MANUFACTURING AND PROPERTIES OF FIBER- REINFORCED POLYMERS (FRPS)

Abstract

Composite materials have emerged as the most promising and distinguished materials of the current era. Today, there is a growing emphasis on composites reinforced with fibers made from either synthetic or natural materials due to increasing demands for lightweight yet strong materials for specific purposes in various industries. Fiber-reinforced polymer composites offer not just a high strength-to-weight ratio but also exhibit outstanding characteristics such as durability, stiffness, damping ability, flexural strength, and resistance to corrosion, wear, impact, and fire. These extensive and varied features have resulted in the widespread adoption of composite materials across mechanical, construction, aerospace, automotive, biomedical, marine, and other manufacturing sectors. The performance of composite materials largely relies on their components and the manufacturing processes involved. Therefore, it is essential to study the functional properties, classifications, and manufacturing methods of different fibers available globally in order to determine the optimal characteristics of the material for specific applications. This paper provides an overview of a wide range of fibers, including their properties, functionality, classifications, and various manufacturing techniques used in creating fiber composites. The aim is to identify the most suitable fiber-reinforced composite material for significant applications. Due to their exceptional performance across various fields, fiber-reinforced composite materials have emerged as a promising alternative to individual metals or alloys.