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frequentlyasked questions

Will you also make new products that are not in your standard portfolio?
  • Yes of course. We are constantly upgrading our product portfolio together with our partners. Feel free to contact us with your ideas.
Is Kelteks ISO 9001:2015 certified?
Is Kelteks ISO 14001:2015 certified?
What is a composite?
  • A composite is a material that consists of two or more material components that are combined with each other. A composite has different properties compared to the properties of each single material component, which is the reason why composites are used. Composite materials can be differed according to the geometry of their components. There are the following types:
  •  – Particle composites => at least one component is particle-like, e.g. polymer concrete
  •  – Fiber-reinforced composites => at least one component is fiber-like, e.g. fiber reinforced plastic
  •  – Laminate composite => the components are layers, e.g. aluminum Dibond plates
  •  – Penetration composites => one component has a porous like structure filled up by at least a second component, e.g. ceramics like silicon infiltrated silicon carbide
  • Each component of a composite of the different kinds can be made of different materials.
  • Keltkes products are mainly found in the group of fiber-reinforced composites using, glass, basaltic, aramid, or carbon fibers as reinforcement and polymer matrix. The fibers are carrying the loads, whereas the matrix has the function to transfer the loads to the fibers and fixing the geometry of a part. These composites are called fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) or specifically:
  •  – Glass fiber reinforced composites (GFRP)
  •  – Basaltic fiber-reinforced composites (BFRP)
  •  – Aramid fiber-reinforced composites (AFRP)
  •  – Carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP)
What are the primary advantages of composite materials?
  •  – The primary advantage of composites is the ability to specifically design the properties of a material by combining different material components that are bringing in their special properties. In this way, composites can be specifically optimized to create e.g. a very light material in combination with very high strength. This combination is one of the aims to create and use fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP). These are lightweight and very strong at the same time.
  •  – Another example is the class of composite materials made of concrete matrix and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) reinforcement for the concrete. Here the material follows the aim to combine the high compressive strength of concrete with the high tensile strength of the FRP reinforcement. The FRP reinforcement additionally brings in its high media resistance avoiding rusting of buildings and increasing lifetime.
  •  – Both examples have furthermore in common that the reinforcements (fibers respectively FRP) can be specifically integrated only in those areas and directions where you need it. This enables optimization of weight and strength and furthermore reduction of resources.
What is the purpose of reinforcement in composites?
  • The reinforcement in fiber-reinforced plastic composites has to carry the loads of the application that is produced. The plastic (polymer) matrix has to hold the fibers in place and spread forces into the fibers of the reinforcement.
Where should I use glass fiber and where to use carbon fiber?
  • For reinforcement of concrete: If you need non-conductivity or thermal isolation properties you clearly need to use glass fibers. If you need the highest tensile strengths or stiffnesses with small diameters or if you look for lifetimes much more than 100 years you need to use carbon fibers. For all other cases, you can look for the best price-performance ratio that can vary depending on the reinforcement type or critical load case of your application. Composites in General: Carbon fibers should be used where you have very high demands regarding lightweight due to the higher strength, higher stiffness, and lower weight of carbon fibers. Glass fibers offer a good price-performance balance.
What are the three general factors that determine the properties of a composite material?
  • There is a number of properties determining the material behavior of composite materials. The main categories are Lightweight, high mechanical properties, and media resistance.
Where are composites used?
  • Composites are used in nearly all application fields of today’s world, especially where lightweight and saving resources is key aspect. Examples are the construction industry, automotive industry, aerospace industry, boat building, tubes and containers, sports articles, and consumer products.