composite / Fibre-Reinforced / Polymer-Based FRP
Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheet/strip (0.2mm, 0.5mm, 1.0mm, 1.2mm, 1.4mm, 2.0mm)
Prefabricated CFRP laminates for strengthening; Sika CarboDur S plates report tensile strength 2,900-3,100 MPa, modulus 165-170 GPa and density ~1.60 g/cm? (longitudinal properties).
Atlas code
COM-FRC-PFR-002
At-a-glance signals
Prefabricated CFRP laminates for strengthening; Sika CarboDur S plates report tensile strength 2,900-3,100 MPa, modulus 165-170 GPa and density ~1.60 g/cm? (longitudinal properties).
Overview
Executive summary
Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets/strips are prefabricated laminates of carbon fibre in an epoxy matrix used for structural strengthening. Manufacturer data for Sika CarboDur S plates reports tensile strength 2,900-3,100 MPa, modulus of elasticity 165-170 GPa (longitudinal), and density about 1.60 g/cm?. These thin laminates provide high strength-to-weight reinforcement with minimal added thickness.
Best when…
- 5x stronger than steel with 60% weight of aluminium
- Excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments
- Minimal structural weight addition
- 50-100 year design life
- Non-conductive and non-magnetic
- High fatigue resistance (3+ million cycles)
- Thin profile maintains architectural features
- Rapid installation with minimal disruption
- Adaptable to complex geometries
- No heavy lifting equipment required
- Resistant to chemical attack
- Dimensional stability
Top advantages
- 01 5x stronger than steel with 60% weight of aluminium
- 02 Excellent corrosion resistance in marine environments
- 03 Minimal structural weight addition
- 04 50-100 year design life
- 05 Non-conductive and non-magnetic
Top limitations
- 01 High embodied carbon (19-68 kg CO2-eq/kg)
- 02 Combustible material requiring fire protection
- 03 Poor UV resistance without protective coating
- 04 Glass transition at relatively low temperature (60-82°C)
- 05 High initial material cost
Technical
Physical ·9
- Density
- 1,600 kg/m? (Sika CarboDur S) kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 1.60
- Porosity
- <2% %
- Water absorption
- <0.1% (24 hours) %
- Hardness
- Rockwell M 110-120
- UV resistance
- Poor without protective coating - requires UV-resistant topcoat
- Chemical resistance
- Excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, salts
- pH tolerance
- pH 3-12
- Surface roughness
- Ra 0.5-2.0 μm (smooth finish) µm
Mechanical ·7
- Tensile strength
- 2,900-3,100 MPa (Sika CarboDur S plates, longitudinal) MPa
- Compressive strength
- 600-1200 MPa (longitudinal) MPa
- Flexural strength
- 800-1200 MPa MPa
- Shear strength
- 60-90 MPa (in-plane), 40-70 MPa (interlaminar) MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.25-0.35 (major), 0.02-0.05 (minor)
- Impact resistance
- 20-40 kJ/m²
- Creep resistance
- Excellent - <0.5% at 50% UTS over 50 years
Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon & energy ·7
- Embodied carbon
- 109 kg CO₂-eq/kg (total CFRP)
- Carbon footprint
- 19.29-67.79 kg CO₂-eq/kg (fibre only)
- Embodied energy
- 198-595 MJ/kg MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 200-400 L/kg L/kg
- Recycled content
- 0-5% (limited availability) %
- Renewable content
- 0% %
- Circular score
- 3/10 (improving with recycling development)
Compliance & Fire
Fire performance ·6
- Combustibility class
- Combustible per AS 1530.1
- Fire resistance level
- 0 hours unprotected, 1-4 hours with protection systems
- Ignition temp
- 450°C (matrix), >400°C (fibre oxidation) °C
- Flame spread index
- 25-75 (Class B-C)
- Smoke dev. index
- 50-200
- Heat release rate
- 50-150 kW/m²
Cost & Lifecycle
Capex & lead time ·6
- Material cost (range)
- AUD $180-650/m² (thickness dependent)
- Material cost (per unit)
- 0.2mm: $180-250/m², 0.5mm: $220-320/m², 1.0mm: $280-420/m², 1.2mm: $320-480/m², 1.4mm: $360-520/m², 2.0mm: $450-650/m²
- Lead time
- 2-4 weeks (stock), 6-8 weeks (custom)
- Lifecycle cost
- AUD $500-1000/m² over 50 years
- Annual maintenance
- AUD $2-5/m² (inspection and UV coating renewal)
- Market availability
- Good - multiple suppliers nationally
Service life & durability ·3
- Expected lifespan
- 50-100 years
- Maintenance interval
- Annual inspection, 5-year detailed assessment
- Warranty period
- 10-15 years (materials), 5-10 years (installation)
Layer D
Where it's used
Flexural strengthening of concrete beams and slabs
Shear strengthening of concrete members
Column confinement for seismic retrofitting
Bridge deck and girder rehabilitation
Marine structure reinforcement
Heritage building preservation
Silo and tank strengthening
Masonry wall stabilisation
Timber beam reinforcement
Blast and impact resistance enhancement
Corrosion damage repair
Structural upgrade for increased loads