Difference Between Epoxy and Fiberglass Resin

The key difference between epoxy and fiberglass resin is that epoxy resins are made mainly from the reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A whereas fiberglass resin is made from the combination of alcohols and organic acids.

Epoxy resins and fiberglass resins are important materials that have enhanced chemical and physical properties.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Epoxy Resin 
3. What are Fiberglass Resin
4. Side by Side Comparison – Epoxy vs Fiberglass Resin in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Epoxy Resin?

Epoxy resin is a class of reactive pre-polymers and polymers containing epoxide groups. These resin materials can react either with themselves (via catalytic homopolymerization) or with other co-reactants such as polyfunctional amines, acids, phenols, alcohols and thiols to form cross-links. Therefore, these co-reactants are often named as hardeners or curatives. Similarly, the cross-linking process is named as curing. The product of this cross-linking or curing process is a thermosetting polymer material having favorable mechanical properties and high thermal and chemical resistance.

In the curing process of epoxy resin, there are several dozen chemicals that we can use as curative agents. Some examples include amines, imidazoles, anhydrides and photosensitive chemicals. Generally, the uncured epoxy resin material has poor mechanical, chemical and heat resistant properties. The curing of epoxy resins is an exothermic reaction. Sometimes, this reaction produces a sufficient heat that can cause thermal degradation of the resin if the conditions are not controlled.

There are many different applications of epoxy resins including, coating applications, adhesives, composite material production, industrial tooling applications, useful as bonding matrix along with glass or carbon fiber fabrics to produce composites with a high strength to weight characteristics, etc.

What is Fiberglass Resin?

Fiberglass resin is a synthetic material produced from the combination of alcohols and organic acids. We can prepare this resin in various forms as well. Also, this material can convert into gels, films, and liquids. Essentially, these resins are polyester materials and are useful for different purposes including its use as a casting material, a wood filling material, an adhesive, and for auto repairing processes. More importantly, this material has excellent adhesive properties and durability, which makes it useful to glue together materials having different properties.

Usually, we make prefabricated structures using fiberglass resin. Further, a lot of decorative materials and structures such as columns and false ceilings are also made often using fiberglass resins. This is mainly because this material is highly weatherproof and very strong.

In the field of automotive parts and spares, fiberglass resins are useful in manufacturing small and medium aircraft and carriers that use a lot of components made of this material. Fiberglass resin is a lightweight material which makes it an excellent material for aircraft applications. We can make body panels of cars, planes and boats using this material due to the same property. However, recently, it has been discovered that this resin material can absorb a considerable amount of water which has made it unsafe for use in boats.

What is the Difference Between Epoxy and Fiberglass Resin?

Epoxy resins and fiberglass resins are important materials that have enhanced chemical and physical properties. The key difference between epoxy and fiberglass resin is that epoxy resins are made mainly from the reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A, whereas fiberglass resin is made from the combination of alcohols and organic acids.

Below infographic tabulates side by side the differences between epoxy and fiberglass resin.

Summary – Epoxy vs Fiberglass Resin

Epoxy resins and fiberglass resins are important materials that have enhanced chemical and physical properties. The key difference between epoxy and fiberglass resin is that epoxy resins are made mainly from the reaction between epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A whereas fiberglass resin is made from the combination of alcohols and organic acids.

Reference:

1. Whitney, Nicole. Ingredients in Fiberglass Resin. 10 Jan. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “FiveMinEpoxy” By Taktoa – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia