Fiber

Glass-reinforced composites gain their strength from thin glass fibers set within their resin matrix. These strong, stiff fibers carry the load while the resin matrix spreads the load imposed on the composite. A wide variety of properties can be achieved by selecting the proper glass type, filament diameter, sizing chemistry and fiber forms (e.g., roving, fabric, etc.).

Fibers made primarily from silica-based glass containing several metal oxides offer excellent thermal and impact resistance, high tensile strength, good chemical resistance and outstanding insulating properties.

Fibers can also be produced from carbon, boron and aramid. While these materials offer higher tensile strength and are stiffer than glass, they cost significantly more. For that reason, carbon, boron and aramid are typically reserved for high-tech applications demanding exceptional fiber properties for which the customer is willing to pay a premium. An alternative is to use a hybrid fiber (combining an expensive fiber with a glass fiber), which improves overall performance yet costs less than using premium fibers alone.

E-glass is a popular fiber made primarily of silica oxide, along with oxides of aluminum, boron, calcium and other compounds. Named for its good electrical resistance, E-glass is strong yet low in cost, and accounts for over 90% of all glass fiber reinforcements, especially in aircraft radomes, antennae and applications where radio-signal transparency is desired. E-glass is also used extensively in computer circuit boards where stiffness and electrical resistance are required.

In addition to E-glass, several other types of glass can be used for composite reinforcement. The most popular are high-strength glass and corrosion-resistant glass.Fibre reinforced plastics factory