The Main Types of Fiberglass Resin

This guide from RXfiberglass.com focuses on what type of fiberglass resin to use in a specific application. Each fiberglass resin has properties and characteristics that make it suitable for a particular application! The various scenarios will be discussed in detail below. As you explore the benefits of fiberglass resin types, think of it as a Rube Goldberg machine. Every component of the fiberglass manufacturing process can cause quality and consistency issues at any step in the process. That is why there are so many variations on a core theme!

However, let’s start with a simple outline of fiberglass resin, why it’s used, and the three most common resin options.

1. As it turns out, epoxy is the most commonly used fiberglass resin. It offers good performance, but it is expensive. Vinylester is less costly, but it is weaker than epoxy. Polyester resin has advantages over vinylester and epoxy, making it an ideal solution for various applications. Epoxy is famous for making boats, car bodies, and different industrial parts. It is also very versatile and often used as an alternative to polyurethane or polyurea foams.

2. Vinylester (vinyl ester) resins make boat hulls and parts that require durability. Vinylester resins are solid and flexible, making them an excellent choice for boat hulls because they’re dependable and used to build structures like high-end yachts and jet ski hulls.

3. Polyester resin is a material that is used in various types of construction. It is used to make large-scale items such as the hulls of ships, aircraft, yachts, and boats. Polyester resin is very rigid, making it suitable for large-scale items. It’s also used in large-scale manufacturing items such as ships, aircraft, and yachts.

Note: One more (not so famous) option of resins in the mix is Aramid (Kevlar). Kevlar is a synthetic fiber made from aramid, a natural polymer. It is used in the manufacturing of clothing and safety equipment. You can see the details about the uses of fiberglass in our corporate Construction and Building industry.

Some of the Significant Differences Between the 3 (Epoxy resin, Vinylester Resin, and Polyester Resin) are Listed Below!

Epoxy Resins:

-Low cost

-Relatively easy to apply

-Stable

-Has excellent UV resistance

-Longer working time

Vinylester Resins:

-Less expensive than Epoxy resins

-More stable and stronger

-Speedy cure

-Not suitable for specific applications

-No UV resistance

Polyester Resins:

-Very economical

-More brittle than epoxy resins

-Less stable than Epoxy and Vinylester resins

-No UV resistance

-Low temperature resistant

Which RESIN is for You?

Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the suitable resin for you can be a callous decision to make and will most likely depend on personal preferences and what you want your finished product to be.

Epoxy resins are very strong but have some limitations. They can handle heat well and can be used to coat carbon fiber. Their drawbacks include being messy, hard to work with, and having a high initial cost.

Vinylester resins are stronger than epoxies. They are usually used for glass and carbon fiber and can also be used to coat carbon fiber. This resin type is somewhat of an intermediate and requires less knowledge about working with resin than epoxy.

Polyester resins are more potent and have better weathering characteristics than other resins. They are used for most types of fiberglass and also used for molding plastics.

There is much more to learn about fiberglass resin, but there is enough to get you started. What is your fiberglass resin of choice? Let us know in the contact form! Read more about the Uses of Fiberglass here.