FEATURE Composite reinforcements; between standardization and innovation: A COMBINED EFFORT Elium resin used in composite reinforcements has triggered a chain of® innovations. In order to concretize and maximize this impact, Arkema is working closely with its university and industrial partners. “By making it possibleMy role as a professional and independent researcherat the University of Miami is to help Arkema to identify to bend composite the opportunities and constraints of these technologies,as well as testing, optimizing and validating its prod- reinforcements ucts, and contributing to the development of marketstandards.I am involved in the technical committees at distributors’ or of a number of US and international organizations manufacturers' developing specifications for materials, test protocols, design guidelines and codes. Guidelines and specifica- facilities, Elium resin® tions currently concern composite reinforcements using epoxy resin or vinyl ester, but we are thinking about opens up decisive including other materials such as Elium resin, on the® basis of their performance.” ■ prospects for the industry.” ANTONIO NANNI, Professor and Director of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Antonio Nanni Engineering, University of Miami, United States RESEARCH AREA: construction materials (advanced We are at the tipping point for rolling out fiber-reinforcedcomposites and concrete), structural performance and polymer reinforcements for concrete. Constructionindustrial applications, including their inspection and professionals need a solution to the problem of corrosionrenewal, with a focus on the sustainability of buildings in steel reinforcements.The composites industry hasand civil infrastructures the opportunity to contribute its power of innovation and technological design. But to succeed, it needs to demonstrate the performance of these new types of reinforcements and show that their production can be scalable and competitive. Using thermoplastic composite reinforcements as a vi- able alternative to steel reinforcements is an obvious choice in aggressive environments such coastal areas or when used with aggregates with high salt content and significant changes in temperature. Weather con- ditions can speed up the deterioration of concrete. But we need to be able to supply and manufacture this new generation of more resistant, effective and durable reinforcements efficiently for it to stand a chance of being adopted. 30