Composite, is the name given to the material obtained by combining two or more different materials to form a unique and superior material.
Using composite substances is not new. The early Egyptians and Mesopotamians discovered that mixing straw and mud together gave them an excellent composite building material to build strong, long lasting buildings, and straw was the main substance employed to provide reinforcement and strength in ancient products including boats and pottery.
In 1200 AD the first composite bow was invented by the Mongols using a combination of bone, wood and “animal glue” obtained from natural resins. The accuracy and power of these weapons contributed to the success of the Genghis Khan military.
Natural resins obtained from plants and animals were the glues and binders for these early composite mixes, but with the development of plastics in the 1900s the composite possibilities increased enormously as these new synthetic materials far outperformed the natural resins.
Plastics alone however lacked the strength for structural application but in 1935 Owens Corning produced the first glass fiber and now combining fiberglass with a plastic polymer an incredibly strong, resistant and lightweight material can be produced.
With the development of improved plastics resins and different reinforcing fibers the industry grew swiftly during the 1970s. Composite materials are now being widely used in wind turbine blades and other products related to renewable energy, and as production costs have decreased these materials are becoming more widely utilized in common products such as manhole covers and gratings.
Future developments will undoubtedly produce more exciting advances in the industry, and with the incorporation of recycled plastics and bio-based polymers the use of composites will continue to make our lives better.
Slight changes in the balance of the resin matrix and the type, amount and orientation of the fiber reinforcement used in the formulas can produce products with different qualities and advantages, and it can be a little confusing to be sure that the product you are buying is made from the material most adequate for the job in hand.
Many companies offer inferior quality composite manhole cover products made from Thermoset materials, such as BMC – bulk molding compound and FMC – fiber molding compound which do not offer the same strength and durability as other formulas.
At Briscover our composite manhole cover products are made from FRP – Fiber reinforced polymer or GRP – Glass reinforced polymer, which provide the maximum strength, resistance and performance. Our patented formulas include, UP – unsaturated polyester resin (Iso type resin, vinyl ester resin), glass fiber (E-glass 2400 Tex), ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer, Cr13, corundum and quartz, along with antioxidants, promotors, firming agents, UV additives and other auxiliary materials.
In our 60,000 square meter factory we produce composite manhole cover products which meet or exceed the most rigorous international standards and in 2013 our export sales were in excess of $40 million, making us China’s most respected leader in the field.
