What is the advantage of composite solutions

The thermosetting organic matrices (type polyester resins, acrylic or epoxy, for example) are very stable over time, much as thermoplastic matrices. They also offer guarantees of known mechanical performance and which have proven themselves over several decades today, unlike thermoplastics (ceramic matrices are fragile and above all very expensive, as for mineral matrices - concrete type - they could be considered, but by concrete specialists for example).

These thermosetting matrices therefore are very advantageously reinforced by numerous fibers today.

If we insulate well, “electrically”, with composites reinforced with glass fibers, basalt, aramid, or even with new fibers from the plant world (flax, sisal, hemp, etc.), for various reasons, only reinforcements based on glass fibers seem to us today suitable for this application.

While jointly offering good mechanical characteristics and proven performance over time, these glass fibers, available in a wide variety of types (depending on their precise chemical composition and that of their surface sizing) and shaping (linear density of the roving tape, density and method of obtaining mats or fabrics) are still and always the most economical.

Their supply is common, reliable and long-lasting. What is more, associated with the aforementioned resins, they allow the production of materials having entirely commendable environmental performance.

Benefits

• Very high mechanical characteristics;

• Low density (and therefore ease of transport, handling, installation);

• Excellent thermal insulator;

• Electrical insulator (from 3 to 20 kV / mm);

• Low expansion;

• Excellent resistance to external aggressions (chemical corrosion, IR or UV radiation, and even to graffiti);

• Transparency to electromagnetic waves;

• Tinted in the mass without additional cost;

• Specific aesthetic qualities;

• Great shock absorption capacity;

• Very favorable ecological balance;

• Not toxic to humans or the environment;

• Few scarce primary resources for their manufacture;

• No maintenance;

• High durability (some of our products have still been in service for 40 years);

• Energy savings during operation (thermal insulation, low density, etc.);

• Recyclable.

"High performance" materials

The diagram opposite highlights the elastic properties of a glass/resin composite (from pultrusion):

High resistance (which can exceed 1000 Mpa in the case of long fiber composites only) with an elongation much greater than that of metals.

This results in moduli of elasticity of 20 to nearly 50 Gpa for profiles reinforced with glass fiber (and which can climb from 150 to 400 Gpa with carbon fiber composites).

Note also that the impact resistance of these glass/resin composites is another advantage in terms of safety.

Economic properties

Two diagrams for positioning fiberglass-reinforced composites versus metals and timber.

The first diagram shows a breakdown of the cost structure of a structure according to the materials used for its realization.