The term FRP is often used interchangeably when referring to GRP, a broader generic term more commonly used for engineering materials used in a wide range of industrial applications. The term FRP is often used interchangeably when referring to GRP.
GRP stands for Glass Reinforced Plastics. It is also known as glass fiber, composite plastic, or FRP. The polymer is usually the epoxy, polyester, or the vinyl. It is strong, extremely light, and versatile. the behavior of GRP is different from that of traditional thermoplastics used in everyday products. This means that it has properties that can be used in a range of applications in many industries. Fibreglass materials are commonly used in high performance leisure aircrafts and gliders, boats, automobiles, bathtubs, hot tubs, water tanks, roofing products, pipes, cladding, cast, Surfboards, and external door skins.
FRP stands for Fiber Reinforced Polymer. FRP is a composite material formed from a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers. While the fibers used are usually glass fibers, such as GRP, other fibers such as carbon, aramid, or basalt are also used.
Fibre reinforced polymers are made of two primary constituents; fibres and a polymer matrix. In FRP, the fibre is embedded in a polymer matrix. This structure gives completely different chemical and physical properties than the properties of the individual materials. In fact, these materials satisfy higher engineering requirements than the ordinary materials. Hence composites are applied in less sophisticated to very sophisticate and demanding manufacturing tasks. Mechanical, civil, biomedical, marine, and the aerospace industries are main users of composite materials.
The primary role of fibres is to provide strength and stiffness to the material. But the fibre alone is brittle (ex: glass). Therefore, the fibres are encased in a coating of polymer materials. Polymer matrix holds the fibres in their position and transfers the loads between the fibres. It also contributes to the inter-laminar shear strength.
The fibres used in composite are as follows; E-glass, S-glass, Quartz, Aramid (Kevlar 49), Spectra 1000, Carbon (AS4), Carbon (IM-7), Graphite (P-100), and Boron. Polyesters, Vinyl Esters, Epoxies, Bismaleimides, Polyimides, and Phenolics are the polymers used. Each polymer has different chemical and physical properties; therefore, contribute differently to the composite structure. As a result, the composite properties are also different based on the polymer.
Polyester and vinyl are low cost materials, hence used extensively in commercial applications. Epoxies are used for high performance continuous fibre matrices. It also performs better than vinyl and polyester in high temperature conditions. Bismaleimides and Polyimides are high temperature resin matrices for use in temperature critical engineering applications. Phenolics are high temperature resin systems with a good smoke and fire resistance; therefore, used in aircraft interiors.
• FRP is a composite material, where high strength fibres are included in a polymer matrix. They are used in many commercial and engineering applications due to their high strength and light weight. FRP is widely used as a substitute for metal and wood. Best example is the use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) instead of aluminum and titanium or high grade steel in aircrafts.
• Fibreglass or GRP is a composite material made out of glass fibres and uses polyester, vinyl, or epoxy as the polymer. It is used to make gliders, boats, and bathtubs. Fibreglass is used mainly for commercial applications. Fibre glass is one type of FRP.
GRP is used in a range of different applications. In many industries, products made partially or completely from GRP are useful. For example:
1. Non-slip protection for refurbishing wet and dry floors
2. Handrails
3. Sports equipment such as kayaks
4. Electronic enclosures
5. Safety grating for industrial and public areas
6. Helicopter rotor blades and wind turbine blades
7. Water pipes or drain covers
GRP has many valuable properties that make it very useful in industries around the world. These properties include
FRP has a low thermal conductivity of 1.25 to 1.67 kJ/(mhK) at room temperature, 1/100 to 1/1000 that of metal, making it an excellent thermal insulation material. In the case of transient ultra-high temperature, it is an ideal material for thermal protection and ablation resistance and can protect the spacecraft to withstand the high-speed airflow above 2000℃.
The relative density is between 1.5~2.0, only 1/4~1/5 of carbon steel, but the tensile strength is close to or even exceeds that of carbon steel, and the specific strength can be compared with that of advanced alloy steel.
FRP is a good corrosion-resistant material, with good resistance to the atmosphere, water, and general concentration of acids, alkalis, salts, as well as a variety of oils and solvents. It has been applied to all aspects of chemical corrosion resistance and is replacing carbon steel, stainless steel, wood, non-ferrous metals, etc.
It is an excellent insulating material, used to make insulators. Good dielectric properties can still be protected under high frequency. Good microwave permeability has been widely used in radar radome. Good heat and sound insulation effect.
① The molding process can be flexibly selected according to the shape, technical requirements, usage, and quantity of the product.
② The process is simple and can be molded in one go, with outstanding economic effects, especially for products with complex shapes and small quantities that are not easy to mold, highlighting its process superiority.
Basically, there are two major categories, namely wet contact molding and dry pressurized molding. If we divide by process characteristics, there are hand paste molding, RTM method, lamination molding, molding, extrusion and pulling method, winding molding, etc. Hand- glued molding includes a bag-pressing method, hand-gluing method, a spraying method, wet-gluing low-pressure method, and mold-free hand-gluing method.
We are an FRP pipes manufacturer, please feel free to contact us if you need them.
GRP/FRP Desulfurization Spray Pipe
GFRP/ PP, PVC Composite Pipe
GRP/FRP Ventilation Pipe
GRP/FRP Sand Pipe
GRP/FRP Cable Tube
GRP/FRP Process Tube
GRP/FRP On-Site Large Storage Tank
GRP/FRP Nitrogen Sealed Water Tank
GRP/FRP Composite Nitric Acid Storage Tank
Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Brewing Food Tank
