What is Fiberglass?
Fiberglass, as a term, is really a misnomer. Fiberglass is one of the many materials that can be used along with resin (plastic) to create a strong and light structure. In truth what most people call fiberglass is properly referred to as Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP). It is also a composite material, much like Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) today. FRP predates carbon fiber by at least seventy years. One of the earliest uses of FRP was by the military in making helmet liners. (see picture at right for a World War II liner) After the war returning GIs began experimenting with the material in the form of car bodies and boats. Sailboats first and later powered watercraft. Because so little was known about the strength of FRP in those years boats and car bodies made then are still around today. Almost indestructible in their strength. In many ways it is an ideal hobbyist material. With a bit of patience it is fairly easy to use with most of your effort going into preparation n
Fiberglass fibers are made from molten glass extruded at a specified diameter. The fibers are gathered into bundles and the bundles combined create a roving. Rovings are a continuous rope, similar to twine, and are wound on a mandrel to form a ball called a doff. Reinforcements for frp are made from rovings that are either chopped into short strands or woven into a cloth…” “Frp, fiberglass reinforced plastic, is a composite made from fiberglass reinforcement in a plastic (polymer) matrix. A construction analogy would be the steel reinforcing bars in a concrete matrix for highways…..” “What are plastic/polymers? There are two basic types of plastics/polymers: thermoplastic and thermoset…” http://www.kemlite.com/frp_encyclopedia.cfm What is ABS = Poly(Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, Styrene) “ABS is a copolymer of Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, and Styrene. ABS plastics generally possess medium strength and performance and medium cost; ABS is often used as the cost and performance dividing li
• Fiberglass is a man-made material found in many consumer and industrial products. It is commonly used in insulation and furnace filters in homes and workplaces. It is also used as insulation in appliances, automobiles and airplanes, and in roofing materials. • Fiberglass is a type of synthetic vitreous fiber (SVF). SVFs vary widely in use and potential health effects. This fact sheet is limited to fiberglass and glass/mineral wools (other types of SVFs) because they have similar uses and potential health effects.
