Glass-reinforced plastic, also known as fibreglass, is a very modern material with a wide array of applications in a virtually unlimited number of industries. This is largely down to the inherent properties of glass-reinforced plastic. Those properties make it useful to all sorts of uses, but just what exactly are the qualities of glass-reinforced plastic?
Perhaps the most fundamental strength behind fibreglass as a material is the fact that it is possessed of a very high strength-to-weight ratio. That is, it is capable of enduring a great amount of physical force while still being relatively light. Such properties are highly valuable in such industries like the construction of aircraft, where weight is a luxury that cannot be wasted, or in the construction of car bodies. Less weight means less fuel consumption, which means more efficient engines and less long-term costs of running the vehicle.
Adding further to its uses in aviation and automobile industries is the properties of glass-reinforced plastic with regards to resisting extreme environmental conditions and chemical corrosion. Fibreglass does not rot or rust, and it is capable of resisting reaction with a wide number of chemicals.
With regards to constructing bodies for vehicles, this allows the vehicle to better withstand extreme hot or cold -- highly valuable for aircraft. However this also expands uses towards the storage of chemicals and liquids, whether it is industrial chemicals such as bleach or crude oil, or more domestic liquids such as hot drinks and soups. Further properties include resistance to ultra-violet light and its insulation from electrical currents. Adding with the aforementioned strength of the material as a whole, this makes fibreglass perfect for the transportation and storage of large quantities of liquid.
The final and perhaps more liberating properties of glass-reinforced plastic are its highly versatile application and its affordability. The applications of fibreglass are quite limitless, and it can be put towards a wide away of uses in all kinds of industries. It is also very cheap in comparison to other materials, such as stainless steel, making it a very economic choice. By using fibreglass an industry can provide an affordable alternative material for nearly any enterprise they care to enter into.
Fibreglass is also highly adaptable in terms of appearance. Fibreglass can be moulded into any shape, to possess any colour and to hold any texture. This makes it perfect for building materials, as it can be made to imitate brick, wood or steel.
