Today, technological developments allow a wide range of materials to be available for bus stops, thanks to which its construction is easier. From wooden structures (widely used in rural areas) to metal alloys, the companies responsible for the design and manufacture of urban furniture have multiple resources, and we have a proposal made from recycled materials, but it is important to also know other materials both environmentally correct and traditional for bus stops. Let’s see them below.
-Recycled plastic: The resulting structure is self-locking, which allows you to install or uninstall the system in a short time. In addition, its environmental impact is lower, as is its cost. They have great resistance to the weather and high resistance to the sliding of the surface. Today, both plastic and other recycled materials are an important part of the structure of multiple intelligent bus stops around the world, confirming the need to rethink urban accessibility from a more environmentally friendly point of view.
-Bamboo: it is a very common material in China, where it is used, among other things, to assemble tubular structures that are then used in the construction industry. Bamboo canes only take five years to harvest, unlike other trees, whose growth can take up to 20 years. Once the bamboo rods are obtained, they must receive a treatment that serves to increase their resistance and then convert them into optimal material for the construction of structures, such as bus stops. In the city of Tigre, Argentina, 20 bus stops made with bamboo began to be installed in 2014. The goal is to reach 100 stops.
-Thermo-lacquered aluminum: refers to treated aluminum to be more resistant to corrosion, heat, extreme temperature changes, rain and impacts. It is a material that has several uses and is especially useful for the elaboration of street furniture, since it has a quite long lifespan and does not require maintenance. In addition, it is very resistant, so they are ideal for designing bus stops, since they are structures that by their nature are used by a large volume of people, and therefore must withstand the onslaught of time and use.
-Polycarbonate: it is a material that belongs to the group of thermoplastics, and it is very easy to mold, so since its invention in the 50s it has had multiple industrial applications, including street furniture. Its usefulness in bus stops lies in its high resistance to impact and deformation, it also protects against UV rays, has good resistance to electrical insulation and can be maintained in good condition for a long time, even against damage caused by different environmental factors. It is one of the most used bus stop materials, especially in smart stops .
-Safety glass: It is used in specific parts of the stop, such as the canopies. The most relevant thing about this material is that if it breaks or fractures, it will not cause any harm to users, since it is designed to split into non-sharp parts (tempered glass) or to remain attached to a plastic sheet (laminated glass) , avoiding damages or serious injuries. Together with polycarbonate and recycled plastic, it is one of the most used bus stop materials in smart urban furniture proposals.
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