Glass Fiber vs. Carbon Fiber: What’s the Difference?

Contents

Introduction
Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP): What is it?
The Peak of FRPs: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)
- Key Characteristics of Carbon Fiber
Fiber Reinforced Plastic Applications
Summary

Introduction

While “FRP/GFRP” and “CFRP” have become familiar terms when talking about fiber-reinforced plastic materials, the details and differences of these materials are often obscure. Let’s take a look at these materials and what they entail.

Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP): What is it?

Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) is the general term given to plastic polymers which are combined with fibers to produce a composite material: any material produced from a combination of two or more different material types. The fiber reinforcements offer unique and strength-enhancing properties not found in pure plastic, making it possible to create structures that are ighter and stronger than those made with plastic alone.

As FRP is generally reinforced with glass fiber it is interchangeably referred to as Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic or fiberglass. The first letter of the acronym denotes the type of reinforcing fiber used: G refers to glass fibers, C refers to carbon fibers and A stands for aramid fibers.

The Peak of FRPs: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)

Most FRP applications utilize glass fibers as the reinforcing material, whereas CFRP is a carbon fiber-specific composite. Carbon fiber is a fiber material produced by carbonizing acrylonitrile (PAN) fibers or pitch, a by-product of petroleum, coal, or coal tar and is classified according to the raw materials used: PAN-based carbon fiber for the former, and Pitch-based carbon fiber for the later. The impressive lightweight qualities and superior strength of CFRP makes it t

Key Characteristics of Carbon Fiber

One-fourth the specific gravity of iron.
Ten times the specific strength of iron.
Seven times the specific modulus of elasticity, compared to iron.

In addition to its renowned “strong, lightweight, and non-corrosive” properties, carbon fiber showcases a range of other features such as X-ray permeability, electrical conductivity, thermal resistance, and low expansion.

Fiber Reinforced Plastic Applications

Applications of GFRP and CFRP vary according to the unique characteristics and qualities of each material.

GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic)

Glass fiber reinforced plastic applications are extremely widespread with a long history stemming back to its industrialization in the late 1930s and 1940s.

Application

GFRP is used in many every day-use applications such as playground equipment and rides in parks and recreational facilities, or waterproofing in bathtubs, wash basins and balconies. In sporting and mobility-related industries, GFRP is employed in everything from surfboards, tennis rackets, and golf clubs to motorcycles, automobiles, ships, and trains. Moreover, as any car enthusiast would know, GFRP is the popular choice for aerodynamic parts in the automobile world.

CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic)

Compared to GFRP, CFRP has a relatively short history with widespread application accelerating in the 1970s. CFRP is lighter, stronger and commands a higher market value than GFRP, leading to vast recognition and use as a high-end material.

Application

Approximately 50% of the fuselage (body) of the Boeing 787 commercial airplane is constructed with CFRP. It is also widely employed in racing car products and structural, exterior, and optional components for supercars and high-end automobiles. Woven type CFRP delivers even more formidable design and aesthetic potential, as can be in the fine textures and patterns of exterior components. CFRP is also commonly employed for satellites and rockets in the aerospace field, alongside sporting equipment applications such as cars, golf shafts, fishing rods, baseball bats, tennis rackets, and ski equipment.

Summary

In this issue, we discussed the differences between glass fiber and carbon fiber. FRP combines plastic polymers and fibers to achieve a highly moldable and fortified material which we can find in items and products all around us, in our everyday. Hopefully, this has given you a better look at FRPs and its uses.

ABOUT UCHIDA - 55 years since our founding

We leverage a wealth of technical expertise as a CFRP molding and processing manufacturer using FRP, GFRP, and CFRP materials. We offer a one-stop solution, encompassing design, analysis, manufacturing, secondary processing, assembly, painting, quality assurance, and testing.

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UCHIDA's equipment

We have cutting-edge equipment to ensure that we can address even the most advanced challenges of our customers.

DMG森精機 - VS1000/40/2050
X軸：2,050mm（ストローク）／ Y軸：1,000mm ／ Z軸：600mm ／テーブル作業面：2,250×1,000mm

ASHIDA MFG Co., Ltd.
Autoclave Oven 2
Size : Ø1,150x1,000mm / Operating temperature : at normal temperature - 400℃ / Design pressure : 2.0Mpa (maximum working pressure) / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 5

ASHIDA MFG Co., Ltd.
Autoclave Oven 3
Size : Ø3,000x6,000mm / Operating temperature : at normal temperature - 200℃ / Distribution accuracy : ±2.5℃less / Heating rate : 4.0℃/min. (empty furnace) / Cooling rate : 4.0℃/min. (empty furnace) / Design pressure : 0.99Mpa (maximum working pressure) / Working pressure : 0.7Mpa less (if no specification from the manufacuturer 0.3Mpa around) / Pressure accuracy : ±0.02Mpa（for pressure setting of ０ - 0.99Mpa/cm²） / Boost pressure accuracy : 0 - 0.03Mpa/min / Pressure source : compressed air (regular use) / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

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Oven
Size : W1,000xH1,000xD1,000mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 300℃ / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature (20 - 40℃) - 300℃ / 45min less / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

ESPEC CORP.
Temperature & Humidity Chamber

INSTRON
Static Universal Testing Machine 5985

Oven
Size : W7,000xH3,000xD2,000mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 300℃ (Max) / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature (20 - 40℃) - 300℃ / 60min less / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

NEO
X axis : 4,000mm (stroke) / Y axis : 2,000mm / Z axis : 1,200mm / C axis : 0° - ±270° / B axis : 0° - ±110° / Table working place : 4,000x2,000mm

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3Dプリンター | Markforged

Painting booth
Various painting, and clear finish is done in dedicated painting booth

Adhesion, Finishing, Coating Room
Finishing process, such as trimming, drilling, and bonding, surface treatment of the molded product type and is done in a private booth

Toshiba Matrixeye EX (Ultrasonic flaw detector)
Matrix-Arrey : 32

AMETEK CREAFORM Metra
SCAN750 Elite (3D scan)

Olympus Corp.
Inverted Microscopes

Oven
Size : W450xH450xD450mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 650℃ / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature+50 - 650℃/120min less

Cutting Plotter Table working place : W1,500xL3,500mm

SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD
Cutting Plotter

KUKA
Robot

Krauss Maffei
Epoxy resin injection machine Resin 60L ／ Hardener 25L

Krauss Maffei
630t Press machine Height total 5,200mm ／ Length max 1,500mm ／ Width max 1,200mm ／ Whole cycle time per component part 240sec

DMG森精機 - NV5000B/40
X軸：1,020mm（ストローク）／ Y軸：510mm ／ Z軸：510mm ／テーブル作業面：1,320×600mm

Big sized clean room
JIS B 9920 cleanliness class maximum concentration (Pcs/m³） / Class 5 : 100,000m³ / Capacity : m² (16,000x16,000mm) 760m² (16,000x16,000x3,000mm) / Temperature and humidity condition : Temperature : 23℃±3℃, Humidity 65% less / Ambient conditions : Temperature 35℃ during summer, Humidity 70% less / Ambient conditions : Temperature 35℃ during summer, Humidity 70% less / Temperature -5℃ during winter, Humidity 40% less