| It is true that aircraft manufacturers have used | | | | change. |
| aluminum for building aeroplanes for 60 years, with | | | | Something similar is happening in the window industry. |
| great success due to its light weight and strength. | | | | Climate change is heavily influencing the fate of |
| This was a huge improvement beyond the plywood, | | | | aluminum in the UK Building Industry, too. Commercial |
| string and canvass that was used before and was | | | | windows in offices, schools, high-rise tower blocks, |
| essential for developing today's modern jets and the | | | | hospitals, care homes, etc, have predominantly used |
| long flying distances we all enjoy today. This requires | | | | aluminum for 30 years, simply because no other |
| flying above 30,000 feet which needs a strong, light | | | | material has been strong enough or suitable for these |
| construction to withstand the pressure differences at | | | | architecturally designed projects - until now. |
| such high altitudes. | | | | As in the aircraft industry, FRP (pultruded GRP |
| For the past 30 years aluminum has also been used | | | | Fibreglass) has been found to be far better qualified |
| extensively in the design and manufacture of window | | | | than aluminum for window manufacture, due to its |
| frames in the UK Commercial market due, also, to its | | | | higher strength, durability and thermal insulation, which |
| strength and lightness. | | | | leaves aluminum floundering in its wake when chasing |
| However, no matter how good and reliable any | | | | lower thermal U values and higher sustainability |
| material or product is, there is always the possibility | | | | targets for some of our more challenging BREEAM |
| that one day, superior technology will move it aside | | | | projects. (BREEAM: UK Government inspired |
| and create something even better to come along | | | | sustainable building standards to achieve higher |
| and completely supersede it. | | | | environmental levels of construction - and lower |
| This is already happening, today. In the aircraft | | | | carbon emissions when in use. Building Research |
| industry, Boeing's 787, so called 'Dream-liner' was the | | | | Establishment, Environmental Assessment Model) |
| first to break tradition and turn towards innovative | | | | The advantages of GRP Fibreglass over aluminum |
| new technology that not only matches what | | | | don't stop there, either! The following list summarizes |
| aluminum can offer - but which goes some way | | | | some of the additional benefits:- |
| beyond in terms of strength, durability, lightness and | | | | - Service life of 50 - 75 years is double that for |
| rigidity - and avoids the future possibility of metal | | | | aluminum |
| fatigue. | | | | - Thermal U values of 0.9 W/M2K are half aluminum's |
| 'Fibre Reinforced Polymer' (FRP) is the generic term | | | | best (1.8) |
| for high performance, light weight compounds which | | | | - GRP needs no surface protection, essential for |
| combine reinforcing fibres of glass or carbon into a | | | | aluminum to prevent corrosion in weather and coastal |
| tough and durable thermosetting resin, to generate | | | | sea spray. |
| composite materials of astonishing strength and | | | | - Both materials are supplied coated in any colour |
| capability. | | | | with a 25 year life |
| Already used as the heat resisting nose cone on the | | | | - Aluminum can't be repaired/re-coated so poor |
| NASA Space Shuttle, these FRPs are significantly | | | | appearance eventually demands replacement. |
| stronger than steel, weight for weight and are often | | | | Scratches and damage can hasten that end. |
| known by such names as GRP, fibreglass, carbon | | | | - GRP can be repaired/re-coated any time, in any |
| fibre and graphite. We are more familiar with them as | | | | colour, providing another 25 years and requiring zero |
| the best material for producing golf clubs, tennis and | | | | maintenance. |
| squash racquets, fishing rods, motor cycle fairings, | | | | - Pultruded GRP will not bend or deform like |
| Formula 1 car bodies and disc brakes, Olympic vaulting | | | | aluminum, being a softer metal |
| poles - the list goes on. | | | | - The rate of expansion of GRP is insignificant even |
| According to Russell Maguire, Boeing's Technical Vice | | | | at high temperature. Aluminum is the opposite. |
| President, the new 787 will have 94% of its wings | | | | - GRP carbonizes in fire, protecting its structural |
| and fuselage made entirely from FRP composites, | | | | integrity. Aluminum melts at 660C. |
| which will provide a lightweight one piece moulded | | | | - Despite the many benefits of GRP over aluminum - |
| body shell, thus no joints or rivets to deteriorate - | | | | GRP gives better price and value |
| and producing a lighter aircraft with greater fuel | | | | So, no matter how good and reliable aluminum once |
| efficiency, creating less carbon emissions and thereby | | | | was, there has come the day when superior |
| far better for the environment - helping Boeing to | | | | technology is moving it aside, having created |
| meet its corporate responsibility towards climate | | | | something even better to completely supersede it. |