A Basic Primer

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are engineered to resist corrosion and provide high strength-to-weight and modulus-to-weight ratios compared to steel and concrete. In simplest terms, a composite material is produced when two or more substances are combined to take advantage of their unique strengths while overcoming their weaknesses. The first use of composite materials can be traced back to 1500 B.C. where Egyptians and Mesopotamians mixed mud and straw to create strong buildings. In the 1900s, the development of plastics birthed synthetic resins. Owens Corning introduced the first glass fiber combined with polymer resins. Following WWII, composites made their way into cars, airplanes, and boats, among other things. …