Our Recycled Structural Composite (RSC)™ is Perhaps the World's Best Building Material.

AXION's eco-friendly, next-generation building materials represent an entirely new approach.

Our patented processes, developed in conjunction with scientists at Rutgers University, transform recycled consumer and industrial plastics into a myriad of structural products that are ideal replacements for traditional materials made from wood, steel or concrete. From girders, pilings and railroad ties to bridge substructures, AXION's American-made products are ideally suited to a broad array of applications.

People around the world are demanding clean, non-toxic alternative building supplies and methods. AXION's cost effective solutions are formulated using up to 100% recycled plastic and no chemical additives. And compared to traditional building materials like wood, steel or concrete, AXION's products are extremely cost competitive, feature longer life cycles and lower maintenance costs. AXION's long-lasting, durable products simply outperform traditional materials: they won't rust, splinter, crumble, rot, absorb moisture or leach toxic chemicals into the environment. Our materials are completely impervious to infestation by insects, marine borers and other marine parasites and resist creep, graffiti, fading and ultraviolet degradation.

On the job site, these innovative products require no special tools or training to install, enabling a seamless transition from old materials to new with no down time or additional expenditures. AXION's aesthetically-pleasing products are used as-is with no need for paint, stain or treatment.

Finally, as an added bonus, AXION's materials generate a positive impact on greenhouse gases and could potentially be eligible for carbon credits, which are currently traded on the Chicago Carbon Exchange.


IR Data Sheet



"This thermoplastic bridge, able to withstand heavy loads with little to no maintenance, expected to last at least 50 years, is no longer the bridge of the future – it's the bridge for today. It also meets national environmental goals of being completely recyclable. This technology is not only good for [the Department of Defense], but should be immediately transferred to state departments of transportation for use with short-span bridges wherever possible."


Daniel J. Dunmire, Director
Corrosion Policy and Oversight Office in the Deputy Under
Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology)



 
 

AXION's General Brochure: click here.

 

 

Our Technology

Axion International initiated its operations with exclusively licensed technology from
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey AMIPP Center

Located in the school of engineering on the Rutgers University Busch Campus, the AMIPP Center is affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering [MSE] and maintains research laboratories and administrative offices in three buildings at the Materials Complex. Research in the AMIPP Center is directed towards structural materials, functional materials, and nanocomposites. Key application areas include structural materials for regional and national infrastructure redevelopment, structural and functional materials for industrial and commercial applications, biomaterials, and national defense.




"The Department of Defense spends $22.5 billion dollars annually on equipment and infrastructure as an impact of corrosion. For the Army, this number is approximately $5.8 billion annually. This bridge is less expensive to build than its alternatives, it provides greater corrosion resistance, and it is practically maintenance free. The Army estimates that we will receive a 34 to 1 return on investment by using this technology."

Dr. Roger Hamerlinck
Ft. Bragg Thermoplastic Bridge Dedication Ceremony
September 2009



IR Data Sheet

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
For the Rutgers AMIPP Center Website, click here.

Axion International - Greening Tomorrow's Infrastructure.
To view additional Axion International videos, click here.

 



 

Frequently Asked (Technical) Questions

Here are the answers to some "Frequently Asked Questions" about AXION International's Technology.
We would be pleased to speak with you to discuss any additional questions you may have.

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Q: What is this immiscible polymer science behind the Axion materials?

A: Axion has partnered with Rutgers University to develop several proprietary formulations of immiscible polymers. The basic concept is that certain combinations of plastics enable them to co-exist while preserving their key beneficial characteristics. This offers strength and toughness advantages over the individual plastics. An analogy would be how steel rebar is added to concrete to enhance the overall structural properties of the final product.

Q: Doesn't plastic creep when under stress? How do we manage this in our design?

A: Plastic does creep under certain conditions, however if one designs to a maximum compressive stress of 600psi, creep will not be an issue. The Axion engineering team can assist you with specific applications.

Q: How does the weight of the Axion material compare to materials I am familiar with such as wood and steel?

A: The best way to look at this is comparing the density of various materials as follows:

  • Density of Axion material: .029-.031 lb/cubic inch depending upon formula
  • Density of Southern Pine: .021 lb/cubic inch (varies with moisture level)
  • Density of Steel: .283 lb/cubic inch

Q: How are products developed with plastic to provide similar strength properties to that of steel and wood?

A: The key factor that we balance is the "EI" factor which is the product of modulus of elasticity times moment of inertia. We can change the cross- section (geometry) of our products to change the moment of inertia to provide the desired mechanical strength characteristics.

Q: I know that the strength of wood typically degrades over time due to weather factors, insect infestation etc. How does the Axion material perform over time?

A: This is where the Axion material has a great advantage over other material options. The strength does not degrade over time and there is no risk of insect damage or degradation due to moisture infiltration. This makes the Axion product highly viable for marine applications as well as all outdoor applications where weather and moisture are a factor.

Q: I know that designing in wood requires careful consideration of shear stresses. How does Axion material compare to most woods in this mode?

A: This is another area where Axion material provides an advantage. The allowable shear stress of our material is several times that of some wood products. This translates to longer spans in certain designs where shear stress is a primary consideration.

Q: Is it possible to have colors other than black?

A: Our primary product is a graphite/black color however it is possible to produce other colors such as brown . This requires a special feedstock and the addition of a color concentrate. As a result, the cost and minimum run requirements are higher.



 

Building "Green" with Axion

Materials matter. Axion can make a difference.


Utilizing virtually 100% recycled plastic, Axion's structural products have the distinct advantage of being environmentally friendly as well as industrial grade building materials. Axion's Recycled Structural Composite address worldwide environmental concerns over deforestation. Utilizing RSC reduces greenhouse gases compared to legacy building materials which increase the same gases. Axion's materials are inert. RSC has no toxic chemicals to leach into the water table or soil. Because Axion's RSC is lighter than legacy materials like steel and cement, the fossil fuels needed to transport the materials is lower as are the transportation costs. And unlike other legacy materials such as creosote-treated wood which is toxic waste at the end of its useful life, RSC is 100% recyclable.

Axion technology pioneers the use of recycled materials in a variety of industrial applications. As the world's markets expand, more waste materials appear that can be used in a green smart fashion. Axion intends to be the leader in this activity. Axion is positioned to be an important structural product provider of alternative building products as the basis of building a world class marketing and design company. We believe that these solutions can be both economically competitive and eco-friendly in addition to being structurally superior.

We are nearing a point of crisis regarding the way we treat our environment and Axion's recycled plastic structural products can be a part of the solution. Science writer Susan Freinkel has written a remarkable book - "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story" - that exposes our love/hate relationship with the substance. She leads us down a path, describing how plastics have come to influence our daily lives, our planet, and our world economies, and she points us toward a future where we might learn to live in a responsible and heathy relationship with plastic. Axion's technology is one of a number of creative approaches to improving that relationship that she describes. Below are a few quotes from her book and a link to purchase this remarkable publication.


 

From "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story"
by author Susan Freinkel

"The bridge is unremarkable-Iooking — just a short, plain span connecting one dirt road to another deep in the heart of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Pitch pines. scrub oaks, and black gum trees line the road leading up to it. Blueberry and leatherleaf bushes cover the river banks on both sides. It's one of dozens of bridges that crisscross the tea-colored waters of the Mullica River as it winds its way through a woods called Wharton State Forest. Unlike the other bridges, however, this one is made entirely of plastic."


"You wouldn't necessarily know that unless you stopped to give it a good once-over. All the same, a spokeswoman for the State Forest told me, it doesn't look out of place." In fact, because it's made entirely from recycled plastics, she said, "it promotes our focus of being green."


"Nearly one million used milk jugs and a lot of old car bumpers were smooshed and melted and remolded to make the plastic I-beams, pilings, and planks that were used to construct the fifty-six-foot-long bridge. Rutgers University polymer scientist Thomas Nosker invented the technology to turn plastic throwaways into durable building materials. He then licensed it to a New Jersey company, Axion International, that's taking it commercial. Axion says the plastic it produces from recyclables can be molded to make bridges, railroad ties, decks, pilings, bulkheads, and levees and will stand up to time and the elements far better than wood or concrete or steel. In just two years the company has created worthy new lives for more than two million pounds of plastics that might otherwise have wound up in a landfill. For Axion founder Jim Kerstein, these kinds of products are karmic payment for a career he spent producing and selling hangers made of virgin plastics that he knew would almost invariably be thrown away. "All the negatives about plastic — that it lasts long and doesn't degrade — are being turned into positives" he said. "You're taking a material that doesn't degrade and putting it to use where we want it to last forever."

 

Plastic

For information about "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story" click here.

AXION International

For Additional Information, please do not hesitate to contact AXION International.

Leadership at Axion International, Inc.

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EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT


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Steven Silverman
Steven L. Silverman
President and Chief Executive Officer (Director)

BIO CONTACT BIO

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James Kerstein
James J. Kerstein
Founder and Chief Technology Officer (Director)

BIO CONTACT BIO

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Donald Fallon
Donald W. Fallon, CPA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

BIO CONTACT BIO

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Dave Crane
David Crane
Executive Vice President, Building Products

BIO CONTACT BIO

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Ed Campbell
Ed Campbell
Director of Material Sourcing

CONTACT EMAIL

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Dennis Durando
Dennis Durando
Director of Manufacturing

CONTACT EMAIL

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Randy Hall
Randy Hall
Director of Quality Management

CONTACT EMAIL

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William Jordan V
William Jordan V
Director of Business Development

CONTACT EMAIL

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BOARD of DIRECTORS


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Perry Jacobson
Perry Jacobson
Chairman of the Board of Directors

BIO

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Michael Dodd
Michael Dodd
Board of Directors

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Allen Hershkowitz
Allen Hershkowitz
Board of Directors

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Peter Janoff
Peter Janoff
Board of Directors

BIO

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Anthony Hatch
Anthony Hatch
Board of Directors

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ADVISORY BOARD


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Photo Coming Soon
Thomas J. Nosker, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, AMIPP (Advanced Materials via Immiscible Polymer Processing)
Research Professor
Ceramics and Materials Engineering
Rutgers University

BIO

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Sir Charles D. Dahan
Sir Charles D. Dahan
International Advisor

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Tony Perez
Tony Perez
International Advisor

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Verdugo
Gonzalo G. Verdugo
International Advisor

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