Todd's Composites / Plastics Blog

As I write this on my laptop made up of printed circuit boards (PCB's), which happen to be glass fiber reinforced composites, I think about the many uses of fiberglass.

I will not even try to start listing all the uses of glass fiber reinforced composites, but I will list my personal favorite: the surfboard...

The sun on your face, the wind at your back, those that sail know that not much tops the experience. Now a days, if you are to get into boating or sailing, you better start to learn about composites.

Composites in boats is the bread that makes a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That may not make sense, but the reality is almost every boat manufactured today uses composites. (For obvious reasons.) If you plan on buying a boat, you better learn up on composites and find out what your boat was made with and how.

There is a big difference in a boat that has a plywood core and was hand layed-up vs a boat that was resin infused with epoxy, carbon fiber, and PVC foam core.

Now, time to go sailing.

Recently I have been writing about how great carbon fiber is and how it is revolutionizing the aerospace industry, but today I will be yet again be riding the carbon fiber bandwagon.

Carbon fiber in sporting goods, it is insane how many high end sporting products use carbon fiber. In fact, I am trying to think of sports that DO NOT use carbon, and I cannot. I thought, bowling, but then remembered that the wrist guards bowlers wear are made from CF. How about swimming or waterpolo. Nope, swimsuits are using carbon and the ear guards on a waterpolo cap sometimes are CFRP.

Can you name any?  What about curling?

Carbon fiber is showing up everywhere. Just yesterday I saw an older Porsche totally wrapped in carbon fiber. I have to say, it looked awesome. Because I was on the freeway I did not have a chance to take a picture, but believe me when I say it was awesome.

The 3k carbon weave is growing to become a sexy part of design and manufacturing.

Composites are starting to dominate the aerospace industry, and for good reason. Lighter weight planes are more efficient and jet fuel, is not cheep.

Recently I saw one of the display 787 Dreamliners and I was blown away. It is the perfect example of design and function working together. I cannot wait until my first 787 flight...

I feel like carbon fiber is continuing to become more and more popular. It doesn't seem like a week goes by that the mainstream media isn't mentioning this "new material" saving weight in cars or planes. In fact, USA Today just had an article on Ford teaming up with Dow to use carbon fiber to shed over 750lbs in passenger cars.

Well, I would have to agree, this material is awesome.

What do you know about FRP Composites? If you don't know, now you know...

Intro To FRP Composites

Properties of FRP Composites

Hardness of FRP Composites

CFRP Composites

Polyethylene terephthalate, are you familiar with it?

Actually, you probably are. More commonly known as PET, this plastic is the workhorse of the consumer plastic industry. It is used in everything from soda bottles to clothing. So, chances are you are very familiar with this plastic...

Polypropylene plastics, commonly refereed to as "PP Plastics" are everywhere. But, traditionally they are not reinforced with fiber such as fiberglass.

However, today prepregs are being manufactured using PP and continuous glass fiber. This composite material is getting the best properties of the plastic such as toughness, and the the properties of the fiberglass, like tensile strength. Together, there are some great applications for this unique composite type.

You have probably heard the saying, reduce, reuse, recycle. But, are you actually doing this?

When it comes to plastics, reusing plastic polymers is much more difficult then it sounds. The many different grades and types make it extremely difficult to sort and not contaminate.