Fiberglass Reinforced / FRP Pipe:

Fiberglass reinforced thermoset plastic pipe (or FRP pipe) is often the material of choice for corrosive process systems. This is due to a variety of factors, including:

• An ability to be tailored for a wide variety of corrosion resistant conditions 
• Light weight (less than 20% of steel, 10% of concrete)
• Excellent strength to weight (stronger than steel on an equal weight basis)
• Low coefficient of friction (>25% better than steel)
• Good dimensional stability
• Low thermal conductivity (saving insulation costs)
• Low long-term maintenance costs.

An evaluation of the total cost of the system, including all of the above variables, often demonstrates cost savings for FRP pipe vs. steel, with even greater cost savings over alternative alloy constructions.

Composites USA manufactures hand lay up and filament wound FRP pipe in all commercially available resin systems, including polyester, vinyl ester, furan, phenolic, and epoxy thermoset resin systems. Resin systems as well as reinforcements are tailored for specific applications. FDA compliant materials are available, as are flame retardant and dual containment FRP pipe systems.

The design of any pipe system must take into account many different factors. Corrosion allowances, operating pressure, vacuum, temperature, abrasion, flammability, electrical conductivity are just a few of the characteristics of the desired system that must be considered and addressed with proper choice of materials of construction. Mechanical design evaluates the strength of the pipe, the requirements for supports, thermal expansion compensation, burial loads, wind, snow and seismic considerations. Laminate analysis, and when required, finite element analysis is a part of the overall FRP pipe design solution.

The system analysis is completed using conventional techniques, substituting appropriate physical properties for the fiberglass system specified. A typical Specification for fiberglass pipe is also available on this web site.