Architectural application of carbon fibers - Development of new carbon fiber reinforced glulam

A new carbon fiber reinforced glued laminated timber (CFR-glulam) with high performance and fire endurance properties, which originated through the development of a new phenolic resin and intermediate material which is CF composite sheet (CF/P) and production system, is reviewed. The intermediate material, CF/P sheet, newly developed, was composed of a CF reinforced composite sheet sandwiched by resin impregnated and properly cured pulp gaper. New CFR-glulam of cryptomeria japonica (sugi) and larch (karamatsu) of 2-6 m in length with CF content of about 0.08-1.3 vol.% were evaluated by using the methods of the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) specified for house construction. The new CFR-glulam showed double the flexural modulus and strength, a smaller coefficient of variation in mechanical properties and superior adhesion delamination properties than the starting glulam (without CF reinforcement). This CFR-glulam is proposed as a structural material in wooden architectural applications and the newly developed CF/P composite sheet could be used as the board reinforcement materials and also for the repair of house and bridge components. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.