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Does the "polymer" in CFRP directly and unambiguously imply the use of an epoxy resin?

aerodokuu
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  • Glass fibre often uses a polyester resin so I see no fundamental reason why carbon can't do the same. (Seems like a waste of carbon fibre though) – user_1818839 Jan 25 '17 at 22:29
  • CFRP actually is an abbreviation of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic – Donald Gibson Jan 25 '17 at 23:24
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    Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer is a more accurate rendering than ...Plastic, since the stuff in question is always a polymer, but is practically never thermoplastic, and need not be plastic in any respect. – achrn Jan 27 '17 at 16:02
  • Off: @Wasabi this was your 1000. first-post review. With it, you have the first steward badge of the site. – peterh Jan 27 '17 at 23:23

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No.

You could use other polymers. Polyesters, vinylesters, and epoxies are all common in fibre-polymer composites and could be used. You can also use other special stuff if you need, eg, fire performance.

Epoxies are common because if you're using carbon fibres (rather than a variety of glass) you are evidently looking for a high performance component. Of the commonly used polymers, epoxy is the family at the high performance end of the range. Epoxies typically out-perform other resins both in mechanical properties terms and in environmental degradation.

achrn
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