THE MOST BASIC TYPES OF FRP GRATINGS
In our last post, we told you 5 things you need to know about FRP Grating. For those of you that are not familiar with Fibre Reinforced plastic/polymer grating, this article will give you a simplified summary and helpful background on FRP before you dive into reading this post.
For those of you that ARE familiar with FRP, read on and learn more about factors to consider when selecting your grating in addition to how FRP gratings are commonly categorised in the industry.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING YOUR FRP GRATING
Choosing the right grating and correct resin for your application areas depends on two factors:
Environment Factors or Application area
Chemical exposure level
Temperature
Humidity factors
UV exposure
Desired Fire rating
Loading Requirements
Load Rating
Structural Support Span
THE TWO MOST BASIC METHODS OF CATEGORISING FRP
The two most basic methods of categorising FRP (Fibre Reinforced plastic/polymer) gratings are by:
Method of manufacturing/ production
Type of resin (thermosetting) used
There are other sub-categories within this broad classification that are based on application areas. These include:
Type of surface finish
Load rating requirements
Other special requirements such as UV exposure, Fire rating, Colour etc.
1. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING/PRODUCTION
Moulded FRP Gratings
Moulded FRP gratings are manufactured using the following process:
Laying or Weaving glass fibres
This step involves laying continuous glass fibres in the mould in vertical & horizontal directions. These are thoroughly wetted by the chosen resin (layer by layer).
Heating & Curing
After the completion of the weaving process, the mould is heated for curing the panel.
Ejecting the Panel
After the curing process is completed, the panel is ejected from the mould.
Standard panels would have a meniscus (concave) top surface finish. Based on requirements we bond grit to the surface or finish the surface to have a plain finish. These are called secondary operations.