What Are the Key Raw Materials for FRP Production?

Fiberglass: The Core Reinforcement in FRP

Fiberglass serves as the primary reinforcer in FRP and directly influences the quality of the FRP products. among its many advantageous qualities, it has a remarkable strength-to-weight ratio: it is much lighter than materials like steel and offers comparable structural strength.   In addition to the strength and weight benefits, fiberglass is highly resistant to corrosion. 

Fiberglass is used in different ways in the production of FRP. For completing large FRP layers used in infrastructures like water tanks or components of bridges, Woven Rovings is used as it is thick and strong. For complex shapes like sports leisure products or building materials, Chopped Strands and Chopped Strand Mat are easier to mold. Milled Glass Fiber has fine particles and is used in resins to improve the FRP exposed surfaces.

Polymers: The Binder in FRP  

With Bonding polymers, resins in FRP provide shape and structural integration. Even the "best fiberglass" is useless if "poor quality resins" are used in making a FRP product. Each strand is surrounded, integrated and densely cured, bonding to each strand, then it is cured.

Different types of polymer resins are selected based on the specific use of the FRP product. For high-performance use such as aerospace parts or electrical components of high precision, epoxy resins are best suited because of their strong adhesion and high mechanical strength. For building materials, parts for transport, and sports and leisure goods, less expensive and easier to process polyester resins will suffice. For chemical applications, as equipment that must endure harsh conditions, vinyl ester resins are best due to their excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. They are also a combination of epoxy and polyester.

The long-term performance of FRP will also be affected by the quality of the resin. FRP products that are used outdoors such as components of infrastructure or building exteriors are exposed to the elements and need weather resistant resins so that sun, rain, and temperature changes will not cause degradation. FRP parts that are used for high temperature applications, like some energy saving equipment, will need to have heat resistant resins.

Additives are essential raw materials in FRP production that are often overlooked. They enhance the performance of FRP to meet the requirements of a specific application. Without them, FRP products would be rigid in function and unable to adjust to varying environmental and functional demands.

Curing agents are some the most common additives used in composite manufacturing. A well-tailored curing agent controls the hardening process of resins at the desired speed and temperature for the desired finishing of the composite. A well-tailored curing agent will also ensure the time used to manufacture the FRP products is not overly long or too short to prevent over-curing or uneven curing cracks. UV stabilizers are also important additives. They prevent FRP products from fading, becoming brittle and losing their structural integrity over time from exposure to ultraviolet rays. This property is very useful for outdoor FRP products, for instance, parts for transportation and construction materials.

FRP products used in public buildings and those made for use in electrical applications also have fire-retardant additives. These additives decrease the FRP’s flammability to provide some safety in case of fire. For FRP used in the chemical field, corrosion inhibitors are added to enhance the material’s resistance to chemicals and extend the product’s life in aggressive chemical environments. Cost reduction is achieved through the use of fillers, which are additives as well. For instance, stiffness of the composite may be improved by fillers, like calcium carbonate or talc, which offer only a marginal decrease in the strength of the composite, which may be desirable in some cases.