What is FRP?

FRP(Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastics) is a general term relating to the reinforcement of plastic with fibrous glass.

Global polymer production on the scale present today began in the mid 20th century, when low material and productions costs, new production technologies and new product categories combined to make polymer production economical. The industry finally matured in the late 1970’s when world polymer production surpassed that of Steel, making polymers the ubiquitous material that it is today. Fiberglass reinforced plastics have been a significant aspect of this industry from the beginning. There are three important categories of fiber used in FRP, glass, carbon, and aramid. Glass fiber reinforcement was tested in military applications at the end of World War Two,Carbon fiber production began in the late 1950’s and was used, though not widely, in British industry beginning in the early 1960’s, aramid fibers were being produced around this time also, appearing first under the trade name Nomex by Dupont. Today each of these fibers is used widely in industry for any applications that require plastics with specific strength or elastic qualities. Glass fibers are the most common across all industries, although carbon fiber and carbon fiber aramid composites are widely found in aerospace, automotive and sporting good applications.

FRP involves two distinct processes, the first is the process whereby the fibrous material is manufactured and formed, the second is the process whereby fibrous materials are bonded with the matrix during the moulding process.