Fiberglass Prepregs Are Hot Right Now – Here’s Why
Fiberglass prepregs are among the many products we carry here at Axiom. That is a good thing because these products are hot right now. Customers are especially interested in nonwoven glass fiber prepregs ideally suited for a variety of applications. If you are not familiar with fiberglass composites and prepregs, you might be confused as to why.
We will explain all of that momentarily. But first, let us take a brief look at the market. According to the latest research study from USD Analytics, the current market for nonwoven fiberglass prepregs is estimated at $1.05 billion. That number is expected to reach at least $2 billion by 2032. It represents a capital CAGR of 8.3%.
North America and Europe should continue being the largest consumers of fiberglass prepregs, but the report suggests growth will be highest in the Asia-Pacific region. Worldwide, demand for fiberglass prepregs should continue unabated for the foreseeable future.
More About Fiberglass Prepregs
A fiberglass prepreg is a composite material that combines a glass fiber fabric with a polymer resin. The fabric is impregnated with resin at the factory, meaning it is ready for immediate layup as soon as it comes out of the package. Fiberglass prepregs can be presented as woven or nonwoven materials.
A woven material features a glass fiber fabric in which all the fibers are aligned in one direction. Nonwoven material is just the opposite. Fibers are embedded in the material in random directions. The benefit of creating a fabric in this way is providing more isotropic properties compared to unidirectional fiber orientations.
Why Manufacturers Want Them
So why are fiberglass prepregs such a hot item in the current composites market? Because they offer manufacturers so much to work with. Here are the key advantages they bring to the table:
1. Uniformity and Consistency
Random fiber orientation provides more consistent properties across the entire surface of a fiberglass composite. By contrast, unidirectional fiber orientation offers maximum strength and stiffness in the direction of the fibers, but minimal strength and stiffness when loads are applied in other directions.
2. Increased Conformability
Although woven fiberglass prepregs can be molded into rather complex shapes, nonwoven materials are easier to work with thanks to increased conformability. Nonwoven materials more easily conform to the most complex molds without sacrificing resin consistency.
3. Better Resin Control
Controlling resin volume and consistency is critical in composite fabrication. Manufacturers need to be extra careful when dealing with traditional materials requiring manual resin application. Prepregs offer the advantage of more consistent resin control. They also make it possible for manufacturers to optimize the resin-to-fiber ratio for each project.
4. Easier Material Handling
Fiberglass prepregs are ready for molding out of the box. Prepreg manufacturers partially cure the material before packaging, making prepregs slightly tacky. This makes them easier to handle as they are shaped into complex molds.
Easier handling makes for more efficient layups compared to utilizing dry fibers and manual resin applications. Layup time is reduced while production increases.
5. Layup Versatility
The icing on the cake is the versatility fiberglass prepregs are known for. Fiberglass prepregs can be utilized with compression molding, autoclave curing, and vacuum bagging processes. All the while there is no compromise of material strength and durability.
We are not surprised by market reports showing a high demand for fiberglass prepregs. We know from our own experience that these materials are incredibly attractive to a variety of industries, including automotive manufacturing, marine manufacturing, aerospace, and even consumer electronics. Fiberglass prepregs are not right for every application, but they are the best choice for so many.