Thursday, July 1, 2010

Fiberglass Construction-Reasons For High Popularity Of Fiberglass Construction

By Micheal Webb

There is marked global demand for fiberglass construction. Statistics indicate that nearly 70 % of the composite materials produced and used in modern industry is comprised by fiberglass. The major reasons for this are its versatility, its durability and its lightness of weight and its resistance to corrosion.

A brief description of fiberglass is needed to understand the details that make fiberglass construction very popular. In the first stage of its production we find liquid glass pouring out of very fine nozzles. After coming out of the nozzle the fibers are joined into a single strand which is wound around a spool. These strands are combined with other materials to produce a variety of products. One of the most notable product types is what is called glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. To produce this kind of material, the glass fibers are combined with a polymer resin, usually polyester. Polyester itself is a very fragile material, but the infusion of glass fibers into it makes it flexible and durable at the same time.

With their ability to trap air within themselves, fiberglass blocks were initially mainly used for the purposes of insulation. But over a passage of time, fiberglass has become a popular material with wider industrial use. Apart from thermal and electrical insulation, it is also used for purposes like sound absorption and reinforcement of various materials especially plastic products. It is used to make high strength fabrics, mats, pole vault poles, automobile bodies, swimming pool linings, roofing, furniture, goalie masks, skis, fishing rods, archery bows, surfboards and boat hulls. With such myriad uses, it is evident why fiberglass construction is quite in demand.

Because of the high tensile strength of fiberglass construction, the designers of products have better opportunities to actualize their artistic ideas. This is another very important reason why fiberglass is highly preferred in manufacturing over other materials. It can be formed into various shapes, given lots of functionality and combined with many different materials to produce exactly what the designer envisioned. Other convenient properties of fiberglass are its being lightweight, strong and non-corroding. It has a marked resistance to extreme temperatures, radiation and acidic chemicals. It can also be given different textures and colors, making it suitable for many kinds of products.

It is because of all these advantages that a lot of manufacturers want to go in for fiberglass construction. This is particularly true for those in the boat building industry. This is because it has been found that fiberglass contributes in a major way in building high-quality boats which are strong and durable. With the recent developments in technology of producing fiberglass, it has become a preferred choice of material for most boat manufacturers to build solid and laminated fiberglass hulls for boats and yachts.

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