Introduction to Fiberglass & Composite Materials
Composites are materials made up of individual components, whose combined physical strength exceeds the properties of either of them individually. In the case of composite laminates, there are two basic elements involved: fibrous reinforcement (such as Fiberglass or Carbon Fiber) and resin. These two elements are not meant to be used exclusively—they are meant to be combined. In doing so, they bond mechanically and chemically to form a hard, laminate part that cannot be reformed.
Think in terms of a boat. Many boats are made using fiberglass, which begins as a textile—like a long piece of fabric that comes on a roll. Fiberglass is laid into a mold that will create the boat's hull. A resin, in liquid form, is catalyzed and applied to the fiberglass in the mold. It will cure and bond to the fiberglass chemically, producing a great deal of heat (called thermosetting). Multiple layers and various techniques are involved, but your result is the boat.
Composites, like the boat, are popular for several reasons, but largely for their combined high-strength for low-weight ratio. In general, they can be tailored to suit different applications and formed into unique and complex shapes. They are also popular for their superior resistance to most environments and can be used by most fabricators without significant investment.
Glossary of Composite Terms
Molding: Molding is the process of constructing a part within a mold. Typically, precut reinforcement is placed one layer at a time into the mold and saturated with resin. When the part has achieved the desired thickness and orientation, it is left to cure. When it is demolded, it will have the exact shape of the mold surface.
Laminating: Laminating originally referred to applying a thin protective coating of resin and reinforcement over a surface such as wood. The term's use has broadened to include virtually any finished composite part, molded or otherwise. A current example would be: "The part tested was a 10-ply vacuum bagged laminate."
Lamination Schedule: This is a list of the individual layers and orientation of the plies used to construct a composite part, and typically specifies the ounce-weight of the reinforcement and the weave style.
Casting: Casting refers to pouring a large mass of resin into a cavity. The cavity can be a mold when casting parts, or it can be the backside filler for a tool when making the mold itself. It is necessary to use specialized casting resins which generate less heat during their cure and thus create less distortion in the final part. Fibrous fillers can be added as needed to strengthen the casting.
Sculpting: Sculpting is usually accomplished by carving a shape out of polyurethane foam and then laminating the surface. This can be done to create a plug for the molding process or to shape a finished part in the case of moldless construction.
Reinforcement Types, Properties, and Styles
Reinforcement Fabrics
The physical properties of composites are fiber dominant. This means that when resin and fiber are combined, their performance remains most like the individual fiber properties. For example, it is not satisfactory to merely average the tensile strengths of fabric and resin to determine the strength of a panel. Test data shows that the fibrous reinforcement is the component carrying the majority of the load. For this reason, fabric selection is critical when designing composite structures. Fabricators today choose from common reinforcements, including fiberglass, and carbon fiber. Each comes in various forms and styles and has benefits and drawbacks that should be analyzed before starting any project.
As a fiberglass manufacturer, GRECHO strictly controls the quality of reinforcing materials, puts the customer first, and tries its best to meet the various requirements of customers. GRECHO's partners all agree that GRECHO is a reliable and cooperative partner.
Any fiberglass requirements can be contacted by GRECHO to achieve your cost effectiveness.
Whatsapp: +86 18677188374
Email: info@grechofiberglass.com
Tel: +86-0771-2567879
Mob.: +86-18677188374
Website: www.grechofiberglass.com
Post time: Nov-09-2022
