As technology advances, numerous industries need parts with distinct qualities that traditional materials (such as steel, aluminum, or wood) cannot match. They require lightweight and robust solutions to satisfy their often-changing needs. Fiberglass dowels are the perfect solution. Continue reading to learn more.
What are fiberglass dowels?
A fiberglass dowel is a pultruded composite material created by drawing resin and continuous fiberglass roving through a pultrusion machine. Products made of composite materials differ significantly from those made of traditional materials. The majority of their structural characteristics come from fiber reinforcement.
Despite their considerable tensile strength, thin glass fibers can break easily. Conversely, most polymer resins are incredibly resilient and pliable while having a low tensile strength. But when blended, the fiber and resin balance out each other’s weaknesses, creating a far stronger and more functional material than each of them alone.
Fiberglass rebar has outstanding qualities like being lightweight, strong, elastic, dimensionally stable, flame retardant, insulating, non-thermal conductivity, and easily maintained. It also features a resin-rich coating on the surface that contributes to its improved corrosion resistance. This is the best material for corrosive engineering applications.
Typical applications of fiberglass dowels
Nowadays, fiberglass dowels find use in many industries, including infrastructure, construction, transportation, sporting, automotive, energy, oil and gas.
Buildings and infrastructure
Fiberglass rods are an excellent option for various outdoor construction projects because of their sustainability and durability. They are easy to mould, cut, and install with basic tools. For instance, flat beams are a common structural element for building projects and pultruded fiberglass bars can be utilized to create robust, corrosion-resistant walking surfaces. Railway crossing arms, highway sound barriers, corrosion-resistant guardrails, and bridge components are other applications for pultruded fiberglass bars. Their low maintenance needs reduce project expenses overall.
Automotive and aerospace
Fiberglass rods are functional in manufacturing drive shafts for the aerospace and automobile industries. They are incredibly effective, offering strong, lightweight solutions that boost performance, cut emissions, and increase fuel economy.
Outdoor, sporting, and recreational equipment
Fiberglass bars are perfect for use in various outdoor equipment since they can tolerate heat, moisture, sunlight, and severe wear. These range from high-end athletic gear to outdoor furnishings, including paddles, ski poles, sailing gear, and hockey sticks.
Outdoor equipment
Fiberglass poles are a great option for outdoor pursuits like camping and kite flying because of their high elasticity. They are flexible and long-lasting, making them a fantastic choice for weatherproof tents and shelters.
Utilities and telecommunications
Glass fiber reinforced dowels are not only strong but also superior insulators. Because of this, they are perfect for use in electrical applications like poles and transmission lines. Ladder rails, fiber optic cables, electrical lines, and trunking use these materials. Moreover, fiberglass dowels are transparent to radiofrequency and electromagnetic interference (EMI/RFI).
The bottom line
Fiberglass dowels are now vital to the modern manufacturing and construction industries. They have uses in different sectors because they are strong, lightweight, flexible, non-corrosive, weatherproof, and sustainable.
