-corrosive, very light and with the highest tensile strength per kilo of the composite reinforcements. Remarkable's REBAR carbon has an ultimate tensile strength of 2,173 MPa and a modulus of elasticity of 213 GPa. Carbon does conduct electricity. More about carbon fibre reinforcement →
carbon fibre strips (strengthening): Strips of carbon fabric bonded to an existing structure to give it extra load-bearing capacity, for example with ANTISEISMIC WRAP. More about carbon fibre strips (strengthening) →
cavity wall tie: Connecting element between the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall that transfers wind load. The number and type depend on geometry, insulation package and wind load. More about cavity wall tie →
cavity wall ties: Connecting element between the inner and outer leaf of a cavity wall. More about cavity wall ties →
CE marking: Mandatory marking indicating that a construction product meets European performance requirements. BRIKSY Carbon and BRIKSY AR-glas are CE marked in accordance with EAD 260057-00-0303, for inorganic fibre grids for reinforcing cement, anhydrite or resin bonded screeds. More about CE marking →
chopped strand mat: Fibreglass mat made of short, randomly distributed glass fibre strands (E-glass), bonded with a powder or emulsion binder. Compatible with polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy resin systems; can be processed with hand lamination, RTM, vacuum infusion, spray-up or press moulding. More about chopped strand mat →
complex mat: Combination of woven roving with a reinforcement material such as a needled mat or continuous filament mat, combined in a single layer for superior mechanical properties, for example in pultrusion production. More about complex mat →
concrete cover: The distance between the surface of the concrete and the reinforcement inside it. With steel, this cover must be large enough to prevent corrosion; non-corrosive reinforcement does not have that problem and can therefore be applied with less concrete cover. More about concrete cover →
Continuous Filament Mat (CFM): Fibreglass mat made of continuous glass fibre strands laid in a random pattern, used as reinforcement in composite laminates. More about Continuous Filament Mat (CFM) →
crack: Crack in masonry or concrete. More about crack →
crack distribution: The effect whereby a reinforcement mesh spreads unavoidable shrinkage cracks in a large surface (such as a screed) into many fine, barely visible cracks instead of a few wide cracks. More about crack distribution →
crack prevention: Preventing cracking in concrete, mortar or screed during curing or due to temperature and moisture effects, usually by embedding a reinforcement mesh or mat in the material. More about crack prevention →
crack stitching: Method for repairing an existing crack in masonry using crack stitching bars that reconnect the wall across the crack, instead of rebuilding the wall. More about crack stitching →
crack stitching bar: Bar-shaped anchor installed across a crack in masonry to stitch the two parts back together, without breaking open the wall. Remarkable supplies this as CONNECTOR Wall Crack Anchor. More about crack stitching bar →

E

epoxy resin: Resin with high mechanical strength and chemical resistance, one of the resin systems Chopped Strand Mat Powder is compatible with. More about epoxy resin →
ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System): A facade insulation system where insulation, reinforcing mesh and render layer together form one unit. The reinforcing mesh strengthens the render layer and prevents cracking caused by temperature differences and settlement. More about ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) →

F

fabrics (category): Umbrella term for carbon and fibreglass fabrics and rebars that Remarkable supplies for structural strengthening, renovation and seismic resilience of structures. More about fabrics (category) →
fibreglass cloth: Woven composite material made from fibreglass, used as reinforcement in laminates where a regular structure and high strength are required. More about fibreglass cloth →
fibreglass matting: Composite material made from fibreglass in mat form (as opposed to reinforcement bars), used as reinforcement in laminates. More about fibreglass matting →
fibreglass reinforcement: Non-corrosive reinforcement based on (AR-)fibreglass, used as an alternative to rebar steel in concrete and masonry. More about fibreglass reinforcement →
FRP reinforcement (fibre reinforced polymer): Umbrella term for reinforcement made from composite material (carbon, fibreglass, basalt) instead of metal. Non-metallic and therefore non-corrosive. More about FRP reinforcement (fibre reinforced polymer) →

G

gelcoat: Protective base layer for composites, resistant to various chemicals and atmospheric influences. Applied as the first layer in the mould, before the laminate. More about gelcoat →

H

hand lamination: Processing method in which resin is applied by hand (roller or brush) into fibre material, layer by layer. One of the processing methods Chopped Strand Mat Powder is compatible with, alongside RTM, vacuum infusion, spray-up and press moulding. More about hand lamination →
helical bar: Helically profiled anchor bar that is bonded into a drilled hole in the joint to connect two wall sections, or a wall and a structural element, to each other. Known as an alternative to stainless steel helical bars. More about helical bar →

I

insulation: Material that limits heat loss through a facade, roof or floor. In combination with non-corrosive reinforcement, insulation plays a role in ETICS systems and in heated screeds. More about insulation →
ISO 9001 / ISO 14001: International management system standards: ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management. The production of BRIKSY carbon meets the requirements of both standards. More about ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 →

L

lintel: Load-bearing structure above an opening (window or door) in a wall, supporting the masonry above it. Can be executed as a steel angle lintel, as reinforced masonry, or as a combination of both. More about lintel →

M

maritime and hydraulic structures: Maritime and hydraulic structures, such as harbour quays, locks and bank revetments, where corrosion from salt water is an important reason to choose non-corrosive reinforcement. More about maritime and hydraulic structures →
masonry compressive strength: The resistance of a masonry structure to compressive forces, determined by the combination of brick and mortar. Relevant when determining which reinforcement or strengthening is needed. More about masonry compressive strength →
mesh size: The distance between the threads of a reinforcement mesh, expressed in millimetres. ANTICRACK variants, for example, are available with a mesh size of 21 or 38 mm. More about mesh size →
modulus of elasticity: Measure of a material's stiffness: how much it deforms under load, expressed in GPa. The higher the modulus of elasticity, the stiffer the material. BRIKSY Carbon has a modulus of elasticity of 213 GPa, BRIKSY AR-glas 72 GPa. More about modulus of elasticity →
multiaxial fabric (combimat): Fabric built up from multiple fibre layers in different orientations, stitched into a single layer, for directional strength in more than one direction at once. More about multiaxial fabric (combimat) →

N

needled mat: Non-woven material of randomly arranged fibres that have been mechanically consolidated with needles (needle-punching), used in composite laminates for example for resin absorption and surface finish. More about needled mat →
non-corrosive / corrosion-resistant: Property of a material that is not electrochemically attacked by moisture, oxygen or chloride, unlike steel. Carbon, fibreglass and basalt are not metals and are therefore non-corrosive. More about non-corrosive / corrosion-resistant →
non-metallic reinforcement for concrete: Reinforcement made from composite material (carbon, fibreglass) instead of metal, specifically applied in concrete rather than masonry. More about non-metallic reinforcement for concrete →
non-residential buildings: Non-residential construction: offices, schools, commercial buildings and other buildings without a residential function. More about non-residential buildings →

P

polyester resin: Commonly used resin for composite production, one of the resin systems Chopped Strand Mat Powder is compatible with. More about polyester resin →

R

rebar (reinforcement bar): Bar-shaped reinforcement made from composite material, used as a non-corrosive alternative to steel rebar. Remarkable's REBAR carbon is the carbon variant of this, with an ultimate tensile strength of 2,173 MPa. More about rebar (reinforcement bar) →
reinforcement grid: Rigid grid made of carbon or fibreglass that replaces steel reinforcement mesh in load-bearing concrete structures: non-corrosive, lightweight and with higher tensile strength. Remarkable's GRID is the rigid variant of this. More about reinforcement grid →
reinforcement mesh: Flexible mesh made of carbon, fibreglass or basalt fibre that serves as reinforcement in screeds, thin layers or on curved surfaces. Remarkable's FLEX GRID is the flexible variant of this. More about reinforcement mesh →
reinforcement mesh (screed): Mesh of fibreglass or carbon embedded in a screed to distribute shrinkage cracks into many fine cracks instead of a few wide ones. More about reinforcement mesh (screed) →
reinforcing mesh fabric (render/ETICS): Fibreglass mesh embedded in the render layer of an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) to prevent cracking from temperature differences and settlement. Remarkable's PRIMAFAS is intended for this. More about reinforcing mesh fabric (render/ETICS) →
reinforcing steel / rebar steel: Traditional steel reinforcement material for concrete and masonry. Susceptible to corrosion in the presence of moisture, oxygen and especially chloride (de-icing salt, seawater) or carbonation. More about reinforcing steel / rebar steel →
render mesh: Reinforcing mesh embedded specifically in a render layer (without insulation, so not necessarily a complete ETICS system), to prevent cracking in the render. More about render mesh →
resin: Liquid plastic that binds fibre material (glass, carbon, basalt) into a solid composite laminate. Polyester, vinyl ester and epoxy resin are the most commonly used types. More about resin →

S

sand-coated (surface): Surface treatment in which sand is applied to a reinforcement bar or mesh to improve bonding with concrete or mortar. A completely different process from sanding or grinding. More about sand-coated (surface) →
screed: Finishing layer above a structural floor. More about screed →
screed (bonded, floating, unbonded, heated): Finishing layer above a structural floor. Bonded is directly connected to the subfloor, floating rests loosely on an insulation layer, unbonded rests on a separation layer, and heated contains underfloor heating pipes. Each type has its own crack reinforcement requirements. More about screed (bonded, floating, unbonded, heated) →
screed reinforcement mesh: Mesh used to reinforce a screed. More about screed reinforcement mesh →
seismic strengthening: Strengthening existing masonry or concrete structures with a reinforcement mesh or fabric to make the structure better able to withstand the forces of an earthquake. Remarkable's ANTISEISMIC product line is aimed at this. More about seismic strengthening →

T

tensile strength: The force a material can withstand before it breaks under tensile load, expressed in N/mm² (MPa). Carbon has the highest tensile strength per kilo of the composite reinforcements; Remarkable's REBAR carbon reaches an ultimate tensile strength of 2,173 MPa. More about tensile strength →
textile reinforced concrete: Concrete reinforced with a textile fabric of carbon or glass fibre instead of steel: thinner, lighter structures possible without corrosion risk. More about textile reinforced concrete →

U

underfloor heating screed: Screed containing underfloor heating pipes. Requires crack reinforcement that can withstand the temperature fluctuations caused by the heating system. More about underfloor heating screed →
unidirectional fabric (UD): Fabric with primary, long structural fibres all aligned in a single direction, held in place by a light cross thread. Delivers the highest strength and stiffness in that one direction. Remarkable supplies this in carbon and glass. More about unidirectional fabric (UD) →

V

vacuum infusion: Processing method in which resin is drawn through dry fibre material under vacuum, for a high fibre-to-resin ratio and little air entrapment. One of the processing methods Chopped Strand Mat Powder is compatible with. More about vacuum infusion →

W

water barriers and hydraulic structures: Construction structures designed to hold back water, such as basement floors, quay walls and water treatment basins. Non-corrosive reinforcement is of interest here because the material itself is not affected by prolonged contact with water. More about water barriers and hydraulic structures →
woven roving: Coarsely woven glass or carbon fabric made from bundled fibre strands (rovings), used as reinforcement in composite laminates where high strength and stiffness are required. More about woven roving →