Growth Factors and Drivers in FRP Pipes Manufacturing

In manufacturing we are always on the lookout for a better material, one that can withstand any environmental condition, is flexible enough to be shaped as we want, is durable and gives us good value for money. FRP products tick all these boxes. This is why it has been a hugely popular product ever since manufacturers found a way to mass produce it in an economic manner.

One of the most commonly found FRP product is the pipe. FRP pipe manufacturers supply to a range of fields, from industrial to construction. It has also emerged as one of the most favored alternative in these fields, slowly overtaking more conventional material like steel and aluminum. This is despite the fact that FRP can be more expensive than these metals.

Growth in FRP Market

Experts in India predict a robust growth for FRP pipes in India. This is a simple echo of the global upward trend. The global industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% in the 2015-20 time periods. The trend continues despite the recent slowdown in the global marketplace. The recovery of international market is only expected to boost it further.

The dominating end use industries in the FRP pipe manufacturing sector will be:

1. Oil & Gas industry
2. Retail Fuel
3. Water distribution
4. Wastewater management
5. Chemical/Industrial products
6. Pulp and Paper

As we can see most of the industries mentioned here deal with corrosive elements, such as oil, seawater and wastewater. In such areas FRP pipes are often the only viable alternative. Other materials like steel and aluminum do not have the corrosion resistance property or the durability. 

Globally, the major market for FRP pipes remains North America. It is followed by Europe and then the Asia Pacific region. However, the biggest boost in growth will come from Asia Pacific region which will soon lead the demand in FRP market. This is mostly because the region contains a number of emerging economies, which are engaged in furious industrialization and development of their infrastructure. Both these activities drive their FRP demands.

Drivers of growth

As mentioned above, growth in FRP pipe manufacturing seems linked to infrastructural and industrial growth.

Demand for better water distribution:

As a number of economies worldwide are now emerging, the demand within their population for better water distraction is inevitable. Coupled with this is the increasing health awareness. Consequently, governments are looking for pipes that are durable, can withstand constant water passage, underground conditions and be strong enough the supply. FRP pipes fit the bill perfectly.

Development of wastewater management:

Along with better water distribution, the need for effective and efficient wastewater management has also increased. In India alone there are a number of wastewater plants under construction. FRP pipes are often the only option for carrying the highly toxic wastewater.

Shale gas exploration:

Gas exploration again requires the transfer of oil and other natural extracts in liquid or viscous form. The challenge here is the high corrosive nature of the liquid. Even highly corrosion resistant materials slowly deteriorate over time. Hence, FRP pipes are often the only option available. With the rise in demand for natural gas, the demand for FRP pipes will also go up. 

Expanding offshore oil and gas industry:

Rising global demand for oil is driving up the expansion of offshore oil and gas industry. Here the FRP offers the only viable long-term solution not just because of the corrosive effects of oil and gas, but also because of the seawater that adds to the highly corrosive environment.

While the demand for water and wastewater management is driven by the developing economies of the Asia-Pacific region, the demand in oil exploration usually comes from North America and the Middle East. Apart from these factors the increasing urbanization and construction activities across the world are also adding to the rise in demand for FRP pipes.

Efforts by the FRP pipe manufacturers, such as introduction of onsite FRP pipe manufacturing facilities, lowering production costs and increasing customization has further added to the demand for FRP pipes. Many manufacturers are now also focusing on the rehabilitation of FRP pipes to lower its environmental impact.

Conclusion

With increasing urbanization and the ever increasing demand for oil and gas, FRP pipe manufacturers will continue to see robust growth.

How FRP Pipes Have Become Part of the Urban Landscape

FRP or fiber-reinforced plastic is a polymer matrix that has been reinforced with fibers like all composite materials, FRP combines the qualities of both the components to make a superior combination. The plastic by itself is weak, but when combined with fibers, it achieves a far superior tensile strength and stiffness.

These qualities enable us to mould FRP into pipes. FRP pipes are widely seen in industrial, commercial and residential properties. Because of its unique properties it finds wide usage in a range of fields, from aerospace to the construction industry. Although FRP is sometime confused with simple thermoplastic pipes like PVC, it is very different. The additional reinforcement of fibers give it a completely new character.

History

Although FRP is seen as a modern day product, it actually has a pretty old history. The history is FRP begins when scientists and entrepreneurs realized the existence of polymers and decided to blend two physically different elements for a composite element. The first such composite polymer was bake lite, introduced in 1909.

But it was later in the 1930s that interest in fiber reinforced plastic grew, thanks to the aviation industry. Soon various structures were made, from sheets to boats and planes. But it was still very much at an experimental stage. It was only after production technology and new products were invented/discovered that the mass production of plastics became possible, eventually surpassing steel.

Centrifugal casing and then filament winding brought in the industrial processing if FRP pipes. The process was refined to enable the production of small diameter pipes. Soon production picked up to come up with industrial quantities. It proved to be a big boon for industries like the oils industry where steel was proving too susceptible to corrosion. Soon the production and output was standardized with national and international standards.

FRP Pipes Today

Today fiber reinforced plastics have become so commonplace that they are almost a part of our landscape! They are used in many different ways gratings, cable trays, pipes, roofs, ducts, doors and different equipments. FRP pipes, once used mainly in the oil industry, have grown far and wide beyond that.

FRP pipe has high usability in a range of applications, from carrying water distribution networks to carrying flammable liquids. Let us look at some of these fields:

In wastewater management: Sewer water is highly corrosive and alternative pipe materials such as concrete, steel and aluminum is eventually corroded by its continuous flow. FRP, on the other hand, has a high resistance to such corrosive liquids. Although concrete still remains more prevalent here, FRP pipes are slowly making a wider appearance.

Oil and gas industry: What makes an FRP pipe ideal here is its high resistance to corrosion, ability to withstand pressure and its imperviousness to environmental factors like extreme temperatures. Unlike steel and aluminum, FRP does not get corroded over time while carrying crude oil and other such gases and oils. It can withstand high pressure applications that can go up to 4000 psi. It means that we can use it for carrying highly compressed liquids and gases. Since oil is often excavated in rather inhospitable terrains, such as under seabed, in desert or in the Arctic Circle, the FRP pipe’s resistance to environmental conditions also becomes important. It is often the preferred conduit in these extreme conditions. It can be buried under the earth or underwater without any fear of corrosion. Hence, FRP pipes have wide functionality in oil exploration, excavation, recovery and distribution.

Water distribution network: FRP pipes are already a common sight in many properties. Their light weight and durability means that these can easily be used to fit water systems in residential and commercial properties. However, they are yet have a better penetration in the municipal water systems where steel and concrete are used more often. But FRP’s ability to withstand corrosion and hydraulic pressure means that it can be a more suitable alternative. Many FRP pipe manufacturers are now working on facilitating a FRP pipe-based infrastructure.

Conclusion

Many manufacturers are now focused on the future of the FRP pipe. Given its many advantages, FRP can have a much deeper penetration in a number of industries and fields. Its anti-corrosive properties coupled with its high durability makes it ideal for carrying a number of liquids in extremely inhospitable terrains. 

Why You Should Invest in FRP Products

Fibre-reinforced plastic or FRP products are becoming increasingly common across various industries. Composed of a polymer matrix that has been strengthened with fibres, FRP products are incredibly strong. The fibres are typically made of glass, basalt, carbon and aramid. Occasionally other material such as wood, asbestos and paper is also used. 

Because of their many qualities, FRP products India are used in a wide range of industries. These include automotive, aerospace, construction, and marine. These products have replaced the more traditional steel and aluminium. For most manufacturing industries, FRP products have simply too many qualities to be ignored.

Lightweight: One of the biggest advantage of FRP is its light weight. FRP has the lowest weight to strength ratio among other similar manufacturing material. At the same strength it weighs one seventh of steel and about half the weight of aluminium. The lightweight matters when we are dealing with installations, such as overhead tanks. It can be even more useful when we have mount the product on an existing structure, as in the case of pipes or when it carries an otherwise heavy material. FRP’s strength with weight ensures that the overall weight can be kept at the minimum.

Resistance to corrosion: Because of their composition, FRP products are naturally resistant to corrosion. Most of their usage is seen in environment where other materials often fall short. They are often used to carry highly corrosive industrial chemicals and in extreme environmental conditions. These products can be submerged or be exposed to fumes, spills and splashes without any effect. Their corrosion resistant property is dependent on the resin content in the product and its laminate. Higher the resin, the more resistance it displays.

Low installation cost: The light weight of the FRP products India also makes it easy to install, bringing down the costs. This makes a significant difference when the product has to be mounted. The light weight means that one can use very basic equipment and manpower to mount it. All associated costs like cutting, welding and lifting are brought down.

Strength: Combined with the light weight, FRP’s strength is a great advantage. It means that we can use a material that is incredibly strong, yet light enough to be carried easily. This is why FRP is even used in ballistic armour. In areas where strength beats every other factor, FRP is used widely, such as in the automotive and aerospace industry.

Economical: There are other elements that show remarkable corrosion resistance as well as weighing light. These include materials like Hastelloy,titanium, Carpenter 20 and Monel. But these are relatively much more expensive. FRP is usually available at extremely economical prices, which is why it is seen in a much wider range of industries when compared to other similar high-grade material.

FRP is also economical in the long run. There are almost negligible maintenance costs because FRP does not rust, erode or chip away. It strength means that it also stays for a long time. Compared to other materials, there is rarely any need for regular maintenance here.

Flexibility: FRP is also very flexible. Combined with its strength, we have a material that can be moulded into many shapes — from elbows for pipes to big structures like tanks. It is also very economical to work with.

Ability to withstand impact: The strong FRP has the ability to withstand considerable impact, making it more than able to withstand heavy wear and tear. It is often deflected during mounting and installing without losing its shape. This means one has access to a material that can undergo rough and intense use without incurring heavy repair costs.

Fire resistant: Depending on the resin quantity and quality in its composition, the FRP will also show high resistance to heat and fire. This makes it suitable for automotive and aerospace usage. It will not melt, catch fire or get deformed. Its ability to keep its composition and shape intact means that it can be used extensively in area where we work with these two elements — fire and heat.

Conclusion

FRP products are fast replacing a number of traditional materials in manufacturing. Its combination of strength, lightweight, flexibility and resistance to heat and corrosive materials means that it has a wide applicability. It also puts it far ahead of the competition.