Fibre-reinforced plastic consists of a mixture of plastic resin and fibers. The polymer is a thermosetting plastic such as epoxy, vinyl ester, or polyester. FRP is used as a matrix material. A matrix is a material or substance that acts as a framework and serves as support for another material or substance.
FRP is formed from a polymer matrix reinforced with fibers. Glass fiber, carbon fiber, and aramid fiber are fibers that are commonly used. Fibers such as paper, wood, or asbestos are much less commonly used as raw materials for fibre-reinforced plastic. Additionally, it is stronger and stiffer than regular plastic.
Fibre-reinforced plastic is a composite material. Because FRP contains resin, it is resistant to high surface pressures. There are various resins used to make fibre-reinforced plastic chemically resistant.
Common applications of FRP can be found in the aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, and construction industries. It is also often used in ballistic weapons.
