Legislation recently re-introduced in the U.S. Senate would create a design data clearinghouse to disseminate existing guidelines and standards for using composite materials in infrastructure projects.
The Composite Standards Act would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop the data clearinghouse and consult with the National Science Foundation to conduct a four-year pilot program that assists with assessing the feasibility of adopting composite technology.
The goal is to enable more individuals and businesses to take advantage of composites. In 2017, NIST said the top barriers for composite adoption were durability and service life prediction, training and education, and codes and standards. The institute identified a design data clearinghouse, education and training, and durability testing were the methods that would overcome these barriers.
U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the bill.
“Composite materials hold great promise for repairing our nation’s aging infrastructure—both in terms of cost-savings and improved performance,” Peters said.
Peters is Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports Subcommittee chairman.
The carbon fiber market is growing in North America because of increased demand for renewable energy, and fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles, and its accelerated usage in the aerospace and defense sector.