Fiberglass is stronger and more durable than steel in many ways. Discover all the aspects in which fiberglass offers more advantages than its steel counterpart.
How strong is fiberglass compared to steel?
In the table below, you will find all the properties compared between fiberglass and steel. You can see all the benefits fiberglass has to offer.
Fiberglass
| Diameter tolerance | 0,3 mm +/- |
| Density | 2000 kg/m3 |
| Fiber volume content | 70% fibers |
| Tensile strength | 1000 Mpa |
| E-modulus | 54 Gpa |
| corrosion resistant | Yes |
| Weight | 400 gr |
| Higher tensile strength | 600 – 1600 N/mm2 |
| Chloride and phosphate resistant | Yes |
| Guidance radio waves | No |
| Thermal conductivity | 0,25% |
| Diagmagnetic | Yes |
| Sustainability | Full cradle to cradle |
Steel
| Diameter tolerance | 0,5 mm +/- |
| Density | 7800 kg/m3 |
| Fiber volume content | 99% steel |
| Tensile strength | 250 Mpa |
| E-modulus | 210 Gpa |
| corrosion resistant | No |
| Weight | 1200 gr |
| Higher tensile strength | 200 – 550 N/mm2 |
| Chloride and phosphate resistant | No |
| Guidance radio waves | Yes |
| Thermal conductivity | 48% tot 58% |
| Diagmagnetic | No |
| Sustainability | Full cradle to cradle |
The drawbacks of steel
Although steel has played a significant role in construction and manufacturing for a long time, it is not without drawbacks.
Risks of corroded steel
A significant danger associated with steel is its vulnerability to corrosion. When exposed to environmental elements, steel can degrade over time, leading to structural weaknesses and unsafe situations. This necessitates costly maintenance or replacement.
Relatively expensive
Compared to alternative materials like fiberglass, steel can be more expensive, both in initial costs and over the entire lifecycle due to maintenance and corrosion prevention.
High conductivity
The high conductivity of steel makes it less suitable for applications involving electricity, posing potential risks and limitations in certain usage scenarios.
The benefits of fiberglass
Fiberglass emerges as a convincing and worthy alternative to steel, with several advantages.
Environmentally friendly
Fiberglass is known for its environmental friendliness; it requires less energy to produce and is recyclable, contributing to a lower environmental impact.
Optimal density
With a density of around 2000 kg/m3, fiberglass offers an optimal balance of strength and weight, making it suitable for a wide range of projects and applications.
4x higher tensile strength
Fiberglass has a tensile strength up to four times higher than that of steel, providing exceptional durability and resistance to stretching or breaking under tension.
Corrosion resistant
Unlike steel, fiberglass is designed for long-term durability and is resistant to corrosion, making it ideal for use in harsh conditions where water and/or salt is involved.
4x lighter
Fiberglass is significantly lighter than steel, four times lighter even, reducing transportation costs and facilitating easier handling and installation.
Lower labor intensity and increased productivity with Fiber Dowels products
Due to the lightweight nature of our fiberglass products, labor intensity is drastically reduced. An employee can carry approximately 10 dowel baskets including dowels. This also increases productivity as projects can be completed much more efficiently and therefore faster.
A fun fact
Did you know that with Fiber Dowels fiberglass products, employees were able to lay 40% more dowel baskets in 1 day than if they had used the steel variant?
FAQ
Yes, fiberglass has better properties in terms of tensile strength compared to steel, making it more applicable and resilient.
The main differences lie in their composition, weight, durability, and resistance to corrosion, with fiberglass often offering advantages in these areas.
Generally, fiberglass can be cheaper than steel, especially when considering long-term maintenance and resistance to corrosion. Additionally, fiberglass is so light that it can be transported more efficiently, making it even cheaper.
In terms of properties required for its intended applications, fiberglass has no disadvantages compared to steel.
Fiberglass products can last for decades, with a lifespan often surpassing that of steel, especially when exposed to corrosive environments.
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