FIBERGLASS COMPOSITES - Its first use of fiberglass in main airframe construction was that of a Spitfire in England, though it never went into production. GRP is used extensively in aviation and aerospace. Typical GRP applications are engine cowlings, luggage racks, instrument enclosures, bulkheads, ducting, storage bins and antenna enclosures. It is also widely used in ground-handling equipment. Fiberglass has a big presence in the replacement body parts, custom and kit auto markets. Composites continue to dominate the marine industry. GRP is widely used for circuit board manufacture (PCB's).

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Fiberglass Composites

Uses of Fiberglass

Learn About the Many Applications of Fiberglass Composites

by Todd Johnson 

The use of fiberglass started during the Second World War.

Polyester resin was invented in 1935. Its potential was recognized, but finding a suitable reinforcing material proved elusive – even palm fronds were tried.

Then, glass fibers which had been invented in the early 1930’s by Russel Games Slaytor and used for glass wool home insulation, were successfully combined with the resin to make a durable composite.

Although it was not the first modern composite material (Bakelite - cloth reinforced phenolic resin was the first), glass reinforced plastic (‘GRP’) quickly grew into a worldwide industry.

By the early 1940s, fiberglass laminates were being produced. The first amateur use – the building of a small dinghy was in Ohio was in 1942.

Early Wartime Use of Glass Fiber

As a new technology, resin and glass production volumes were relatively low and as a composite, its engineering characteristics were not well understood.

Nevertheless, its advantages over other materials, for specific uses, were apparent. Wartime metal supply difficulties focused on GRP as an alternative.

Initial applications were to protect radar equipment (Radomes), and as ducting, for example, airplane engine nacelles.

In 1945, the material was used for the aft fuselage skin of the US Vultee B-15 trainer.

Its first use of fiberglass in main airframe construction was that of a Spitfire in England, though it never went into production.

Modern Uses

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

Aviation and Aerospace

GRP is used extensively in aviation and aerospace though it is not widely used for primary airframe construction, as there are alternative materials which better suit the applications.

Typical GRP applications are engine cowlings, luggage racks, instrument enclosures, bulkheads, ducting, storage bins and antenna enclosures.

It is also widely used in ground-handling equipment.

Automotive

For those who love automobiles, the 1953 model Chevrolet Corvette was the first production car to have a fiberglass body.

As a body material, GRP has never succeeded against metal for large production volumes.

However, fiberglass has a big presence in the replacement body parts, custom and kit auto markets.

Tooling costs are relatively low as compared with metal press assemblies and ideally, suit smaller markets.

Boats and Marine

Since that first dinghy in 1942, this is an area where fiberglass is supreme. Its properties are ideally suited to boat building.

Although there were problems with water absorption, modern resins are more resilient, and the composites continue to dominate the marine industry.

In fact, without GRP, boat ownership would never have reached the levels it has today, as other construction methods are simply too expensive for volume production and not amenable to automation.

Electronics

GRP is widely used for circuit board manufacture (PCB's) – there is probably one within six feet of you now. TVs, radios, computers, cellphones – GRP holds our electronic world together.

Home

Almost every home has GRP somewhere – whether in a bathtub or a shower tray. Other applications include furniture and spa tubs.

Leisure

How much GRP do you think there is in Disneyland? The cars on the rides, the towers, the castles – so much of it is based on fiberglass.

Even your local fun park probably has water slides made from the composite. And then the health club – do you ever sit in a Jacuzzi? That’s probably GRP as well.

Medical

Because of its low porosity, non-staining, and hard wearing finish, GRP is ideally suited to medical applications, from instrument enclosures to X-ray beds (where X-ray transparency is important).

Projects

Most people who tackle DIY projects have used fiberglass at one time or another.

It is readily available in hardware stores, easy to use (with a few health precautions to be taken), and can provide a really practical and professional looking finish.

Wind Energy

Building 100’ wind turbine blades is a major growth area for this versatile composite, and with wind energy a massive factor in the energy supply equation, its use is certain to continue to grow.

Summary

GRP is all around us, and its unique characteristics will ensure that it remains one of the most versatile and easy to use composites for many years to come.

Todd Johnson

Regional Sales Manager for Composites One, a distributor of composite materials.

B.S. in Business Management from University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business

Business Development Manager for Ebert Composites Corporation

Experience

Todd Johnson is a former writer for ThoughtCo, who wrote about plastics and composite materials for 2-1/2 years between 2010 and 2013. He is a Regional Sales Manager at Composites One, a composite materials distributor in San Diego, CA. Johnson provides support to the Greater San Diego manufacturers of fiber reinforced and polymer products. He regularly attends composite industry trade shows including JEC, ACMA, SME, and SAMPE. In 2008 he presented at the Global Pultrusion Conference in Baltimore, MD. Previously, Todd spent six years as the Business Development Manager for Ebert Composites Corporation. 

Education

B.S., Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services - the University of Colorado-Boulder's Leeds School of Business; attended Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.  

Todd Johnson​

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/uses-of-fiberglass-820412