FRP Electrical Conductivity and Insulation

Electrical Conductivity

Most resins, including thermoplastics and thermosets are electrical insulators. This property makes FRP suitable for such items as electrical utility poles and the circuit boards in electronics.

If electrical conductivity is needed, it is possible to make some composites conductive.

As such, conductive additives or fillers can be added into resins to produce electrically conductive resins and composite materials. At a specific concentration of conductive filler, electro- conductive channels are formed and the insulators are turned into semi-conductors.

Electrical Insulation

FRP contain excellent electrical insulation properties as well. Typically they consist of multiple layers of woven fiberglass saturated with various resins and compressed under heat and pressure to produce a thermoset composite.

To be specific, an electrical grade melamine resin is often used- as it provides excellent mechanical strength, high arc resistance, and thermal insulation. This self-extinguishing material also offers excellent electrical properties under dry conditions. Applications for these fiberglass composite materials include switchboard panels, arc barriers, circuit breaker parts, and numerous other structural and electrical parts.