Fibre Reinforced Polymers
• 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.
• 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.
The fibres are usually glass (in fibreglass), carbon (in carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer), aramid, or basalt.
The polymer is usually an epoxy, vinyl ester, or polyester thermosetting plastic.
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
FRP is strong, lightweight, corrosion and rust proof, anti-slip, has low conductivity and can be molded easily into a variety of shapes and applications and is best suited for any design program that demands weight savings, precision engineering, definite tolerances, and the simplification of parts in both production and operation as well as rapid manufacturing.
FRP cannot be used in extreme high temperature applications and has poor rigidity and stiffness. Strength of FRP in a direction perpendicular to the fibers is extremely low (up to 5%) compared with the strength along the length of fibers.
Fibreglass materials are commonly used in high performance leisure aircrafts and gliders, boats, automobiles, bathtubs, water tanks, roofing products, pipes, surfboards. etc
Carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) can be used instead of aluminum and titanium or high grade steel in aircrafts.