La fiberglass o VTR, is a type of glass reinforced plastic, in the form of fabrics or TNT (non-woven fabric, felt with randomly oriented fibers) impregnated with thermosetting resins, generally liquid and based on polyester, vinyl ester, which harden after processing by the intervention of catalysts and accelerators.
It is also known as;
glass reinforced plastic o GRP (glass-reinforced plastic)
glass fiber reinforced plastic o GFRP extension (glass fiber-reinforced plastic)
GFK (Glasfaserverstärkter Kunststoff) or as fiberglass or fiberglass from the name of the material that constitutes them, together with the plastic matrix.
Fiberglass was for the first time made in Italy in the research center of the University of Bari in 1926 by the Engineer Dominic Montaruli, following the studies of ultralight materials requested by the Macchi Air Force.
There are various production methods here are the main ones:
Hand Lay-Up
The resins, suitably added with catalysts and accelerators, which determine their polymerization, are spread with the aid of brushes and hair rollers on the glass fabrics, placed on open molds, impregnating them.
Solidification of resins it incorporates the glass fibers giving rise to the fiberglass.
With the process of spreading on a form, the design is copied; in this way it is possible to create products of various sizes, thicknesses, sturdiness, solidity, weight, color
Resin Transfer Molding
In this process, glass fibers are deposited dry on the mold open, the mold is closed with a counter-mold, locking it with mechanical or hydraulic locks, and finally the necessary quantity of catalyzed resin is injected into it by means of pneumatic pumps.
RTM light
Method similar to the previous one, but the closure between the mold and the counter-mold is obtained by creating the air vacuum inside, injecting the resin from the outer perimeter of the mold and extracting the air from the center of the mold.
Filament winding
Process for the production of cylindrical pipes and tanks, consists of winding a rotating cylinder, generally metallic, which acts as a mold and will then be pulled out, in a continuous thread impregnated with catalyzed resin.
Since the XNUMXs, fiberglass has been used to make cars, boats, swimming pools and tanks.
Being a very light and solid product, it is used for these characteristics in aeronautical sector, in the construction of wind turbines, sports equipment, pipes, silos, tanks.
Another property is the poor electrical conductivity, for this feature it is often used for the construction of covers of electrotechnical equipment.
È used, as well as for the racing vehicles, which require lightness, also to create purely aesthetic add-ons for bodywork or fairings. It is also used in the space industry given the property of resisting explosive decompression.
In medical sector is used to produce specials protections and bandages, which, just like gypsum, allow the healing of dislocations and bruises (process commonly called by doctors "fiberglass bath").
Since the early seventies it has also been employed in construction of fishing rods. Due to the resistance and cost-effectiveness of the application, even after the introduction of carbon tools, the production of this type of rods has not ceased, and it is still possible to buy them today.
Source: wikipedia.it
