FRP: Here’s How the Super Material Is Shaping Our Future

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FRP: Here’s How the Super Material Is Shaping Our Future

here's nothing quite like the 60s when it comes to mainstream science fiction - Arthur C Clarke was inventing satellites (as fiction, which became a fact), Isaac Asimov was drawing up the 3 laws of robotics, and Star Trek was on TV. The last 20 years, however, seem to have been all about creating reality, from what was previously fiction: cell phones, 3D printers, hoverbikes, facial recognition... even Iron Man's suit is a reality!

What makes Iron Man's suit possible isn't iron of course, but new materials that are lighter, stronger and much more flexible. Ditto the latest must-have phones - made of 'glass' that doesn't even crack when dropped from a height of 10 feet. The time for new materials is definitely here; be it in consumer electronics, space, industry or infrastructure.

In a sort of Gold Rush for researchers, R&D labs across the world have been exploring processes that yield materials that are stronger, yet lighter; quick to produce; yet more durable; and of course, economically and environmentally viable. One of the frontrunners in this race has been Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites (FRP). Simply put, this material is stronger and lighter than metals, non-corrosive, and quick to produce. Plus, it is increasingly recyclable! It seemed perfect.

The Tata Steel Group was established, in India, as Asia’s first integrated private sector steel company. Today, it is among the leading global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of nearly 28 million tonnes per annum and a turnover of US$17.69 billion (financial year 2015-16). Tata Steel founded India’s first industrial city, now Jamshedpur, where it established India’s first integrated steel plant in 1907. The company dedicated the first phase (3 MnTPA) of the 6 MnTPA greenfield steel project at Kalinganagar to the State of Odisha on November 18, 2015. The Company also possesses and operates captive iron ore coal and chrome ore mines that offer a distinct advantage. The lowest cost producer of steel in India, Tata Steel is also examining further capacity enhancement through greenfield and brownfield developments.