Glass fiber is inexpensive and corrosion-proof, but not as ductile as steel. Recently, spun basalt fiber, long available in Eastern Europe, has become available in the U.S. and Western Europe. Basalt fiber is stronger and less expensive than glass, but historically has not resisted the alkaline environment of Portland cement well enough to be used as direct reinforcement. New materials use plastic binders to isolate the basalt fiber from the cement.
Glass fiber is inexpensive and corrosion-proof but not as ductile as steel Recently spun basalt fiber long available in Eastern Europe has become available in the US and Western Europe Basalt fiber is stronger and less expensive than glass but historically has not resisted the alkaline environment of Portland cement well enough to be used as direct reinforcement New materials use plastic binders to isolate the basalt fiber from the cement