One startup’s paper-thin stainless steel could change how bridges are built forever.
Matilda
Paper-Thin Steel Reinvents Bridge Design One Startup’s Paper-Thin Stainless Steel Could Change How Bridges Are Built The future of bridge construction might be getting a major upgrade — and it’s all thanks to one startup’s paper-thin stainless steel innovation. One startup’s paper-thin stainless steel could change how bridges are built by making them stronger, longer-lasting, and far more cost-efficient than today’s rust-prone structures. Image Credits:Grant Faint/ Getty Images Why Rust Is the Hidden Enemy of Modern Bridges Concrete alone isn’t strong enough for the massive loads bridges must carry, so engineers rely on steel rebar for reinforcement. But when that steel begins to corrode, the surrounding concrete weakens — sometimes catastrophically. The problem is so widespread that nearly one-third of U.S. bridges need repair or replacement, a crisis that could cost nearly $400 billion in the next decade. To fight rust, engineers typically coat rebar with epoxy or use extra layers of concrete. Unfortunately, these are short-ter…
