Why Businesses Are Switching to Fiberglass and Composite Materials
Fiberglass was invented for military use in the 1930s. As more of its properties were discovered, its popularity increased, and this has led to fiberglass and its composites being used in many industrial applications today. There have been improvements to fiberglass composites, and it is these improvements that have made it a staple in today’s industries. If your business is not already using fiberglass and its composites, here are some reasons why you should consider it.
Weight
The one consideration engineers and product developers have to think about is the weight of the structures or products they create. Fiberglass composites have a very low weight profile, which makes them easy to work with and provides great weight savings on the finished product and structures.
Versatility
Fiberglass composites are usually composed of fiberglass fibers that provide support to a surrounding material known as a matrix. This matrix can be any number of resins and often encloses fiberglass fibers that are woven in different ways. How the fiberglass is woven as well as which resins are used is what makes it possible to use fiberglass composites in different types of applications.
These applications can range from the manufacture of wind turbine blades to airplane bodies and parts.
Durability
Fiberglass composites are resistant to a lot of the elements that would make other materials not suitable in a lot of applications. One of the properties that make fiberglass composites so durable is their chemical resistance. Fiberglass composites are resistant to aggressive chemicals, alkalis, and liquids. Because of this, they are used in applications where there is a risk of corrosion such as in swimming pools, water treatment plants, construction, and cooling towers.
This corrosion resistance also makes them ideal for industries that require nonmetallic materials that are corrosion resistant.
Strength
Fiberglass composites are usually as strong as steel but almost a quarter of steel’s density. This makes them great for applications where materials have to remain strong while keeping the weight profile low. Fiberglass is also superior when compared to a common replacement of steel, aluminum because it is 30% less dense than aluminum.
Electrical Insulation
Fiberglass composites have great electrical insulation and because they minimize the complexity of earthing, especially in installations that carry high voltages, they have been used to manufacture conduits for electrical systems. Companies like FRE composites are taking advantage of the electrical insulation and mechanical strength of fiberglass composites to create electricity conduit systems that cover 2 to 3.3 times the distance covered by conduits manufactured using other materials.
Thermal Insulation
Fiberglass composites provide great thermal insulation. This makes them the better option in applications that require a lower heat distribution gradient than that which is offered by aluminum and steel.
Fiberglass composites are a family of many products, all created using different fiberglass weaving techniques and resins. This makes them highly versatile and customizable which, when combined with their other properties, makes them the perfect material for a lot of industrial applications. With all the advantages fiberglass composites afford you, there is no reason why your business should not be using them.
