GRP Pipe Suppliers Using Range of Resins During Production

1. FRP and GRP products are made of composites. In this article, GRP pipe suppliers will discuss the types of resins they use for production of fiber glass products. The major purposes of the resin are to transfer stress between the reinforcing fibers, protect them against environmental and mechanical damage, and hold the fibers together. There are generally two types of resins used by manufacturing units – thermoset and thermoplastic. Thermoplastic resin becomes soft when heated and manufacturers can shape or mold it in heated semi-fluid form and once it is cooled, rigid product is formed. Thermoset resin is different. It is usually liquid or low melting point solid. Manufacturers cure the thermoset resin to produce finished products. They use catalyst, heat or both for curing purposes. When the curing process is completed, manufacturers cannot convert the solid thermoset into their original liquid form. Manufacturers use HDT (Heat Distortion Temperature) and Glass Transition Temperature (TG) to scale the softening of a cured resin. Both these test methods measure the approx temperature at which cured resin will soften to yield under load. Some common resins used in the composites industry are epoxies, unsaturated polyesters, phenolics, and vinyl esters. In this post, we will discuss them in detail.

2. Polyester Unsaturated polyester resins are the critical composites used by industry. Thermoset polyesters are developed by the condensation polymerization process. In this process, the experts use dicarboxylic acids and difunctional alcohols (glycols). When polyester is cured, the monomer reacts with the unsaturated sites on the polymer and this reaction converts the polyester resin to a solid thermoset structure. Epoxy Epoxy resins are used in composite parts, concrete repairs and composite structures. Epoxy resin is better than unsaturated polyester resin as it has low shrinkage. Manufacturers can formulate epoxy resin with distinct materials to achieve specific performance features. These resins are used for manufacturing high performance composites that should possess superior mechanical properties, great resistance to environments and acids, great performance at high temperatures, etc. Vinyl ester Vinyl esters were used to combine benefits of epoxy resins with better handling cure. Manufacturers avail this resin by reacting epoxy resin with acrylic or methacrylic acid. Vinyl esters provide mechanical toughness and superb corrosion resistance. There are few more resins that GRP pipe suppliers and manufacturers use for production. You can know about them in detail later. This Article is Originally Published on: https://onmogul.com/stories/grp-pipe-suppliers-using-range-of-resins-during-production