Why Reinforced Concrete?

Ever wondered why iron rods are used to reinforce cement and concrete? Plain concrete is strong against compression but weak against tension. This means that concrete, on its own, does not have the ability to withstand tensile and shear stresses occasioned by earthquakes, wind, vibrations, and other forces. Hence, when iron rods are used to reinforce concrete, the two materials act together in resisting forces. The iron rods absorb the tensile, shear and the compressive stresses in a concrete structure. Ever since its invention in the 19th century, reinforced concrete has proven to be the most important material in the construction industry.

Why you should not Use Low Quality Iron Rods

Reinforced concrete makes a building or structure very strong to resist natural and man-made factors that affect buildings. Consequently, in order to ensure the safety of the occupants and users of a building project, only top quality iron rods should be used to reinforce concrete. Low quality iron rods are of inferior quality and are detrimental to the safety of lives and property. Quality iron rods must be capable of bonding perfectly with cement and concrete so as to strengthen the building and protect it from natural disasters, fire, moisture, corrosion, structural damage, and high temperature.

Using low quality iron rods all in the name of cutting cost, is tantamount to toying with the lives of people. They do not have high yield strength, thermal stability, corrosion resistance, ductility and temperature resistance.

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Consequences of Building with Low Quality Iron Rods

• • Structural damage

Using low quality iron rods exposes your building or structure to damage, as they do not have uniform rib structure that guarantees perfect bonding with cement and concrete. Lack of perfect bonding also means that the iron rods are unable to provide needed strength to buildings and structures. Hence, the structure will not have the capacity to carry the load it was initially designed to carry, and will also not be able to resist external forces.

• • Exposure to earthquakes

Low quality iron rods expose your building to collapse because they lack ductility which can make them withstand earthquakes, wind, vibrations and other natural disasters. This means that the iron rods are not also suitable in areas prone to seismic attacks. This affects the longevity of the structure.

• • Exposure to thermal agents

Low quality iron rods are not produced with the right chemical and physical chemistry properties, hence they do not contain low carbon contents that can give them the ability to withstand moisture, extreme temperature and fire. The consequence of this is that the structure will not have a long lifespan.

• • Structural weakness

Another defect of low quality iron rods is that they do not have anti-corrosion properties which guide against rust and spall. Corrosion has direct effects on reinforced concrete structures. It weakens the structure; reduces the bonding strength of the materials, limits the ductility, and reduces the shear capacity of the buildings.

• • Safety concerns

Reinforcing concrete, which itself cannot withstand stress, with low quality iron rods, calls the integrity of the structure to ensure the safety of lives and properties to question. Reinforced concrete must be able to keep the structure strong, increase its load-bearing capacity and protect it from damage and collapse which lead to loss of lives, properties and financial resources.

• • Financial loss

The use of low quality iron rods leads to damage which causes constant renovation and repairs. The damage is often caused by exposure of the structure to natural disasters, fire, corrosion, extreme temperature, and lack of high yield strength. This does not guarantee safety, peace of mind, and leads to financial loss which could have been avoidable in the process of construction.

Reinforce Concrete with TMT Iron Rods

TMT iron rods are Thermo-Mechanically-Treated iron rods which are known for high strength. The name is derived from the manufacturing process which is a thermo-mechanical process where hot steel billets are passed through quenching process.

This process hardens the outer surface of the iron rods, enhancing its tensile strength, while the inner core remains soft, increasing its ductility. This alteration in microstructure across the cross-section of the rods imparts enormous strength to it.

They are generally used in construction for superior protection against earthquake and other natural disasters. To however ensure safety for your structure, TMT iron rods should be resistant to corrosion as this helps to obtain a longer life to your structure.

Why you should Choose TMT Iron Rods

• TMT iron rods have no surface deformities. Hence, they are ideal for critical infrastructure for better strength of the structures.
• TMT iron rods have a higher load-bearing capacity. This helps to reduce the number of iron rods required for constructing a structure, thus also reducing cost of construction.
• TMT iron rods are more ductile. This results in greater pliability, allowing for aesthetic designing of a structure.
• They possess high stress yield and the capacity to withstand sudden loads, hence they are highly suitable for construction in zones with frequent or high seismic attacks.
• TMT iron rods are better at resisting corrosion, even in constructions which are frequently or permanently exposed to water, like canals, dams or bridges.