Polymer composites in construction: a brief history

This paper discusses the development of advanced polymer composite material applications in civil and structural engineering over the past three decades. It illustrates the rapid growth in its utilisation in comparison with other construction materials, and the reasons for this. The material has extraordinary mechanical and important in-service properties, which when combined with other materials are utilised to improve stiffness, strength and durability and lower the whole-life cost and environmental impact. The paper demonstrates the types of structure that have been developed from the material, and the most advantageous way to employ composites in civil engineering. There is, however, generally a 20-year period from the fundamental innovation stage to the final use of the product by industry: this seems a very slow process. The paper concludes by summarising key successes of advanced polymer composites in construction.