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Glass fiber reinforced polymer, or GFRP, is manufactured by combining reinforced fibers with a polymer matrix to yield a material that is stronger than its constituent parts. Known in the industry as GFRP composite in order to distinguish it from similar materials. There are a lot of industrial uses for it, including aerospace, the automotive industry, ballistic armor and construction, among others.
In other types of reinforced polymer using other materials in place of fiber. These include aramid, carbon and basalt. Aramid is a synthetic, fiber that is resistant to heat. Occasionally, asbestos, paper or wood may be used. The polymer component of the material is generally a polyester thermosetting plastic, epoxy, or vinylester. A thermoset plastic is one that is a liquid or malleable solid at normal temperatures and irreversibly solidifies when exposed to high temperatures.
One reason why FRPs are important in the aerospace industry is because this is one place where strong, lightweight, materials are paramount. Those who are not convinced may refer to fuselage damage sustained by Aloha Airlines Flight 243 in April 1988. The plane experienced an explosive decompression that tore off a section of roof on the short flight between Honolulu and Hilo. One flight attendant perished when she was swept overboard, while 65 crew and passengers were injured.
The first marine uses of FRPs were related to recreational boats. This remained the case for 30 years, until they became more widespread in larger marine applications. FRPs are ideally suited to the maritime industry because they are capable of being molded into complicated shapes, light weight, low cost, corrosion and impact resistance, and vibration damping.
Because of the same properties that make it favorable for marine use, GFRP is useful in the manufacture of high-performance automobiles. Incorporated into fiberglass trucks, its light weight means that a bigger payload may be transported. Fiberglass is also preferable to steel in a car crash. Fiberglass will contain the vibrations to a localized area, while steel will transfer the vibration, and hence the shock, throughout the vehicle.
Police and the military use GFRP, too. It is often incorporated into ballistic armor, such as that in bullet-proof vests, buildings and vehicles. Glass fiber is easy to re-work in the field with simple, readily-available power tools, compared to other materials.
GFRP has the property of being able to stop bullets bouncing around, a useful feature in areas where gunfire is a potential hazard. Courtrooms are often armored in fiber-reinforced polymer. A real-life example of this occurred in the February 2005 courthouse shootout in Tyler, Texas, in which three people were killed and several others injured.
One of the best-known uses for reinforced polymers is in bullet-proof vests, generally in law enforcement and the military. A ballistic vest saved the life of Kate Todd, only to have her shot in the head by a sniper moments later. There have been several television episodes featuring cowboy vendors who sell defective armor to soldiers.
In other types of reinforced polymer using other materials in place of fiber. These include aramid, carbon and basalt. Aramid is a synthetic, fiber that is resistant to heat. Occasionally, asbestos, paper or wood may be used. The polymer component of the material is generally a polyester thermosetting plastic, epoxy, or vinylester. A thermoset plastic is one that is a liquid or malleable solid at normal temperatures and irreversibly solidifies when exposed to high temperatures.
One reason why FRPs are important in the aerospace industry is because this is one place where strong, lightweight, materials are paramount. Those who are not convinced may refer to fuselage damage sustained by Aloha Airlines Flight 243 in April 1988. The plane experienced an explosive decompression that tore off a section of roof on the short flight between Honolulu and Hilo. One flight attendant perished when she was swept overboard, while 65 crew and passengers were injured.
The first marine uses of FRPs were related to recreational boats. This remained the case for 30 years, until they became more widespread in larger marine applications. FRPs are ideally suited to the maritime industry because they are capable of being molded into complicated shapes, light weight, low cost, corrosion and impact resistance, and vibration damping.
Because of the same properties that make it favorable for marine use, GFRP is useful in the manufacture of high-performance automobiles. Incorporated into fiberglass trucks, its light weight means that a bigger payload may be transported. Fiberglass is also preferable to steel in a car crash. Fiberglass will contain the vibrations to a localized area, while steel will transfer the vibration, and hence the shock, throughout the vehicle.
Police and the military use GFRP, too. It is often incorporated into ballistic armor, such as that in bullet-proof vests, buildings and vehicles. Glass fiber is easy to re-work in the field with simple, readily-available power tools, compared to other materials.
GFRP has the property of being able to stop bullets bouncing around, a useful feature in areas where gunfire is a potential hazard. Courtrooms are often armored in fiber-reinforced polymer. A real-life example of this occurred in the February 2005 courthouse shootout in Tyler, Texas, in which three people were killed and several others injured.
One of the best-known uses for reinforced polymers is in bullet-proof vests, generally in law enforcement and the military. A ballistic vest saved the life of Kate Todd, only to have her shot in the head by a sniper moments later. There have been several television episodes featuring cowboy vendors who sell defective armor to soldiers.
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