Matt Bobinski

Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
HIGH FIBER
Glass fibers contained with in a plastic matrix
Fiberglass (or some other fiber)
Roving
Mat
Cloth
Woven roving
Pultruted products
Resin
Polymer
Epoxy


Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
FIBERGLASS
Very high strength to
diameter ration
Near crystal sized diameter
Substantial stronger then
the bulk material because
there are few internal
defects
Fibers act as the structure
in thin plastic


MEASURES
As single strands or as
roving the diameter is used
to determine the sizing
Mats, cloth, and woven
roving is measured in units
of weight per area
Ounces per square yard
Ounces per square foot
Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
Large furnaces are used to
melt a sand/chemical mixture
to liquid form also none as
molten glass.
Extruded through a cluster of
small holes or dies with
diameters ranging from 17-25
micrometers.
The fibers produced are then
bundled together to form
larger strings called roving.
The roving can be turned in
to several products including
chopped strand mat, cloth,
and pultruted products.
Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
E glass is an alumino-
borosilicate glass that is
free of alkali. It was
originally designed for
electrical applications
due to its continuous
formation.
S glass has high strength
formulation and is used
for situations that
require high tensile
strength.
C glass was designed to
resist chemical attacks.

A glass is a soda lime
glass . It was the first
type of glass used for
fiber.
Fiber type Tensile
Strength
(Mpa)
E glass 3,450
S glass 4,710
Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
Chopped Strand Mat
Woven Cloth
Fiberglass cloth provides strength in two
directions do to the weave of the fabric.
Greatest strength but least thick which reduces
stiffness
Requires least amount of resin
Not completely waterproof do to the small
amount of resin
Woven in various weaves: plain weave, long satin
weave, and unidirectional weave.
Most common weights are 4-10 ounces per
square yard
More expensive then most mats


Chopped strands of fiberglass usually 2 inches in
length in random directions
A bonding agent, typically a powder, holds the
fibers in a mat
The random direction of the fibers provides
strength in every direction.
Least expensive
Very versatile
Soaks up more resin than any other form of
matting
Most waterproof do to the large quantity of resin
required to saturate
Once wetted the fiber becomes easily workable
and can be shaped into any configuration
Most common weights are 1.5-2 ounces per
square foot

Similar to cloth but is much thicker (18-24
ounces per square yard)
Less common and used in larger
applications where thickness and buildup
are necessary
Often alternated with chopped strand mat
in order to fill in all the gaps between the
large strands
The price per weight is between that of mat
and cloth
Does not provide a smooth finish as would
chopped strand mat or cloth
Uses less resin than mat , similar to cloth

Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
Pultrusion is the process by which continuous
roving (1) is pulled through a liquid resin(2)
saturating the glass reinforcement. A die (3) is
used to shape the saturated fibers and combine
them in to a desired shape. A continuous pulling
device keeps the process in motion. Heat (4) is
used to permanently set the fibers and resin .
The finished pieces can then be cut (5) and are
ready to use.
http://www.libertypultrusions.com/pultrusion-
process-frp.htm

1
2
3
4

5
POLYESTER
Permeable to moisture
Mechanically, chemically and
electrically stable properties
Best suited for building light weight
objects
Superior polyester resins have
bonding strength of 100 p.s.i.
Average cure time of 20-30 minutes
Lower cost then that of epoxy resins

EPOXY
Completely resist moisture
Superior for reliability and multiple
uses
Better resists acidic liquids and
conditions
Response better in higher
temperatures
Able to bond to multiple types of
surfaces, can bond dissimilar
materials
Best strength in tension and more
flexible
Superior epoxy resins have
bonding strength of 2000 p.s.i.
Variable catalyst can range a cure
time of 30 minutes to 6 hours

Epoxy resin is the best resin
for almost all cases. Marine
and aircraft industries
prefer epoxy.
Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-
reinforced_plastic
http://www.fiberglasssite.com/servlet/Detail?
no=68
http://www.libertypultrusions.com/pultrusion
-process-frp.htm
The Textbook

Matt Bobinski
Karen Cariaga
Zane Gravino