PLASTIC REINFORCING BARS
Reichhold Chemicals has acquired Marshall Industries Composites, developer of novel processes for the manufacture of straight and angled C-Bar fiber-reinforced polymer composite reinforcing bars. Reichhold's move was precipitated by the unexpected death in 1996 of C-Bar inventor, Brice Marshall Nelson, which left a void in the company's leadership just as the new product reached commercialization. C-Bar is a composite rebar specifically designed to resist the corrosive effects of chloride in reinforced concrete structures. C-Bar features an outer layer fabricated with urethane-modified vinyl ester resin reinforced with ceramic fibers incorporating deformations molded by a continuous, proprietary, patented and patent-pending process. The deformations, similar to those on traditional steel rebar, make for excellent adhesion to concrete. The core is a pultruded rod of polyester reinforced with glass, aramid or carbon fibers, depending on the application.