| Fibre-reinforced plastic or fibre-reinforced polymer | | | | components in an airplane could bring about a |
| (FRP) are composite materials made up of a polymer | | | | tremendous reduction in production and operational |
| matrix strengthened with fibres. The fibers are | | | | costs and enhanced fuel savings. |
| generally fiberglass, carbon, or aramid, while the | | | | Glass fiber reinforced polymers |
| polymer is typically an epoxy, vinylester or polyester | | | | Here let us take an example from the field of |
| thermosetting plastic. FRPs are most commonly used | | | | automotive engineering, preferably the instance of an |
| for various industrial and commercial applications in the | | | | engine intake manifold made from glass fiber |
| aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction | | | | reinforced PA 66. An intake manifold is a part of an |
| industries. FRP can be used for strengthening the | | | | engine that supplies fuel or air mixture to the cylinders. |
| beams, columns and slabs in buildings. A | | | | Some of the major advantages of glass fiber |
| fibre-reinforced plastic is cost-effective, faster, and | | | | reinforced polymers over caste aluminum manifolds |
| easier to manufacture than cast aluminum or steel, and | | | | are: |
| sometimes retains excellent material strengths. The | | | | - Tremendousreduction in weight |
| commonly used fibre reinforced plastics could be | | | | - Improvement in surface quality and aerodynamics |
| classified into: Carbon fiber reinforced polymers and | | | | - Enormous reduction in components by combining |
| Glass fiber reinforced polymers. | | | | simpler molded parts. |
| Carbon fiber reinforced polymers | | | | If automotive gas and clutch pedals aremade from |
| Let us take an example from the aviation industry. | | | | glass fiber reinforced PA 66, it offers numerous |
| Manufacturing the rudder of an A310 Airbus using | | | | advantages over stamped aluminum. This includes: |
| carbon fiber reinforced polymers will offer significant | | | | - Pedals can be molded as single units using a |
| benefits when compared to a a traditional rudder | | | | combination of both pedals and mechanical linkages. |
| made from sheet aluminum. The major advantages | | | | This simplifies the production and operation of the |
| include : 25% reduction in weight and 95% reduction in | | | | design. |
| components by combining simpler molded parts. | | | | - Fibers are flexible enough to be strengthened against |
| This example reveals that the use of carbon fiber | | | | specific stresses. This increases their durability and |
| reinforced polymers for the manufacture of | | | | safety. |