Nuevo Material Fibra de Basalto Reforzado con Polimeros (BFRP = Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer = BFRP)

BFRP has twice the tensile strength—at about 1.200 megapascals—of steel, while weighing 75% less and is more resistant to the alkali concrete environment than glass fiber and the cost of BFRP rebar is similar to that of glass fiber, 30% to 40% cheaper than stainless steel and roughly three times more expensive than common steel rebar. 

(rebar = ferralla = barras de acero en hormigón)

   

http://basaltproductsgroup.com/

http://enr.construction.com/products/materials/2010/0929-RockFiberRebar.asp
Basalt is an inert and naturally occurring material that is found worldwide.

Basalt based materials are environment-friendly and not hazardous.

Basalt continuous fibers are produced from basalt rock using single component raw material by drawing and winding fibers from the melt. Once the continuous basalt fibers have been produced, they are converted into a suitable form for particular application.

Basalt continuous fibers can be processed to roving or to chopped basalt strand. Further basalt roving can be processed to roving fabrics or reinforcing net.
Processing of basalt fibers does not require special equipment or technologies - all known processing including pultrusion, filament winding, SMC/BMC as well as conversion into regular textile, non-woven, UD and multi-axial fabrics can be used.
Basfiber®is compatible with most types of resin such as epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester, phenolic, melamine, acrylate, and polyurethane resin systems. Fiber's weight loss after 3 hours boiling in saturated cement solution. Applications of our products include but not limited to high pressure vessels, tanks and cylinders, load bearing profiles, wind-mill blades, boats, SMC/BMC parts for automotive industry, concrete reinforcing bars, friction materials, concrete reinforcement and many others. 
Basfiber®E glass 
                Specific gravity 2.67 g/cm3     2.5-2.6 g/cm3
                Thermal properties Basfiber®E glass
                              Application temperature, °C -260 up to +560 -60 up to +460
                              Short-term maximum operation temperature, °C up to +700 up to +550
                              Heat conductivity, W/(m . °K) 0.031-0.038 0.034-0.04 
Nota de un Amigo:

Para el ferrocarril podría tener una aplicación genial, especialmente para vía en placa, puentes, soleras de túneles y lugares así, pues intuyo que no es buen conductor eléctrico (incluso aislante) y no tendrá propiedades magnéticas relevantes. Esto es, podría eliminar los problemas de corrosión por retornos, y de ocupaciones de circuitos de vías que ahora tenemos con la ferralla, los mallazos y los corrugados metálicos.