Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) are composite materials comprising a polymer matrix combined with reinforcing fibers.
FRPs are among the set of materials called composites, produced by integrating fibers such as glass, carbon, paper, and wood with a polymer matrix composed of epoxy, vinyl, and other similar materials. These types of composite materials extend to products that go beyond sheets, tubes, plates, and bars.
A short list of benefits includes higher performance than metals in corrosion resistance, durability, strength-to-weight ratio, lightweight profiles, and sustainability. Across the board, industry demands are evolving towards sustainability, which means FRPs fit the bill.
FRPs have proven their worth through practical applications. Research, investigations, and industry studies have demonstrated that FRPs are ideally suited for industries such as aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, oil and gas, and sporting and consumer goods.
Over the last decade, as industries have preferred investing in new (alternative) materials rather than traditional ones, FRPs have emerged as leaders in the market.
The demand for advanced composite materials has skyrocketed, further promoting the development of polymer composites, and with good reason, as the benefits include cost reduction in capital expenditure and long-term investment protection for both individual companies and the industry as a whole.
In general, engineering teams find assurance and security when choosing FRPs for a variety of projects, regardless of scope or scale. FRPs offer a significant advantage over traditional metals.
They are a blend of polymer resins, such as a polymer matrix, combined with glass or carbon fibers as buttresses. For example, the building and construction industry considers FRPs for their high value, presentation, and performance.
This is because FRPs outperform aluminum across a range of temperatures, with less expansion and contraction, leading to better energy conservation and fewer stressors on surrounding materials.
Over the lifetime of a project, the advantages of FRPs are seen in several areas. With less maintenance, repair, and reconstruction, industries save on investment and maintenance costs.
There’s no need to hire specialized staff to fix problems; budget maintenance follows company protocols and allows for spending in areas that lack funding. For example, in the oil and gas industry, with less corrosive results, companies can ensure a return on the initial investment and reduce replacement analysis.
With less concern over durability, industries trust that the infrastructure will withstand the environmental elements. Eliminating future wear and tear, reducing rehabilitation costs, and increasing sustainability ensure that industries that use composite materials maintain structural integrity.
FRPs are proving to be a strong challenger to steel in cross-industry markets. For thermal load-bearing projects, FRPs are a comparable alternative to steel in terms of tensile strength.
It is as strong as steel when it comes to reaching a buckling point, and is less likely to corrode when used in exposed environments such as balconies.
Similarly, fiberglass rods can be used to manufacture strong, lightweight scaffolding and trays for commercial construction projects.
Furthermore, pultruded fiberglass rods are a substitute for steel rebar in reinforced concrete. These are changing the face of bridge and tunnel building, high-rise construction, and marine and waterfront applications, delivering stellar results compared to traditional steel.
FRPs are an investment that outweighs competitor products. Installation time is shorter for FRPs compared to other materials, making them ideal for projects.
In industry terms, time is a commodity. In some cases, time is just as important as capital investment. When procedures are streamlined, and processes save time, industries are satisfied and likely to select products that focus effort into areas that require more attention.
FRPs offer benefits to concrete applications. FRPs thermally respond in the same way as concrete. Their expansion and contraction rates are nearly identical.
When common FRP products such as plates, sheets, and jackets (of glass, carbon, and aramid fiber composites) are added to concrete elements, their growing popularity is further elevated.
In all cases, concrete members are strengthened by FRP additions. Generally, glass fibers are the most cost-effective; carbon fibers are the tightest; and aramid fibers are the strongest.
There are two types of FRP bars gaining attention for their ability to outshine competitors like steel. Carbon FRPs are not altered by temperature changes. Glass FRP bars manage to have the same direct coefficient of expansion as concrete does, further placing them at the top of the market.
By and large, industries across the board are beginning to embrace the benefits of FRPs. Chemical processing, oil and gas, and other corrosive environments are at odds with metals and other fragile or caustic materials.
Companies aim to optimize product performance and production as well as profits at the same rate and with successful results. Hence, durability is one of the key reasons to switch from metal to composite materials.
Currently, industries prefer FRP containers or storage tanks for chemical plants, oil and gas, and other such applications; they replace standard stainless steel, premium alloys, and carbon steel containers with much higher returns, performance, and durability.
They are often selected based on a zero corrosion bearing. FRP composites do not rust, even in the harshest of environments. For oil and gas, civil engineering, and chemical engineering, FRPs provide longer-lasting materials that withstand the test of time. Highly anti-corrosive, FRPs are ideal for various industry applications.
FRP composites are lightweight yet strong and are impact resistant. Today’s market is evolving from cheap, single-use, or corrosive materials to more durable materials. Opting for FRPs over antiquated materials is an investment that will pay off over time.