Fiberglass 101

Fiberglass (aka Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (aka FRP), aka Glass-Reinforced Plastic (aka GRP)) is a composite matrix of glass fibers infused with resin. The glass fibers add tremendous strength to the tubing, making it much stronger than homogenous plastic tubes.

Various resins are available for the production of FRP tubes. The two primary classes of resin are thermoplastic resin and thermosetting resin. Thermoplastics (PVC, nylon, PET, Teflon, polyethylene, etc.) cure by cooling and return to a liquid state upon heating. These resins are generally soft in nature and unfit for making robust FRP tubes. Thermosets (polyesters, vinyl esters, etc.), on the other hand, irreversibly cure to a solid state by a chemical reaction. Fiberglass Tubing Supply composite FRP tubes are manufactured with vinyl ester resin, which yields higher strength and tolerance to stress than polyester resins.

Various processes exist for the fabrication of FRP tubes. These include vacuum-infusion, pultrusion, centrifugal casting, and filament winding.Fiberglass Tubing Supply FRP tubes are manufactured using the filament-winding process. This technique uses computer-controlled machines to infuse each glass fiber with resin and align the fibers in a helical pattern under tension on a steel mandrel. The fiber alignment is critical to determine the ultimate strength of the FRP tube.

Fiberglass is typically used in applications that require:
• high strength to weight ratio
• chemical corrosion protection
•environmental corrosion protection
• high dielectric strength
• rf transparency
• aesthetic appeal
• fire resistance