5 Reasons to use Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)

When selecting a building material for an infrastructure project, there are a few key factors to consider before making a decision. Engineers must be sure to make selections that will benefit both the people within their agency, who will be working with the material, as well as the project’s end users.

One such material is fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), which can be hugely beneficial for both builders and users. Read more below to find out how this unique material can work for you.

1. Production and Installation Time

When developing the design for your overall infrastructure plan, it’s important to factor in the amount of time that will be needed not only for the whole project, but also for each step within the process. Obviously, saved time translates to saved costs, but you certainly don’t want to sacrifice quality for efficiency. FRP can provide an ideal balance, helping to save valuable production time while still providing the necessary quality, strength and durability. Below, compare the production and installation time of FRP to that of precast concrete:

As you can see from the chart, FRP’s total production time is 15 days less than that of precast concrete. This translates to more than two weeks’ worth of saved labor costs and overall downtime for infrastructure development. FRP also requires less total installation time than precast concrete — almost five days less, on average.

Thanks to this shorter installation time, engineers using FRP don’t have to complete their work solely during the workweek. Instead, they can opt to do installation work on the weekends, too, when there is less traffic congestion and end users will experience less inconvenience and fewer interruptions to their commutes.

2. Weight

Going hand-in-hand with a quicker installation time is FRP’s weight. FRP is known for being lightweight. In fact, it’s about eight times lighter than reinforced concrete — meaning FRP is also less labor-intensive to use and install, and requires less equipment. This material also requires less labor during removal processes. See below to compare the total weight of FRP to the total weight of precast concrete.

As you can see from the chart, FRP is significantly lighter than precast concrete, with an FRP panel weighing about 5,000 lb and a precast concrete panel weighing nearly 41,000 lb. Using a lighter material makes it easier on your workers, saves on labor costs and places less stress on the infrastructure. The lower the weight of the material being used, the less wear and tear the infrastructure will experience as a whole.

3. Corrosion and Maintenance

Offering high durability and strength, as well as reliable resistance to corrosion, FRP is long-lasting and mitigates the need for ongoing maintenance. The lack of frequent maintenance and repairs helps to save on expensive labor and material costs and also prevents inconvenience to end users, since repair downtime is minimized.

And, since FRP is long-lasting and resistant to corrosion, the long-term costs end up being less as well.

Though FRP does have a slightly higher price point per square foot at initial installation, the material allows for many benefits in terms of long-term cost savings. Because FRP causes less stress on the infrastructure and is more durable than other materials, it diminishes the need for costly repairs or reconstruction down the road. For example, bridges and platforms constructed from materials such as reinforced concrete, steel, or wood often fall apart 15 to 20 years after initial installation — requiring extremely expensive repairs or even a whole new investment to rebuild from scratch. FRP, however, is built to last and won’t experience corrosion over time like many other construction materials.

4. cost savings

FRP structures are highly reliable and low-maintenance, but they shouldn’t be considered maintenance-free. Repairs requiring field service will need to be performed on rare occasions. Performing yearly routine inspections (at minimum) will help ensure potential issues can be caught before they become a problem. If an issue has been identified and reported (ex. cracks, crazing, discoloration, excessive wear, etc.), a field service technician will be sent out to complete the repair.

As mentioned, structures made from steel, concrete and wood are prone to regular repair work, as well as those made with brick and tile – that’s also where FRP can come in. Fiberglass can be used for patch repairs on bridge decking and liners can be applied to culverts, pumps, storage tanks and pipes to protect less-resistant materials from future damage. FRP can even be used for wrapping bridge piers and columns.

Repairs made with FRP add up to long-term cost savings. Since the material is corrosion-resistant and has a much longer service life, it’s a great option to use when repairing and protecting existing structures. Take a look at our brief case study to learn more about how FRP repairs reduce costs.

5. design flexibility

FRP is ideal for any type of job that requires customization, as it is engineered to meet exact specifications. Regardless of complexity, engineers can create panels of all different sizes and shapes. This allows for aesthetic versatility, as there is a range of possible colors. It is also possible to add functional features to facilitate a smooth and easy installation process.

FRP Pipe Market Growth, Trends

The global FRP pipe market was valued at $3.7 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $6.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2020 to 2030.

Due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of various large projects was halted amid lockdown. As a result, the demand for FRP pipes declined, which led to the downfall of the global FRP pipe market.

Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) is a composite material comprising a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers (also known as fiber-reinforced polymer). Glass, carbon, aramid, or basalt fibers are commonly used. Other fibers, such as paper, wood, or asbestos, have been utilized on rare occasions. Epoxy, vinyl ester, or polyester thermosetting plastics are commonly used, however, phenol formaldehyde resins are still used. Fiberglass-reinforced pipes play an essential role in the industrial sector, and their demand is increasing exponentially. FRP pipe is a nonmetal created by continuously wrapping fiberglass filament saturated in a proprietary combination of epoxy resin and curing chemicals, and subsequently curing it with heat. It finds its application in piping systems, tankers, as well as vessels in many fields systems. FRP piping systems are available in a variety of standard diameters ranging from 25 to 1,200 mm.

Increase in demand for lightweight piping especially from construction industry boosts the growth of the global FRP pipe market. Moreover, surge in demand for corrosion-resistant pipes in several chemical and oil & gas applications and innovations in the manufacturing process of FRP pipes are some major aspects anticipated to augment the growth of the global FRP pipe market during the forecast period. Moreover, increase in demand especially from the developing countries, such as China and India, due to rapid urbanization and rise in consumer expenditure fuels the market growth. Increase in demand for FRP pipes particularly in water and wastewater treatment activities and rise in applications in seawater cooling & desalting plants, casings for water wells, portable water mains, process piping, process vessels & flow, and injection lines are further projected to accelerate the demand for FRP pipes. However, long production cycles and volatile costs of raw materials might hamper the overall growth of the market.

The global FRP pipe market is segmented into type, manufacturing process, application, and region. Depending on type, the market is categorized into glass-reinforced polyester, glass-reinforced vinyl ester, and glass-reinforced epoxy. Depending on manufacturing process, it is fragmented into centrifugal casting, filament winding, pultrusion, and others. As per application, it is classified into water & wastewater, chemical & industrial, oil & gas, power generation, and others. Region wise, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

The global FRP pipe market analysis covers in-depth information about the major industry participants. The key players operating and profiled in the report include Chemical Process Piping Pvt. Ltd., China National Building Material Company Limited, Ershigs Inc., Fibrex, Future Pipes Industries L.L.C, HOBAS, National Oilwell Varco Inc., Sarplast SA, Sekisui Chemical Co. LTD, and Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company.

FRP Pipe Market

By Manufacturing Process

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Filament Winding is projected as the most lucrative segment.

Get more information on this report : Request Sample Pages

Global Frp Pipe Market, By Manufacturing Process

Depending on manufacturing process, the filament winding segment accounted for around 71.4% of the global FRP Pipe market share in 2020. This is attributed to advantages of automation and cost reduction associated with filament winding process.

FRP Pipe Market

By Application

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Chemical and Industrial is projected as the most lucrative segment.

Global Frp Pipe Market, By Application

As per application, the chemical and industrial segment accounted for around 38.9% of the global FRP pipe market share in 2020. This is attributed to the fact that FRP pipes are being extensively used in the chemical and industrial industry.

FRP Pipe Market

Asia-Pacific is projected as the most lucrative market.

Get more information on this report : Request Sample Pages

Frp Pipe Market, By Region

Region wise, Asia-Pacific is projected to be the most lucrative market for FRP pipes, owing to the presence of large population base and rise in infrastructure activities. In Asia Pacific, China is expected to exhibit the highest CAGR during the forecast period, whereas India will witness a high growth rate in coming years, due to increase usage of FRP pipes for irrigation and other applications.

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global FRP pipe market trends along with the current and future market forecast.
This report highlights the key drivers, opportunities, and restraints of the market along with the impact analyses during the forecast period.
The Porter’s five forces analysis helps analyze the potential of the buyers & suppliers and the competitive scenario of the FRP pipe industry for strategy building.
A comprehensive global FRP pipe market analysis covers factors that drive and restrain the market growth.
The qualitative data in this report aims on market dynamics, trends, and developments.

Impact Of Covid-19 On The Frp Pipe Market

The pandemic is rapidly spreading and ruthlessly affecting the business environments of major markets. The demand for FRP pipes is witnessing massive decline in all segments. Some regions, particularly, North America and Europe, are witnessing greater declines than Asia-Pacific. Amidst the ongoing crisis, FRP pipe producers are operating at a lower capacity and are planning to scale up their operation after carefully assessing the course of
COVID-19 in the near term.
The International Energy Agency projects that oil & gas revenues for a number of key producers fell between 50% and 85% in 2020, compared to 2019, yet the losses could be larger depending on future market developments. With overall calculation of oil & gas demand, the oil & gas industry witnessed significant decline, thereby impacting the FRP pipe market, which is completely dependent on the oil & gas industry.
Furthermore, import and export activities were significantly impacted, which, in turn, adversely affected the industries using FRP pipes, thereby affecting the FRP pipes market.
The construction industry acquired a significant share in terms of consumption of FRP pipe globally. Attributed to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of various large projects was halted amid lockdown. As a result, the demand for FRP pipes declined, which led to the downfall of the global FRP pipe market.

FRP Pipe Market Report Highlights

Aspects Details By Type

Glass-reinforced Polyester
Glass-reinforced Vinyl Ester
Glass-reinforced Epoxy

By Manufacturing Process

Centrifugal Casting
Filament Winding
Pultrusion
Others

By Application

Water & Wastewater
Chemical & Industrial
Oil and Gas
Power Generation
Others

By Region

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)
Europe (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Rest of Europe)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Rest of Asia-Pacific)
LAMEA (Brazil, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rest of LAMEA)

GRP Pipe, FRP Pipe, Fiberglass Reinforced Pipe Manufacturer

GRP/FRP Pipe

GFRP Pipe Manufacturer & Supplier - Yongchang

Hebei Yongchang Composite Material Technology Co., Ltd. is an FRP Pipe professional production enterprise based in the Economic Development Zone, Jizhou District, Hengshui City, Hebei Province. The products comply with the series of national standards of many countries, including Chinese standard (GB), American standard (ASME), German standard (DIN), Japanese standard (JIS), etc. The FRP Pipe manufactured by the company have been widely used in chemical engineering, light industry, pharmacy, metallurgy, brewing, electrochemical water supply and drainage, petroleum refining, steel-making, printing and dyeing, transportation and storage, food brewing, fermentation, water treatment, seawater desalination, and other domestic and foreign industries.

Production of GFRP pipes

Our glass fiber reinforced plastic / FRP pipes are designed and manufactured according to customer requirements, with various sizes and configurations. We can manufacture pipelines of any specification and pressure and can be made into composite pipelines such as PVC/FRP, PP/FRP, PVDF/FRP, etc., according to the conditions of use.

Our designers can calculate the hoop stress, axial stress, and bending Poisson's ratio coefficient of the product according to your available space, chemical fluid requirements, and applicable natural conditions, and then give the product selection, product thickness, and layering.

We have detailed manufacturing process parameters. All of our designed piping meet industry standards, such as ASTM D2996-filament-wound "glass fiber" (glass fiber reinforced thermosetting resin) pipe standard specification for filament wound pipe.

According to user requirements, various standard fiberglass reinforced pipes and fiberglass fittings can be produced according to ISO 7370, ANSI/AWWA C950, AWWA M45, AWWA C590, ISO 10467, BS 5480, ASTM D2996, ASTM D2907.

FRP stands for fiber-reinforced plastics, it’s a term typically used stateside here in North America. GRP is a term that means the same thing. But it’s generally used over in Europe and Asia and stands for glass-reinforced plastic.

Specification of GRP/FRP Pipes

While ordering GRP/FRP pipes the following data need to be provided to us:

Pipe Diameter
Design and Operating temperature of the service fluid.
Design, operating, Surge, vacuum, and test pressures.
Live loads in case of buried piping.
Maximum/minimum buried depth and trench Widths.
Details of Soil properties and trench preparation.

The following are the parameters of GRP/FRP Sand Pipe, if you need other detailed parameters, please contact us!

Medium range

Drinking water, sewage, seawater, and various chemical wastewater;

Pipe inner diameter

300mm～2600mm in diameter;

Pipe length

Usually 12 meters per strip;

Pipeline pressure

0.25mpa～1.6mpa;

Pipe stiffness

2500N/m2~10000N/m2;

Connection method

Socket connection;

Appearance color

Translucent light green;

Safety accessories

Double O-shaped sealing rubber ring;

Typical mechanical properties of the GRP/FRP piping system are provided in the table below:

Mechanical Properties of GRP/FRP Pipe

Typical Range

Tensile Strength

14 to 550 Mpa

Tensile Modulus

3.5 to 34.5 Gpa

Flexural Strength

28-480 Mpa

Flexural Modulus

6.9 to 34.5 Gpa

Poisson’s Ratio

0.3

Thermal Co-efficient

14 to 54 mm/mm/

Specific gravity

1.2 to 2.3

Compressive Strength

69-275 Mpa

Codes and Standards for GRP/FRP Pipes

Frequently used Codes and Standards that govern the GRP/FRP piping details are

ISO 7370
ANSI/AWWA C950
AWWA M45
ISO 14692
AWWA C590
ISO 10467
BS 5480
ISO 10639
ASTM D2996, ASTM D2997, ASTM D5421, ASTM D4024, ASTM D5685

If you still have questions about GFRP piping, please read on, or just ask us. Yongchang is happy to help anyone in the industry!

GRP/FRP Pipe Detailed Introduction

GRP/FRP pipe, also called fiberglass reinforced pipe, is a light, high-strength, and corrosion-resistant non-metallic pipe. It is to wind the glass fiber with resin matrix on the rotating core mold layer by layer according to the process requirements. The fiberglass reinforced pipe wall structure is reasonable and advanced, which can give full play to the chemical resistance, lightweight, and high strength of the material. Under the premise of meeting the strength of use, it improves the rigidity and ensures the stability and reliability of the product. With its excellent chemical resistance, lightweight, high strength, non-scaling, strong shock resistance, long service life compared with ordinary steel pipes and cast iron piping, low overall cost, fast installation, safe, and reliability, it is accepted by users. The application fields of fiberglass reinforced pipe involve industries such as petroleum, chemical industry, and sample water.

Related article: Introducing GRP/FRP Pipe, How FRP Pipe is Constructed?

GRP/FRP Pipe Performance and Characteristics

(1) Corrosion Resistance

Most GRP/FRP pipe selection resins, glass fiber reinforced materials, and composite structures are suitable for chemical applications to provide consistent corrosion resistance. There are still some extreme chemical services, special structures, and alternative resins that should be considered.

The conveying medium can select the chemically inert material, excellent corrosion resistance, and different corrosion-resistant pipelines. The conventional thickness of the corrosion-resistant layer is 5mm. The resin content is greater than 90%, which mainly plays the role of anti-corrosion and anti-leakage. The choice of resin is based on the use of different types of resin. Resistant to acid, alkali, salt, seawater, untreated sewage, corrosive soil or groundwater, and many chemical fluids

(2) High Mechanical Strength and Strong Designability

The internal pressure resistance, external pressure resistance, and impact resistance are all good, and pipes and fittings can be designed and manufactured according to the required pressure. The anti-corrosion layer can improve the use effect of GRP/FRP piping under various conditions by adding wear-resistant materials, anti-static materials, and flame-retardant materials.

According to the specific use situation, the specific performance and shape of the winding GRP/FRP pipe can be designed:

①The winding angle during winding can be designed so that the fiberglass steel pipe has different longitudinal/circular strength distribution;

②The wall thickness of the FRP pipe can be designed so that the FRP pipe can withstand different internal and external pressures;

③The materials can be designed to achieve different corrosion resistance, flame retardancy, dielectric purposes, etc.;

④The head-end method can be designed to adapt to different installation conditions to increase the speed of engineering installation.

(3) Strong Temperature Adaptability

Operating temperature range: greater than -70 degrees Celsius and less than 180 degrees Celsius, it can be used normally, and the pipeline will not crack under freezing media.

(4) Small Fluid Resistance

The inner surface of the FRP pipeline is very smooth, the roughness coefficient is small, and the water conservancy coefficient C can be kept in the range of 145-150 for a long time. After testing, the water friction loss coefficient f is 0.000915, which can significantly reduce the fluid pressure loss along the way and improve transportation. Ability is above 20%. Reduce flow resistance, increase flow rate, and reduce energy consumption. Using smaller diameter pipes to transport fluids of the same flow rate can increase the flow rate by about 10% compared with steel pipes of the same specification; it does not scale and reduces the flow rate after long-term use. The protection of cables in the environment of interference and heavy corrosion has a good effect;

(5) Lightweight and High, Easy to Transport And Install (<20% of steel, 10% of concrete)

The specific gravity of the GRP/FRP pipe is 1.7-1.9. Compared with other material pipes of the same pressure and same diameter, the weight of FRP pipe is about 30% of that of steel pipe, so transportation and installation are very convenient. Each FRP pipe can reach 12m in length, and installation is quick and easy. In addition, it can eliminate the welding, rust prevention, and anti-corrosion treatment required for the installation of steel piping. The weight of the pipe is only 1/4 of the ductile iron pipe of the same specification and length and 1/10 of the cement pipe. It is convenient to transport and unload and is easy to install. FRP pipeline installation technology is mature, convenient, and fast, reducing pipeline joints, accelerating installation speed, and improving the quality of the entire pipeline

(6) Maintain Water Quality

The material is non-toxic. The glass fiber reinforced plastic pipe is made of resin as the matrix and glass fiber as the reinforcing material through a special process to ensure that it is hygienic and non-toxic, the inner wall is smooth and does not accumulate, does not breed microorganisms, ensures the quality of the fluid, and does not affect water and other The medium produces secondary pollution and transports drinking water, which can maintain long-term water quality and sanitation. The water-conveying glass fiber-reinforced plastic pipes are made of food-grade resin, and various testing indicators have reached international standards.

(7) Very Versatile and Good Weather Resistance

GRP/FRP pipes have good weather resistance and are suitable for harsh environments such as deserts and saline-alkali;

(8) Material Selection

Resin selection: base resin made of epoxy vinyl resin and phenolic vinyl resin. The fiber is non-alkali fiber or ECR fiber. Meet various anti-corrosion requirements.

(9) Life

The service life of GRP/FRP pipes can reach 50 years or more, which reduces a lot of maintenance costs.

(10) Color

The exterior color of GRP/FRP pipes can be made into various colors according to user requirements. The exterior color can be changed by spraying gel coat resin to meet various use environments, and the exterior is neat, beautiful, and obvious in color.

Related article: FRP: Manufacturing and Advantages

Advantages of GRP/FRP Pipes

1. Excellent weight strength (stronger than steel based on the same weight)

The excellent toughness of glass steel pipe makes it resistant to resin cracking and cracking when subjected to large design loads. In addition to high fatigue resistance, this toughness also provides a safety factor for impact damage during transportation and installation.

2. Low friction coefficient (more than 25% higher than steel)

Excellent dimensional stability

3. Low thermal conductivity (saving insulation costs)

Resist the influence of sunlight and other weathering elements. If it is a glass fiber tube, the exterior can be polished and resin-coated or painted under particularly harsh conditions after years of weathering.

4. Long-term maintenance costs are low

Related article: What Are The Benefits Of Using GRP/FRP Pipes?

Disadvantages of GRP/FRP Pipes

1. The temperature resistance of GRP/FRP pipes is worse than that of steel pipes

The use temperature of the gas is less than 230 degrees. The use temperature of the liquid is less than 130 degrees. It can be used for a long time at -50 degrees under low-temperature conditions.

2. The negative pressure resistance of FRP pipes is poor, and part of the negative pressure resistance can be compensated by adjusting the production process.

3. The corrosion resistance of FRP pipes is sensitive to some organic matter. The more sensitive media should be made into composite FRP pipes and FRP pipe fittings, such as PVC\FRP, PP\FRP, and PVDF\FRP. The strength of single-material PVC, PP piping, and pipe fittings is much lower than that of FRP pipes. The composite production process can make up for each other's shortcomings.

Have to be aware of is:

FRP pipe is not recommended for carrying fluid with temperatures more than 1000 C.
Slight degradation from UV rays is found to occur which can be reduced by using pigments, dyes, UV stabilizers, fillers, etc in the resin system.

GRP/FRP Pipe Application

The fiberglass-reinforced pipe is widely used in various industries with its excellent product performance. And played an important role in various industries.

Petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biogas industries: such as chlor-alkali, potassium sulfate fertilizers, papermaking, and acid regeneration systems.

The water treatment industry includes seawater desalination, industrial wastewater treatment output and input, and pure water systems.

Liquid transportation industry: urban water supply, urban drainage, irrigation system.

Power industry: flue gas flue, desulfurization system, circulating water, cable pipe, glass fiber reinforced plastic chimney.

Environmental protection: sewage odor recovery, workshop waste gas treatment, factory air purification, biogas desulfurization, and purification.

FRP round pipes are used in petroleum, chemical, mining, metal production, power plants, flue gas desulfurization (FGD), pulp and paper mills, and drainage.

If you have any questions about the usage scenarios and fields of FRP fiber pipes, you can contact us, and you will receive expert answers within 24 hours!

10 Types of Fiberglass Reinforced Pipe Commonly Used

(1) FRP desulfurization pipeline

(2) FRP sand pipe

(3) GRP/FRP pressure pipe

(4) GRP/FRP cable protection tube

(5) GRP/FRP water pipeline

(6) GRP/FRP insulation pipe

(7) GRP/FRP ventilation duct

(8) FRP sewage pipeline

(9) FRP pipe jacking

(10) FRP static conductive tube

If you have a product data request, please contact us to send you the complete product data file!

FRP fiberglass Pipe Joint Method

Flat end docking

This type of joint aligns the end faces of the two pipes and then wraps them with different sizes of reinforcement materials (glass cloth, fel,t or felt plus roving) impregnated with resin to an appropriate thickness and width. The thickness of the interface should be greater than the design thickness of the FRP pipe, and the width is the diameter of the FRP pipe. If conditions permit, the internal joints of the interface must be sealed and plugged. This joint has good sealing performance and can withstand the design pressure of the interface FRP fiberglass pipes. It is usually used to connect FRP straight pipes, FRP elbows, FRP tees and FRP tapered pipes, and other FRP fittings.

Flange connection

The flange connection connects the FRP flange to the FRP pipe, the two flanges are aligned, and the PTFE gasket or rubber gasket is clamped in the middle. The flange is fixed with bolts. The flange can also be loose. This installation method is simple and has little impact on the construction environment. Easy to change accessories.

Socket connection

The sealing ring connection is divided into a single 0-ring connection and a double 0-ring connection. The first two methods are mostly used for fixed connections between pipelines and pipelines while sealing ring connections are mostly used for underground pipelines. The socket glue connection method is suitable for connecting fixed-length pipes (but cannot be used for pipes with corrosion-resistant layers); pipes and pumps are connected because of vibration, and flexible joints are used to reduce the deformation of pipes and pipe fittings. Double O-rings mostly connect FRP sand pipes. Pressure test holes are reserved between the two sealing rings at the pipe socket. When the pipe is installed, one should be installed, and the other should be tested to ensure the joint has No leakage.

GRP/FRP Pipe and FRP Accessories

FRP pipes can be used with FRP flanges, FRP elbows, FRP tees, FRP deceleration pipes, and various FRP accessories. Connect to form a complete set of FRP piping systems. The products produced by the company have the characteristics of good pressure resistance, high strength, high rigidity, lightweight, long life, corrosion resistance, non-toxic and odorless, and smooth inner surface. With their obvious advantages, they are widely replacing traditional materials. They are widely used in the petroleum and chemical industries. Medicine, food brewing, and other fields, especially in municipal engineering water supply and drainage, sewage treatment, environmental sanitation, and tap water pipe network applications have shown great vitality.

GRP/FRP Pipe Connection Requirements

During interface operation, the ambient temperature should not be lower than 10℃; after bonding, the curing temperature should not be lower than 15℃, and the curing and holding time should not be less than 12 hours. Paste the interface according to the ply design. According to the sample data, planned gel time, environmental temperature, etc., mix the resin and stir it fully. When the bonding thickness is greater than 10mm, it should be molded in stages. Before each molding, the cured surface of the last molding should be polished.

Flexible Joints in GRP/FRP Piping System

After the FRP pipes are combined into an FRP pipe network, the system will vibrate when running. There are also changes in the thermal expansion and contraction of the FRP fiberglass pipes due to environmental influences. Install flexible joints in areas where the FRP pipes are stressed to relieve the system's operating pressure.

FRP fiber pipes are widely used in various environments and various systems. To form a strong FRP pipe network, various FRP fittings are required.

FRP fittings are commonly used:

FRP fixed flange, FRP loop flange

Long radius and short radius FRP Pipe Elbows (22.5 Degrees, 30 Degrees, 45 Degrees, 60 Degrees, 90 Degrees, 180 Degrees)

FRP tees with different diameters, FRP tees with the same diameter

FRP reducing pipe

FRP elbow (1D and 1.5D)

FRP flexible joint

Steel backing flanges
Flanged reducers
Reducers (Eccentric and Concentric)
Flanged elbows
Smooth flow-reducing elbow
Special radius bend
Lateral connection
Cross connections
Wye Connections

What is the Difference Difference Between FRP and GRP Pipes

GRP pipes and FRP pipes (short for GRP and FRP) are used interchangeably in the glass fiber pipe industry. FRP stands for fiber-reinforced plastic, a term commonly used in the United States of America. GRP is a noun with the same meaning. But it is widely used in Europe and Asia and represents fiberglass reinforced plastic.

Related article: Do You Know The Differences Between GRP And FRP?

Differences between GRP/FRP Pipes and Steel Pipes

As FRP Pipes have superior corrosion resistance capabilities and over the long term it is economic, Steel pipes are replaced by FRP pipes.

Steel pipes are isotropic while FRP pipes are anisotropic and the properties changes concerning direction.

FRP pipes are more flexible than Steel pipes due to the lower modulus of elasticity.

FRP piping systems are designed considering a higher factor of safety than steel piping. The usual factor of safety in the design of FRP pipes varies in the range of 5 to 10.

Other major differences between FRP and Steel pipes are provided in the Table below:

Property

FRP

Remarks

Density

1850 kg/cu.m

7800 kg/cu.m

Loads on support is less in the case of FRP pipe as compared to Steel. Handling and transportation of FRP are easier than Steel pipes.

Co-eff of thermal expansion

27 X 10

-6

mm/mm

11 X 10

-6

mm/mm

Expansion is almost 2.5 times of Carbon Steel Pipe. So more thermal growth in the case of the FRP Piping system.

* This value may change from vendor to vendor

Modulus

Axial= 12000 N/sq.mm

Elastic= 211365 N/sq.mm

Considerable difference in the strength of FRP & CS. Anchor loads are less in FRP Pipes as compared to steel pipes.

Shear= 11400 N/sq.mm

Tensile Strength

80-135 MPa

456 MPa

Mechanical Strength is higher for Steel material as compared to FRP.

Yield Strength

70-135 MPa

227 MPa

The yield strength of FRP is lesser than that of Steel.

Allowable Stress

4,000 PSI to 20,000 PSI

20,000 PSI

The strength of GRE varies drastically and hence proper vendor data is a must.

Corrosion resistance

Superior

Inferior

The corrosion resistance of carbon steel is much lower than that of FRP pipes.

Joints

Threaded or glued

Welded

FRP joints are to be checked for higher axial loads and pressure

Differences between GRP/FRP Pipes and HDPE Pipes

The initial cost of FRP pipes is normally higher than the metallic piping systems. But when comparing the total cost over the complete service life FRP Pipes come as a winner due to their long service life.

The main differences between FRP and HDPE pipes are listed in the Table below:

FRP Pipe

HDPE Pipe

FRP is an Orthotropic composite material

HDPE is isotropic material .

The cost of FRP pipe is very high

The cost of HDPE pipe is considerably lower than FRP Pipes.

Lower thermal expansion co-efficient

The thermal expansion coefficients of HDPE pipes is extensively higher as compared to FRP pipes.

FRP pipes have a comparatively higher temperature range than HDPE Pipes

Lowe temperature range

Fabrication time is comparatively longer

Quicker fabrication.

Strength and Elastic modulus for FRP pipes are higher than HDPE

Lower strength and elastic modulus.

Easy installation at site

Costly complex equipment is required for installation.

Highly skilled professionals are required for site work of FRP piping systems

HDPE pipe works can be done by semi-skilled operators.

Much lighter in weight due to lower all thickness even though the density of FRP is normally higher than HDPE

Heavier due to higher wall thickness.

A fire retardant version of FRP pipes can be made.

HDPE pipes are highly flammable

Can be Customized for Various Applications

Yongchang provides long-term corrosion solutions and the absolute longest product life for standard fiberglass pipes, customized pipes, special manifold systems, pipes, or chimneys. Contact us, you can get the advice of our professionals according to the usage scenario!