The Differences between FRP and Glass Fiber

Contents

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

What is FRP?

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP), as the name implies, refers to plastics reinforced with carbon fibers. The initial letter refers to the type of fiber used; C being carbon, G being glass fibers, and A being aramid fibers. Since CFRPs are composed from a combination of reinforcing fibers and resin (plastic), they are referred to as a “composite” or “composite material”.

In this section, we will introduce the characteristics and applications of CFRP.

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 the popular material of choice in aviation, automobile, and sporting equipment industries.

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.

What is Glass Fiber?

As suggested by the name, glass fiber is a yarn-like fiber produced from molten and expanded glass. Glass fiber heralds a long history which accelerated in the late 1930s with the industrialization of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP), a material produced by compositing glass fibers with thermosetting resins. GFRP is also commonly referred to as fiberglass.

Glass fibers are classified into two types based on the length of the fibers:
1) lass wool (short fibers)

2) Glass fiber (long fibers)

Summary

This issue discusses FRP and glass fibers. Glass fiber is fiber material produced from glass, whereas FRP is a composite material that uses glass fiber reinforcements. As glass fiber is a yarn that cannot retain form on its own, it is composited with resin to produce a lightweight, strong, and form-holding composite, commonly referred to as GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) or fiberglass.

We hope that this issue has given you better insight and understanding. See you next time.

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