Composite FRP Panels Bending Strength And Toughness Appearance Customization Weather Resistance

Composite FRP Panels Bending Strength And Toughness Appearance Customization Weather Resistance

Full analysis of the core properties of fiberglass reinforced plastic panels (FRP)

As a typical representative of glass fiber reinforced composite materials, the properties of FRP plates are determined by the synergistic effect of "reinforcement material (glass fiber)" and "matrix material (synthetic resin)". It can be systematically sorted out from the five dimensions of physics, chemistry, mechanics, processing and safety and environmental protection, comprehensively covering its performance essence and application adaptation logic.

1. Physical properties: core advantages of light weight, thermal insulation and insulation

Physical properties are the key to distinguishing FRP plates from traditional metals and stones, which directly determine their applicability in weight reduction, heat preservation, and insulation scenarios:

Density and weight: The relative density is only 1.6-2.0g/cm³, which is 1/4-1/5 of carbon steel and 2/3 of aluminum alloy. It is a typical "lightweight material". Taking a 10mm thick plate as an example, the weight per square meter is about 16-20kg, which is much lower than steel plates (78.5kg) and marble plates (27kg) of the same thickness, which can significantly reduce the structural load-bearing burden.
Thermal conductivity: The thermal conductivity is as low as 0.12-0.23W/(m・K), which is only 1/200 of steel (45W/(m・K)) and 1/900 of aluminum (204W/(m・K)). It has excellent thermal insulation effect and can reduce heat transfer losses. It is suitable for scenarios such as refrigerated trucks and building insulation layers.

Electrical properties: It is an excellent insulating material. The dielectric loss tangent value (tanδ) is <0.01 (at 50Hz), and the volume resistivity is >10¹⁴Ω·cm. It can still maintain stable dielectric properties in high-frequency environments. It is non-conductive and does not generate eddy currents. It can be used in electronic equipment casings, power insulation brackets, etc.

Light transmittance (optional): FRP plates with a transparent resin matrix have a light transmittance of 80%-90% (close to ordinary glass). They can be made into lighting panels and used for factory skylights and greenhouse ceilings, with both thermal insulation and lighting functions.
2. Chemical properties: corrosion resistance, weather resistance and environmental adaptability

Chemical properties determine its service life in harsh environments and are the core selection basis for chemical industry, marine, and outdoor scenes:

Corrosion resistance: Excellent resistance to acids (such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, concentration ≤30%), alkali (such as sodium hydroxide, concentration ≤20%), salts (such as seawater, salt water) and most organic solvents (such as ethanol, gasoline), no metal "rust", concrete "weathering", wood "mildew" problems, in chemical workshop floors, sewage treatment equipment, ocean platform guardrails and other scenarios, the service life can reach 15-20 years.

Weather resistance: After anti-UV modification (adding UV stabilizer), it can withstand the erosion of sunlight, rain, and alternating high and low temperatures (-50°C to 120°C). The annual aging rate is <1%. There will be no obvious fading, cracking, or performance degradation after outdoor exposure for 5-8 years. It is suitable for outdoor scenes such as outdoor billboards, highway noise barriers, cooling tower shells, etc.
Water resistance: The water absorption rate is extremely low (<0.5%). It will not absorb water or deform when soaked in water for a long time (such as swimming pool covers, water platforms), and there is no risk of microbial growth. It is better than wood (water absorption rate 10%-20%) and ordinary plastics (water absorption rate 1%-3%).

3. Mechanical properties: high strength, tough structural stability

Mechanical properties are the key to “conquering heaviness with lightness”, making up for the strength shortcomings of lightweight materials:
Tensile strength: The longitudinal tensile strength can reach 300-500MPa, which is close to ordinary carbon steel (345MPa). The transverse strength is about 60%-80% of the longitudinal strength. By adjusting the laying direction of glass fibers (such as two-way interweaving), isotropic strength can be achieved to meet structural load-bearing requirements (such as cooling tower brackets, building load-bearing partitions).

Flexural strength and toughness: The flexural strength reaches 200-400MPa, and the impact toughness (simply supported beam method) is >150kJ/m², far exceeding that of concrete (flexural strength <50MPa, impact toughness <5kJ/m²). It is not easy to break when impacted by external forces, and only produces local deformation. It is suitable for use in scenes prone to collisions (such as logistics turnover boxes, equipment protective panels).

Compression resistance and fatigue resistance: Compressive strength is about 150-300MPa, which can withstand long-term static loads (such as ground load-bearing plates); excellent fatigue resistance, with strength attenuation of <10% after 10⁶ cyclic load tests, and is suitable for long-term vibration environments (such as mechanical equipment shells).

4. Processing and design attributes: Flexible adaptation to diverse needs

The processing and design attributes determine the breadth of its application scenarios, which can meet the needs of customized and convenient production and installation:

Molding flexibility: Supports various molding processes such as molding, hand lay-up, winding, pultrusion, and vacuum introduction. It can be made into flat plates, curved plates, and special-shaped parts (such as curved shells, groove structures). Integrated molding can be achieved without complex splicing, reducing the risk of leakage (such as corners of refrigerated trucks, cooling tower deflectors).

Appearance customization: Any color (such as white, gray, imitation wood grain color) can be customized by adding color paste, and the surface can be processed into smooth surface, frosted surface, orange peel and other textures, taking into account both functionality and decoration, it is suitable for interior and exterior walls of buildings, interior decoration panels and other scenes.

Post-processing convenience: Moderate hardness (Barcol hardness 40-60), can be cut, drilled, polished, and bonded with ordinary tools (electric saw, electric drill, sandpaper), the processing efficiency is 30%-50% higher than that of metal materials, and there is no dust pollution (protection required), suitable for quick installation on site (such as modular exhibition halls, temporary isolation walls).

5. Safety and environmental protection attributes: in line with modern industry needs

Safety and environmental protection attributes are important guarantees for its application in civil and public scenarios:
Flame retardant (optional): After adding flame retardants (such as aluminum hydroxide, brominated flame retardants), it can reach level B1 (flammable) according to GB 8624-2012 "Combustion Performance Classification of Building Materials and Products". The self-extinguishing speed in case of fire is <30s, and no toxic smoke is produced (smoke toxicity reaches ZA1 level). It is suitable for crowded places such as shopping malls, subways, and factories.

Environmental protection: There is no emission of harmful gases such as heavy metals and formaldehyde during the production process. The product can be recycled and reused (pulverized and used as filler to re-mold). The recycling rate is more than 80%, which is in line with the "green and low-carbon" trend. There is no risk of soil pollution after disposal, which is better than non-degradable plastic sheets.
Safety: The material is tough and not easy to break. Even if it breaks, there are no sharp fragments (the edges are blunt). Compared with glass (which produces sharp residue after breaking) and stone (which easily produces flying debris after breaking), it is safer in human activity scenes (such as children's play facilities, indoor partitions).