Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) has another name called “Glass   Steel”inChina, because one of the main raw material for making FRP is glass. On the other hand, FRP is very strong and we say it is as strong as steel. However, FRP and steel are not the same materials and they have some differences in properties and characteristics.Now let us look at the main differences between fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) and steel.

First, their compositions are different.FRP is a fiberglass composite material consisting of glass fiber materials (fiberglass woven roving, fiberglass mat and fiberglass tissue) and chemical resins such as polyester resin, epoxy resin or phenolic resin.It is a non-metallic and inorganic material. However, steel is a metallic material, mainly composed of iron and other alloying elements.

Their strength and stiffness are different.Steel generally has high strength and stiffness and is a very strong and rigid material suitable for structures carrying large loads. In contrast, FRP has relatively low strength and stiffness, but still has enough strength to meet many general engineering applications, for example, FRP can make glass fiber boats. But if we want to make large ocean vessels, we need steel to make them because steel is stronger than FRP.

Their corrosion resistance is different. Steel is a metallic material and is easy to rust and corrode in certain environments, especially in humid, acid or alkali environments. FRP is in fact a kind of plastic and plastic does not rust and corrode. FRP has good corrosion resistance and can resist most chemical media and wet environment.

The density between FRP and steel is different.The density of steel is relatively high, generally around 7.8g /cm³. In contrast, FRP has lower density and it is a light weight material. Its density is usually between 1.5 g/cm³ and 2.0  g/cm³.

Their manufacturing processes are different.Steel usually requires metallurgical processing and molding, including processes such as melting, casting, forging and welding. The FRP uses a composite manufacturing process, including fiber placement, resin impregnation and curing steps.There are several processes for making FRP, among which the hand lay-up process is the most commonly forming method for making FRP.

They have different electrical conductivity. Steel is a good electrical conductive material and suitable for applications where electrical conductivity is required. Nevertheless, FRP is a non electrical conductive material, especially the FRP product made from E-glass cloth which has very good electrical insulation properties and can be made into various kinds electrical insulation components.

The above are the main differences between FRP and steel. Customers can choose the suitable material which can meet the specific requirements.