The Place of Glass Fiber in the Composite Industry

Glass fiber reinforcements have an important place in the composites industry. The mixture of resin additives and fiber reinforcements and the hard product obtained after the process is called a composite. FRP is one of the composite materials and contains glass fiber. GRP is referred to as Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic. The glass fiber content further increases the strength of this product. Fiber reinforcements are used in the composite industry in the following ways:

Hand tilt method
Thermoplastic injection molding
Pressable reinforced thermoplastic method
SMC/BMC pre-molding compounds
Fiber wrapping method
Centrifugal casting method
Profile drawing method
Continuous sheet production method.

Usage Areas of Glass Fiber

Glass fiber was first produced in industry in the 1930s. After this production, trade and export goods were also produced. Fiberglass, which stands out in mass production, has expanded its use in many sectors by providing glass fiber production. It is used a lot, especially in the construction sector. In general, the areas of use of glass fiber are as follows:

Reinforced concrete reinforcement systems: FRP and FRCM applications are the systems used in the reinforcement of reinforced concrete structures. One of the prominent products in the raw materials used in these systems is glass fiber. Glass fiber ensures that FRP and FRCM materials have high strength and long life.

Roof panels: Glass fiber reinforced roof tiles are more durable than conventional roofing. Glass fiber roofs are preferred in the building sector because they are resistant to many weather events.

Fire protected structures: Glass fiber is used in building insulation because it resists temperatures up to 1000°F. For this reason, fire-resistant structures are insulated and built with this material. FRCM products are utilized especially in historical buildings that require restoration.

Earthquake resistant buildings: Blocks, columns and similar elements made of these fiber-reinforced materials are very strong. It is therefore resistant to earthquake waves and minimizes tremors. These interlocking elements do not require the use of joining materials. Thus, building elements with glass fiber content also manage construction costs appropriately.

Glass Fiber Reinforcements

Glass fiber reinforcements add strength, stiffness and toughness to the material they are used with matrix resin. Glass fibers are the main components of the mechanical performance of composites. Made from glass, these fibers are also produced from natural fibers such as hemp and flax. Fiber reinforcements used in the engineering and manufacturing industries have revolutionized the emergence of a new class of materials. The general properties of glass fiber reinforcement materials are as follows:

Due to its insulating properties, it has an effect that increases energy efficiency.
It is resistant to water and wind because it is water and airtight.
Thanks to its light weight, it does not weigh in construction application areas and is easy to transport.
It is a long-lasting and durable product as well as environmentally friendly.
It provides fire safety as it is fire resistant.
It is resistant to abrasion and corrosion due to its high chemical resistance.
It can also be used for outdoor structures as it is resistant to UV rays.

Single-ended and Multi-ended Suppositories

Among these fiber supplements, single and multi-ended suppositories are the most preferred. Single-ended rovings made of E-glass fibers are characterized by a number of features. These properties include good unwinding, roving winding, non-cottoning and high resilience. Glass fiber roving is also suitable for roving winding and pultrusion methods. It is compatible with epoxy resins, polyester and vinylester due to its silane-based binder.

Multi-tipped rovings are made from bundles of e-glass fibers, which are assembled together and wound into a coil. The properties of this glass fiber roving include good trimmability, uniform unwinding, very low static electricity, high mechanical capability and very low phase. For this reason, it is possible to say that this product is produced for general-purpose trimmable roving applications and SMC process.

Felt and Fabrics

Glass fiber felt and fabric products stand out with their superior durability. Combined with a polymer matrix, these products are used in modern industry. In addition, since they are resistant to chemical reactions, they do not cause any problems in the area where they are used. On the contrary, they promise a longer lasting and cleaner use. Fabrics made of glass fiber are preferred in areas such as aviation, marine and construction. This product is manufactured from glass fiber according to quality standards.

The glass fiber felt product is produced from chopped e-glass fibers. The glass fiber bundles are cut and randomly distributed on a moving belt. During the construction process, which can be easily shaped, the glass fiber felt is combined with the use of a second binder in powder or liquid form. The result is a felt product made of glass fiber. Glass fiber felt products are manufactured in accordance with quality standards and have certain technical features. E-glass reinforced products are highly utilized in industry, construction and marine sectors.