Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) is a composite material composed of a polymer matrix with fibers such as glass, carbon, or aramid. Due to its strength and light weight, the resulting material finds application in many fields, including construction, aerospace, automotive, and marine just to name a few.
The creation of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic in the world, by Leo Baekeland in 1907 marked the beginning of the development of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP). FRP was created because of Baekeland's discovery of a hard, moldable substance consisting of phenol and formaldehyde. Pioneers studying the use of FRP in the aviation sector were Norman de Bruyne in the UK in the 1930s.
Games Slayter accidentally discovered a method of producing glass wool by directing compressed air at molten glass in 1932, and a patent application for this method was filed in 1933. Owens-Illinois partnered with Corning in 1935 and adapted the process to produce its patented "fiberglass" in 1936. Du Pont developed a suitable resin for combining fiberglass and plastic to create a composite material the same year. This reduced the material's insulation properties, but it demonstrated great strength and promise as a structural and building material.
Ray Greene of Owens Corning created the first composite boat in 1937, but the brittle nature of the plastic used at the time prevented further development. In 1939, Russia reportedly built a passenger boat out of plastic materials, and the United States produced an aircraft fuselage and wings out of FRP.
The 1946 Stout Scarab was the first vehicle with a fiberglass body, while the first fiber-reinforced plastic plane was either the Fairchild F-46 or the Bennett Plastic Plane, both of which flew in 1937. Subsequent studies in the construction of structural aircraft parts from composite materials resulted in the first flight of a plane with a GFRP fuselage, the Vultee BT-19, in 1944.
During the same time that aramid fibers were being made, carbon fiber production started in the late 1950s. The most prevalent types of fiber used in FRP today are glass, carbon, and aramid; each is widely employed in industry for applications that call for plastics with certain strength or elastic properties.
Carbon fiber manufacture began in the late 1950s, while aramid fiber production also began during this period. Glass, carbon, and aramid fibers are the most prevalent types of fiber used in FRP today, with each being widely employed in industry for applications that require plastics with specific strength or elastic properties.
Advantages of FRP
High strength-to-weight ratio
Corrosion resistance
Design flexibility
Durability
Low maintenance
Environmental sustainability
Electrically non-conductive
Composites have been used since ancient civilizations, but it wasn't until the mid-20th century that modern composites like FRP gained popularity. FRP is now employed in a variety of industries and applications, including construction, aerospace, automotive, and marine. As the need for featherlight and long-lasting accessories grows, we should expect to see more FRP operations in the future. Developers and manufacturers interested in employing FRP can investigate the many underlying filaments available and experiment with different polymer matrices to create custom composite accessories that match their individual needs.
And we at FIBROTECH FRP aid the construction and Infrastructure Sector by manufacturing a wide portfolio of FRP products like Manhole Cover, Molded Gratings, Crash Barriers, Railings & various pultruded goods.
Comments