Preface

Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) is a composite material made up of a matrix of plastic or polymeric resin reinforced with glass fibers (GRP), carbon fibers (CRP), natural fibers (NRP), etc. The existence of these modern materials dates to the petroleum age more than 100 years ago.

FRP is a light, resistant, and easy to mold material, which is why it is widely used in the manufacture of parts with soft and complex shapes. This material has a wide variety of applications and functionalities in the nautical, military, commercial, and industrial industries.

Fiberglass reinforcement provides the composite with mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance. Polyester plastic resin provides dielectric chemical resistance and outdoor behavior.

For natural fiber-reinforced plastics (NRP), thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers are used as the matrix. Thermoplastics are usually PE, PP, PS, PVC, or PLA, and acrylate, epoxy, and phenolic resins are generally used as thermosetting. Fibers include flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, sisal, abaca, cellulose, and lignocellulose of various origins, and cotton. Other widely used materials include wood fiber and wood flour or rice husk. In many cases, specific coupling agents are used to ensure the optimal union of matrix and fibers.

Carbon fiber (CFR) is a material made up of fibers 5–10 microns in diameter, composed mainly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber. Crystal alignment gives the fiber high strength based on bulk (makes it strong for its size). Several thousand carbon fibers are twisted together to form a thread, which can be used on its own or woven into fabric. The properties of carbon fibers, such as high flexibility, high strength, low weight, high temperature tolerance, and low thermal expansion, make them very popular in aerospace, civil engineering, military, motor sports, and many other applications. However, they are relatively expensive compared to similar fibers, such as glass fibers or plastic fibers, which greatly limits their use.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the different types of reinforced plastic fibers for engineers, researchers, academics, students, and industry professionals.

This book includes the following sections and chapters:
