Fiber Reinforced Plastic

Introduction: Fiber Reinforced Plastic

Fiber reinforced plastic is a composite material made of a polymer matrix. The material without the reinforced plastic is known as the matrix.

For short, it is known as FRP. It is a material, strengthened with fibers. The fibers used are usually glass, carbon, aramid, or basalt. In simple terms, it is a mixture of a plastic and fiber.

Fiber-reinforced plastics belong to the category of composite plastics that specifically use fiber materials to enhance the strength and elasticity of plastics. The matrix is a tough but relatively weak plastic that is reinforced by stronger and elastic fibers. The extent that strength and elasticity are enhanced in a fiber-reinforced plastic depends on the properties of

Then, they are continuously wound in a mandrel, using automated winding equipment. Mandrel is a kind of a shaft or rod used at high temperature for shaping materials. After this, curing is carried out either in an oven or room temperature. Finally, before getting the product, the mandrel is removed.

Vacuum Bag Infusion Molding:

Vacuum bag infusion molding (also called Resin Infusion) is a molding process in which the voids in a porous material are filled a liquid resin. For doing so, a vacuum is created and using a pump and is kept on a sustained pressure throughout the process. Vacuum Infusion Molding is accomplished in four basic steps; Pre-Evacuation, Resin Admittance, Curing and Infusion.

Firstly, the air trapped in the material is removed, or rather “escaped,” with the help of created vacuum. When the air is completely removed from the voids present in the material or the matrix, the resin is admitted through an inlet until all the voids are filled with the admitted resin. After this, the vacuum is maintained until the curing is completed and the infused part is recovered.

Vacuum Infusion is a preferable method because it is cost effective than other manufacturing processes and results in quite accurate

The factors which affect the final properties of composites are:

• Material selection for the matrix and reinforcement (fiber)

• Specific strength of the material used (rigidity/stiffness)

• Orientation of the fibers

• Processing cost

• Material availability

• Application

The selection of the fiber properties plays a dominating role for the properties of the composite materials. Reinforcement forms of fibers affects the final properties of composite materials.

Some of the factors which are taken into account while selecting fiber includes:

• Thermal, physical and mechanical properties relevant to application

• Size, thickness, diameter of the fiber

• Surface treatments for bonding with the matrix

• Cost, manufacturing time (lead time) and availability

And the considerations for selecting resin include:

• Fiber size compatibility

• Curing time and temperatures

• Flow characteristics

• Thermal and mechanical properties

• Toxicity and health concerns

• Cost and