The Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) is a composite material, consisting of a resistant fiberglass structure and a plastic material that acts as a binder. Fiberglass reinforcement provides the compound with mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance. The plastic resin provides chemical resistance, dielectric and weathering behavior.
Advantages of the GRP:
- Structural strength, excellent mechanical properties.
- Unalterable to corrosion in acid and saline environments.
- 4 times lighter than steels of equivalent mechanical strength.
- Thermal, electrical and acoustic insulation.
- High resistance to impact and fatigue.
- High fire resistance (using flame retardant resins).
- Null maintenance
- Easy handling
- Fast machining and great variability of shapes and colors.
There are many technologies for the transformation of the GRP. In Miraplas we are specialized in many of them and we use them in each case to obtain the best performance in times, qualities and prices.
Among the transformation techniques, the most used by Miraplas are:
-
Manual Lamination: it is the most used system in industrial parts, it is to impregnate the fibers manually with a roller and then adapt them and eliminate bubbles with ring rollers.
-
Infusion: consists of placing the fibers dry on the mold and making a vacuum with a bag. The resin enters the piece due to the depression of the vacuum created.
-
RTM Light: it has the same operation as the infusion but semi-rigid countermoulds are used instead of a bag, low pressure injection machines are used to aid in the distribution of the resin.
-
RTM: completely rigid mold and countermold, the fibers are placed dry, the vacuum is performed and the resin is injected under pressure.
- Injection: mold and completely rigid countermold, the fibers are placed dry, and the resin is injected under pressure. In this case without vacuum help.
-
Pressing: on a rigid mold the pieces are laminated manually and once the piece is finished and before starting the curing, a countermould is placed by pressing the piece.