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Fiberglass
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<p>Fiberglass or fibreglass (<a href="/facts/English_in_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations/FfHnv1CT">Commonwealth English</a>) is a common type of <a href="/facts/Fibre-reinforced_plastic/FeQEqIjX">fiber-reinforced plastic</a> using <a href="/facts/Glass_fiber/IDL9pucz">glass fiber</a>. The fibers may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet called a chopped strand mat, or woven into <a href="/facts/Glass_cloth/3f9yKKs1">glass cloth</a>. The <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a> <a href="/facts/Matrix_(composite)/1lnIafm4">matrix</a> may be a <a href="/facts/Thermoset_polymer_matrix/zlfdJXAj">thermoset polymer matrix</a>—most often based on <a href="/facts/Thermosetting_polymer/EagnsydT">thermosetting polymers</a> such as <a href="/facts/Epoxy/PvlLBgdQ">epoxy</a>, <a href="/facts/Polyester_resin/0RVo2CtF">polyester resin</a>, or <a href="/facts/Vinyl_ester_resin/vzF7cPW2">vinyl ester resin</a>—or a <a href="/facts/Thermoplastic/5KJB8dwN">thermoplastic</a>. </p><p>Cheaper and more flexible than <a href="/facts/Carbon-fiber-reinforced_polymers/6PlL4mB2">carbon fiber</a>, it is stronger than many metals by weight, non-<a href="/facts/Magnetic/eo75vApl">magnetic</a>, non-<a href="/facts/Conductive/BSuyupLP">conductive</a>, transparent to <a href="/facts/Electromagnetic_radiation/Ynx7ujCW">electromagnetic radiation</a>, can be molded into complex shapes, and is chemically inert under many circumstances. Applications include aircraft, boats, automobiles, bath tubs and enclosures, <a href="/facts/Swimming_pools/32DUFtdN">swimming pools</a>, <a href="/facts/Hot_tub/w4cMV5Mx">hot tubs</a>, <a href="/facts/Septic_tank/hHgN3sM3">septic tanks</a>, <a href="/facts/Water_tank/SabELjjq">water tanks</a>, roofing, pipes, cladding, <a href="/facts/Orthopedic_cast/hS8DCpvh">orthopedic casts</a>, <a href="/facts/Surfboard/d3E03IeI">surfboards</a>, and external door skins. </p><p>Other common names for fiberglass are glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) or GFK (from <a href="/facts/German_language/oWaQIDA8">German</a>: <i>Glasfaserverstärkter Kunststoff</i>). Because glass fiber itself is sometimes referred to as "fiberglass", the composite is also called fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP). This article uses "fiberglass" to refer to the complete fiber-reinforced composite material, rather than only to the glass fiber within it. </p>