Fibreglass is a common type of fiber-reinforced plastic using glass fiber
The word fiberglass can be used in several different places and its definition can be used in a range from a general state to a very specific state. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into glass cloth.
Fiberglass really is made of glass similar to that in windows or kitchen drinking glasses. To manufacture fiberglass, glass is heated until molten, then forced through superfine holes. This creates glass filaments that are extremely thin—so thin, in fact, that they’re best measured in microns.
overview
Almost 2 million tons a year of the unsaturated polyester resin (‘UPR’) component are produced worldwide, and its widespread use is based on a number of features besides its relatively low cost: low technology fabrication durability high flexing tolerance moderate/high strength/weight ratio corrosion resistance impact resistance
In particular, composites are reinforcing fibers in the polymer matrix.
although fibers with high strength such as Aramid and Carbon are used in advanced applications.
The advantages of using composite materials are:
- High mechanical resistance to the weight
- High resistance against corrosion
- heat resistance
- High strength
- Low volume regarding to weight ratio
- Being lighter ,(several times) stronger than steel with a weight of several times less
- cost saving materials