Reinforced polymer composite or FRP is a composite material created from a polymer matrix plus a reinforced fibrous material. The primary matrix or polymer matrix is usually a hard resin that is resistant to chemical effects and corrosion, But it usually has no resistance from a mechanical point of view.
The addition of a fibrous component results in a new composite material with much higher performance. The main polymers include epoxy, polyester and vinyl. Also, the fibers used are While maintaining its shape and structure, It also adds its exceptional features to this basic polymer, As a result the reinforced polymer composite will be lighter, harder and mechanically stronger.
The fibers used for this purpose usually include carbon, basalt, glass, wood, etc.
Practical cases of using FRP
• Aviation industries.
• Auto industry.
• Construction field.
• Consumer goods.
• Energy industry.
• Marine industries.
• Auto industry.
Reinforced polymer composites are a suitable and valuable alternative to steel in the automotive industry, It is used in the production of luxury cars. In reality , This new material, This new material, It reduces the car’s fuel consumption, the overall weight of the car, and increases its speed.
Construction industry
One area where the use of this combined product has become very popular is the construction industry and the strengthening of structures. More than 20% of FRPs currently manufactured are used in the construction industry, For example bridges or roads. But the use of polymer-reinforced composites in the construction industry is very wide and diverse, We will mention some of them below.
FRP sheets
These sheets are glued to the concrete surface and in this way strengthen it against damage. The flexibility of the product allows it to be used almost anywhere in construction.
FRP rebar
Steel generally has good corrosion resistance, But in some environments with high humidity, Steel is subject to corrosion. for this reason , FRP rebar is used in some structures.
Apart from these cases, Now produces the angles, and nails, And the reinforced one, protection bars, and windows, And a variety of other construction-related products using these emerging materials.
Aviation industry
currently , This sector represents only 0.6% of FRP production, But with further development, This percentage and amount found a strong upward trend.
For example , The carbon fiber used in FRP contributes up to 25% of the final weight of the product, This is achieved without losing the strength of the product, Compared to aluminum sheets. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite has excellent strength and flexibility against various environmental conditions and its expansion rate against heat is low. for this reason, It makes sense to use it in the aviation industry.
FRP Features
Fast production and short installation time: It is clear that when we talk about the features of a product, We must take into account the totality of this product, We must take into account the totality of this product,
The rapid production of reinforced polymer composite means reducing its costs, Of course, this is not achieved at the cost of losing the quality of the final product. FRP has excellent strength, quality and durability.
Lightness: The biggest advantage of reinforced polymer composite is its lightness. In reality , This production material is eight times lighter than reinforced concrete. In this way , It is easy for workers to install or remove it from the point where it is used, It requires less equipment. As we said before, The point that must be taken into account is that this lightness does not mean less relative strength in any way. In reality , FRP is a composite material with low weight but high strength.
In reality , It was this high strength that gradually made the automobile industry interested in using and replacing it instead of steel used in various parts of cars. FRP can have the toughness of iron while being light, Lightness means more efficient energy consumption.
Corrosion and durability: Since this product has high strength and durability, Its corrosion resistance is also high, In this way and overall, The requirements for its maintenance are less. Less need for maintenance means lower maintenance costs and this generally means increased end consumer satisfaction.
Although the cost of polymer reinforced composite raw materials is slightly higher compared to other materials, This high durability makes this extra cost affordable.
Flexibility: FRPs are generally highly adaptable, For this reason, Compared to many materials, It can be used in different situations. In reality , You can make this composite material in different round, cubic, tubular, channel or rod shapes at minimal cost.
after every thing , Fiber properties can be manipulated to be effective for different job requirements. in general , Polymer-reinforced composites have excellent electrical properties and amazing environmental resistance.
There is another problem that makes this material a popular material among different industries, which is its production process, Which is quite affordable.
Insulation: Due to the compounds used in FRP, It is an excellent temperature insulator when exposed to fire or ultraviolet rays. Apart from this, Structural integrity and resistance to chemicals and other corrosive substances are also high in this production material. naturally , Polymer reinforced composite surfaces depend largely on specific factors such as the mechanical properties of the base material and the added fibers, the relative size of each of these two grades of material, the amount of fibers used and the type of fibers used in the raw materials.
Common fibers used in frp
the glass: Glass is a very good insulating material when combined with a matrix, fiberglass or polymer-reinforced composite.
Carbon: Carbon fiber or carbon fiber showed high tensile strength, and resistance, and hardness, and high temperature resistance, Low temperature shrinkage and low weight, Carbon atoms produce crystals that are mainly in the longitudinal axis, And the fibers fit.
Aramid: Aramid is a fiber component that produces a heat-resistant and strong composite fiber. This type of fiber is used in many industries.
conclusion
The field of science and research is the scene of the arrival of new products obtained from innovative materials, Among these new products that have brought about a major transformation in various areas of the industry are: From building to air and space, Or the aviation industry is FRP. It has not been long since the use of these materials became popular, But in this short time, It has allocated a large portion of different parts in different industries. The construction industry is one of the areas where the presence of this new composite material is keenly felt.