Nonmetallic solutions eat into traditional materials

Nonmetallic materials are playing a vital role in Aramco’s environmental projects as the company develops alternative products to reduce the problem of corrosion and increase infrastructure longevity.

The recently opened Mangrove Eco-Park near Ras Tanura uses wood polymer composite for decking and fiber reinforced polymer for fences, guardrails, and handrails along its 400-meter elevated boardwalk.

The use of polymers and composites is an example of how nonmetallic applications can add value to a project. Nonmetallics are organic structures that do not conduct heat or electricity, and are more resistant than metals to corrosion, which is estimated to cost the world $2.5 trillion.

The Mangrove Eco-Park, the Kingdom’s first, is part of the company’s initiative to protect the environment, which includes the planting of millions of mangroves over the next 10 years. The park covers an area of 62 km² and is one of the region’s few remaining old growth mangroves.

The materials selected for the park are cost-effective, easy to maintain, and durable in what is a corrosive coastal environment.

The project was a collaboration between Environmental Protection, Northern Area Community Services, Project Management, and the Consulting Services Department. This initiative paves the way for more deployment opportunities of nonmetallic materials in infrastructure projects.

Nonmetallic composites, with their aesthetic qualities, functionality and versatility, are becoming the material of choice for different applications. They allow engineers to create unique, flexible designs that are impossible to make with traditional materials.