Updated Articles and Resources

By Todd Johnson, About.com Guide

Uses of Fiberglass Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Fiberglass reinforced polymers are the original composite materials. They remain the back-bone of the composites industry. Learn about glass fiber and what products are made with this composite.
Composite Materials in Boats Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Some form of composites have been used in boats since man first ventured into the sea. But modern FRP composite materials in boats is still relatively new.
Carbon Fiber In Sporting Goods Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
If one wants to be the best in sports, then chances are they need to use carbon fiber. Be it in the sole of running shoes or used in the shaft of an arrow, carbon fiber dominates the sporting goods..
Applications of Carbon Fiber Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
Carbon fiber has properties that make it desirable in many applications. Learn about what products have adopted this lightweight and durable material.
Composite Materials In Aerospace Created: Monday, April 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 30, 2012
The material of choice for aerospace is carbon fiber. Learn about the composites that are dominating the future of aerospace.
Carbon Fiber Basics Created: Monday, April 16, 2012 Updated: Monday, April 16, 2012
Carbon fiber is an amazing material. Learn the history of carbon fiber, and understand why this composite material is stronger then steel.
FRP - Fiber Reinforced Polymers Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
FRP is an acronym for
Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastics Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Polyethylene Terephthalate, better known as PET, is perhaps the most common and widely used plastic today. Learn about this durable plastic known as PET.
PP Plastics - Polypropylene Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Polypropylene is a versatile plastic used in many places in our life. Learn about this plastic and the myriad of uses.
Reuse Plastic Polymers Created: Saturday, March 31, 2012 Updated: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Learn how plastic polymers can be reused and transformed into new products.
Composite Material Distributors Created: Friday, March 30, 2012 Updated: Friday, March 30, 2012
The composite material distributor provides a great deal of value to the composites industry. Learn about the basics of composites distribution, and the service provided.
Plastics Used Everyday Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Learn about the plastics we used day in and day out. What are the most common types of plastics we use.
Polypropylene - What Is Polypropylene Created: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, February 29, 2012
What is polypropylene? The versatile plastic polypropylene is used throughout our daily life, and has become a common piece for packaging and plastic products.
PET Plastics - What Are PET Plastics? Created: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, February 28, 2012
What are PET plastics? Learn about the plastic used in water and soda bottles, and how PET plastic is recycled.
Recycling Plastics - The Plastic Recycling Process Created: Sunday, February 26, 2012 Updated: Sunday, February 26, 2012
Recycling plastics is not a easy as it sounds. Learn the basics of the plastic recycling process.
What Are Plastics Created: Thursday, February 23, 2012 Updated: Thursday, February 23, 2012
Plastics are everywhere, but what are plastics? Learn the basics of this polymer material that has taken over our life.
Converting Composite Fabric Weights - Ounces Per Square Yard to Grams Per Square Meter Created: Saturday, May 14, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Converting composite fabric weights to the same unit of measurement is important when comparing two materials. Learn the conversion of grams per square meter to ounces per square yard.
Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Created: Thursday, February 03, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Learn about the various companies around the world that manufacture raw carbon fiber used in lightweight composite products.
Composites 101 Created: Saturday, February 05, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Learn the basics of composite materials. Find out what makes carbon fiber lightweight and strong or simply, what makes a composite... a composite.
How To Carbon Fiber: The Basics of Using Carbon Fiber Created: Monday, October 24, 2011 Updated: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Discover how to carbon fiber, the guide for learning the various aspects of carbon fiber composites and how to work with the lightweight composite material know as carbon fiber.
Composite Fabrics - Cloths Used In Composites Created: Monday, January 30, 2012 Updated: Monday, January 30, 2012
Structural fibers like carbon fiber are manufactured into cloths and fabrics that are then used in composite manufacturing.
Laminating Resins - Basics of Composite Laminating Resins Created: Sunday, January 29, 2012 Updated: Sunday, January 29, 2012
Laminating resins are the foundation of composite material manufacturing. Learn about the various components that make laminating resins unique.
Composite Prepregs - How To Select A Prepreg Created: Sunday, January 22, 2012 Updated: Sunday, January 22, 2012
There are many different prepreg types to select from. Decide what type of resin and fiber to use in your prepreg composite.
Prepregs - What Are Prepregs Created: Thursday, January 19, 2012 Updated: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Prepregs are pre-impregnated fiber reinforcements or cloths that are used to manufacture composites. Learn the basics of prepregs here.
Composite Core Materials - Learn About The Core Materials Used In FRP Composites Created: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 Updated: Saturday, December 31, 2011
Core materials are used in composites to provide strength and stiffness without adding much additional weight. Learn about the most common composite core materials.
Resin Infusion - How to Begin Vacuum Infusion Created: Saturday, December 31, 2011 Updated: Saturday, December 31, 2011
Using resin infusion to manufacture composites is not difficult. Learn about the basic components that will be needed to convert to the vacuum infusion process.
Epoxy Resin - What are Epoxy Resins Created: Friday, December 30, 2011 Updated: Friday, December 30, 2011
Epoxy resins are advanced thermosetting resins used in FRP composites. Learn the basics of this resin, the chemistry, and the uses of epoxy.
Introduction to Vacuum Infusion Created: Thursday, December 29, 2011 Updated: Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Vacuum Infusion Process (VIP) is method of manufacturing composite products using a vacuum to remove the air and
Examples of Composites - Around the House Created: Sunday, December 25, 2011 Updated: Sunday, December 25, 2011
There are numerous examples of composites, many of which can be seen around the house. Learn about what every day products are manufactured with FRP composites.
Vinyl Ester Barrier Coats Created: Monday, October 31, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Vinyl ester barrier coats are used to back up a gel coat and are used to improve properties and increase cosmetic appearance. Learn about VE barrier coats and their application.
Composite Resin Basics - Polyester and Vinyl Ester Created: Sunday, February 27, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Polyester and vinyl ester resins are the two most common resins used in FRP composites. Learn why these resins work so well.
Thermoplastic vs Thermoset Resins Created: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thermoset vs thermoplastic composites, what is the difference? Both have advantages and there is demand for both thermoplastic and thermoset composites.

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