Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic
Fiberglass reinforced plastic (also known as FRP or GRP) is a composite of synthetic resin and glass fiber. It has excellent mechanical properties such as tensile strength, compressive strength, and flexural strength. Fiberglass reinforced plastic is a material with a wide range of applications and is a new material with great potential for future development. Compared with traditional metal and non-metal materials, it has the advantages of light weight, high strength, energy saving, and easy processing.
Its many advantages and characteristics are as follows:
- Light weight
- High specific strength
- Corrosion resistance
- Waterproof
- Electrical insulation
- Thermal insulation
- Resistant to transient high temperatures
- Easy to color
Matrix Materials for Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics
The function of the resin matrix is to transfer the load on the glass fiber reinforced material, distribute it evenly and protect the reinforced material from damage and erosion by moisture, oxygen and chemicals in the environment. The properties of the resin-based material, such as corrosion resistance and heat resistance, directly determine the performance of the glass fiber reinforced composite material. Different resin-based composite materials have different performance characteristics. In general, the matrix is divided into thermosetting and thermoplastic.
Thermosetting Matrix
When heated, the resin undergoes chemical changes and gradually hardens into shape. It will neither soften nor dissolve when heated again.
| Resin Type | Features |
|---|---|
| UP (Unsaturated Polyester) | Low price, high tensile strength, low density, chemical corrosion resistance, good insulation, high cost performance and excellent processability. |
| EP (Epoxy Resin) | Light weight, high strength, large modulus, good corrosion resistance, excellent electrical properties, easy processing and high production efficiency. |
| PU (Polyurethane) | High tensile strength, high impact resistance, corrosion resistance. Provides good elasticity and wear resistance. |
| PF (Phenolic) | The raw materials are cheap, the production process is simple and mature, the molding and processing are easy, it has the advantages of excellent fire resistance, flame retardancy, corrosion resistance, thermal oxidation resistance, etc., and it still has good mechanical strength properties in high temperature environment. |
| VE (Vinyl Ester) | It retains the basic chain segments of epoxy resin and has the good process properties of unsaturated polyester resin, with high cost performance and good corrosion resistance. |
Thermoplastic Matrix
This resin softens when heated and hardens when cooled without chemically reacting, and maintains this property no matter how many times the heating and cooling are repeated.
| Resin Type | Features |
| PP (Polypropylene) | Lightweight, chemically resistant, good toughness and flexibility, and can maintain good mechanical properties even at low temperatures. |
| PE (Polyethylene) | High strength, wear resistance, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, acid and alkali corrosion resistance, and easy to process. |
| PA (Polyamide/Nylon) | Good strength, wear resistance, heat resistance, abrasion resistance, acid and alkali corrosion resistance, self-lubrication, and easy to process. |
| PC (Polycarbonate) | It has excellent comprehensive properties, especially mechanical properties. Its impact resistance is better than that of general thermoplastics. Other properties such as heat resistance, low temperature resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, and electrical insulation performance are also excellent. |
| PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) | It is resistant to chemical corrosion, has excellent electrical insulation properties, good mechanical properties, and is flame retardant, but has poor heat resistance and is prone to degradation at elevated temperatures. |
| PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) | In addition to its excellent mechanical properties and outstanding high temperature and chemical resistance, it is recyclable and is a sustainable and environmentally friendly material. |
| PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) | Outstanding heat resistance, heat deformation temperature up to 260 ℃, can be used continuously for a long time at 200~240 ℃, mechanical properties rarely decrease at high temperature, and it is fatigue resistant, creep resistant, chemical corrosion resistant and dimensionally stable. |
| PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone) | High strength, high heat resistance, good dimensional stability, corrosion resistance, friction resistance and radiation resistance. |
| ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) | The mechanical properties are balanced. The toughness, hardness, rigidity and dimensional stability are excellent. The electrical insulation and chemical corrosion resistance are also excellent, but the heat resistance and weather resistance are poor. |
Types of Fiberglass
Glass fibers exist in different types (continuous fibers, long fibers, chopped fibers). Different lengths of glass fibers can be selected to optimize the mechanical properties and processing properties of the material. As reinforcements, these fibers are arranged in a unique way and composited with different types of matrix resins to obtain fiberglass reinforced plastic products that meet application requirements.
Broad Applications
The application range of fiberglass reinforced plastics is very wide and has involved various industrial sectors, playing an important role in economic construction.
Body shells of RVs, refrigerated trucks, dry trucks, ambulances, and fire trucks; doors, floors, partitions, ceilings, etc. of trains, subways, buses, and high-speed trains.
Indoor wall panels, corrugated tiles, scaffolding, concrete formwork, and solar energy utilization devices, etc.
Corrosion-resistant pipes, storage tanks, storage pools, etc.
Shells of capacitors, cooling towers, generators, distribution boxes, and various industrial products.
Golf clubs, skis, rackets, fishing rods, and bicycles.
Hull construction of fishing boats, yachts, racing boats, and lifeboats.
What TOPOLO Can Do for You Preject
At TOPOLO, multiple advanced thermosetting and thermoplastic FRP panel production lines and composite panel production lines enable us to efficiently meet the diverse needs of our customers. We are committed to providing high-quality FRP products to ensure that our customers maintain their advantages in the highly competitive market.
TOPOLO provides FRP sheets with customized size, thickness, shape, color, surface pattern, mechanical properties and chemical properties.
TOPOLO provides customized FRP sandwich panels with honeycomb, foam, plywood core, etc.
TOPOLO provides project solutions with FRP as construction material in RVs, trucks, mobile buildings, boats and other fields.
To learn more about our solutions for glass fiber reinforced plastics, please contact us. We look forward to working with you to jointly promote the development of the industry.