Fibre glass is an immensely versatile material due to its light weight, inherent strength, weather-resistant finish and variety of surface textures.
The development of reinforced fibre glass plastic for commercial use was extensively researched as far back as the 1930s and was of particular interest to the aviation industry. A means of mass production of glass strands was accidentally discovered in 1932 when a researcher at Owens-Illinois directed a jet of compressed air at a stream of molten glass and produced fibers. After Owens merged with the Corning company in 1935, Owens Corning adapted the method to produce its patented “Fiberglas” (one “s”). A suitable resin for combining the “Fiberglas” with a plastic was developed in 1936 by du Pont. The first ancestor of modern polyester resins is Cyanamid’s of 1942. Peroxide curing systems were used by then.
GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic / Fiberglass / Fibre Glass or Glass Reinforced Polyester), is manufactured by combining millions of small fibres or glass rods with specialised thermoset resins and curing agents to create an immensely strong composite product. The glass fibre reinforcement forms the structure of the product, whilst the resin holds the composite together. GRP is a light, durable and astonishingly tough constructional material which can be manufactured into all manner of products. It may be translucent, opaque or coloured, moulded, reinforced, shaped, pressed or bonded.
Glass reinforced plastic is lightweight and has good thermal insulation properties. It has a high strength to weight ratio, making it useful for the production of products such as water tanks, surfboards, canoes, small boat hulls and similar products. There are few limits to size, shape, texture, scale, or lightness of weight. Whatever your requirements, this material should accommodate your needs.
