What is rebar?
Reinforcement steel, also known as rebar, is used as a reinforced concrete component in buildings. Once of the key properties of reinforcement steel is the way it bonds so well with concrete. Various classifications, grades and DIN standards apply, depending on the country and the area of application. Flexibility and tensile strength, but also earthquake categories, play a decisive role when using this material.
Where is rebar used?
No other material on Earth is produced in greater quantities than concrete. When used in building construction, support structures or similar installations, the concrete has to be reinforced. This is done with rebar. Shrinkage cracks and stresses are reduced, houses are made earthquake-proof and bridges are structurally strengthened. Rebar is assembled in a casing, as individual bars or as a mesh, and then cast in concrete.
Recycling rebar
As a relatively large amount of steel scrap is generated nowadays, industry uses almost entirely recycled material. Mineral construction waste has to be separated out first. Concrete, with gravel or natural stone, is crushed and recycled separately. The rebar is filtered out with a magnet, chopped up with scrap shears, cleaned and made into a usable raw material. Steel can be fully recycled and then reintroduced into industrial processes.
