Welcome to the world of Composites! A world made possible by the combination of dissimilar constituent materials comprising of a thermosetting or in some cases a thermoplastic resin matrix in combination with a fibrous reinforcement resulting in a Fiber Reinforced  Plastic or FRP as commonly known in India.

Composites are an unusually versatile and valuable family of materials which can solve problems, improve productivity and facilitate the introduction of new products in your market or business. It is important to  remember that with traditional materials, i.e.  sheet  steel, aluminum  bar  stock, magnesium die casting,  etc.,  the  fabrication process  shapes the material into final product form without  changing the  basic properties of the materials themselves. This is not  necessarily the case with composites. The properties and characteristics of composite materials are generally created at the same time as the product is being formed. In this way, composites are more  like  concrete than metals. That is, you create a concrete material system when the ingredients are mixed and allowed to set and cure. There are great benefits inherent in the versatile family of composite materials. But, there can also be real pitfalls if proper attention is not given to the initial design and testing phase and if adequate materials, process  and quality control procedures are not in place during  manufacture.  This requires knowledge of the materials and process in the design and evaluation phase of an application development to assure that the properties and benefits of composites have been optimized. Ineffective application of composite materials or processes may result in  cost/performance disadvantages. An additional benefit of working with composite materials is that models and prototypes can be produced which essentially duplicate the performance of the desired production part.  This allows comprehensive testing of the design before commitment to manufacturing investment.  

Thermoset  resins widely used in the field of FRP are special  due  to their  exceptional versatility. Depending on the processing  technique used,  one can obtain a product in the desired form and color from  a few  seconds to a few hours. The selection of appropriate  resin  type enables  the  designer to vary the service  temperature  capabilities, weather ability, chemical resistance properties, electrical properties,        fire  resistance  and adhesive characteristics of  the  finished  composite.

WHY USE COMPOSITES ?
Composites have come of age largely due to wide-spread recognition and acceptance  among  engineers, designers, manufacturers,  marketing  and management,  of the unique combinations of performance benefits  which these  materials  offer. Composite features translate into multiple benefits for manufacturers and consumers alike. By better understanding the benefits of composites, designers, engineers and others associated with turning designs concepts into product realities can make their jobs easier and more effective.  In any successful composite application, one or more of the following benefits will normally be at work:
 
 
        1.  High Strength
        2.  Light Weight
        3.  Design Flexibility
        4.  Dimensional Stability
        5.  High Dielectric Strength
        6.  Corrosion Resistance
        7.  Parts Consolidation
        8.  Finishing
        9.  Low Tooling Cost
       10. Standard Shapes
       11. Proven History of Successful Applications
 
 
Composites exhibit a higher strength to weight ratio than steel or aluminum and can be engineered to provide a wide range of tensile, flexural  and impact strength properties. The features  of  composites  provide  for a cost effective solution of numerous corrosion  problems with  the capability to incorporate design and optional  features  yet still  providing  lightweight structures which reduce the  demands  of cost on transport, installation and long term maintenance. 
 
THE FUTURE OF COMPOSITES : 
Although 50 years young, composites head the list of new materials that are changing the world. There is a materials  "revolution" underway. The growing family of composites impacts virtually every product and market. This revolution is sparked by new developments in the materials, the processes and end use applications of composites. Additionally, the benefit of designing composites precisely to fit the require- ments  of the applications is recognized and is being exploited in  an exciting  array of new applications. The 2000s present and even more promising picture as new developments in the composites industry are commercialized.