What is the difference between GRE and GRP pipes?

The main difference between GRE and GRP is the matrix material resin used for bonding the glass fiber. GRP pipes use Isophthalic Resin while GRE pipes use epoxy resin. Read on or watch the video below to learn how this key difference affects pipe properties and application in GRE, GRP, and other types of FRP Pipes.

Watch this video on YouTube

What is an FRP Pipe?

FRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic) is made of two or more distinct materials whose qualities combine to provide superior strength. FRP pipes consist of vinyl ester resin or unsaturated polyester, glass fiber sheets, and reinforcing agents.

This mix of materials offers excellent qualities like easy handling and installation, High insulation minimizing heat loss, high corrosion resistance, and doesn’t rust making it serviceable and maintenance-free for long periods while being very lightweight. it weighs only a quarter of an iron pipe, one-sixth of a steel pipe, and one-tenth of a concrete pipe providing many advantages over traditionally used plastic and metal pipes. thus it is quickly becoming the pipe of the future.

FRP Pipe Applications

it is used as a lining material in sewage Effluent tanks because of its resistance to chemicals and corrosion. With Abilities to withstand varying temperatures, pressures, and adverse soil and water conditions, FRP pipes are suitable for use in desalination plants, chemical plants, fire mains, oil exploration, and dredging.

FRP pipes can be used in multiple applications including:

Plant piping
Plant process piping
Oil & Gas flow lines
Offshore platform applications
Sewage piping/desalination plants
Downhole tubing and casing
Engineering services

Currently, these pipes are used in sectors such as:

Oil & Gas
Manufacturing
Transportation
Building & Construction
Irrigation
Offshore Applications

GRP Pipes Vs GRE Pipes Vs FRP Pipes – Fiberglass-reinforced plastic pipes

The matrix material resin used for bonding the glass fiber Is The main difference between GRP and GRE pipes. FRP is glass fiber-reinforced plastic which comprises many variations of glass fiber-reinforced composite materials. GRP and GRE Pipes are two variations of FRP pipes. Frp is composed of Different matrix materials and reinforced materials as follows:

GRP Pipes: matrix material resin

Depending on The matrix material; there is GRE, GRP, gRUP, and GRVE. these resins named below are the different thermosetting resins used to make different variations of FRP pipe

Epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester, and isophthalic resin are thermosetting resins. the other name for GRP pipes is reinforced thermosetting resin plastic (RTR pipes).

GRP pipes use isophthalic resin

GRE pipes use epoxy resin

GRUP Pipes use polyester Resin

GRVE Pipes Use Vinylester Resin

GRP is also known as RTR or the Reinforced Thermosetting resin

What are the benefits of FRP pipes?

GRP pipes offer several beneficial advantages, as listed below.

Long life; high durability.
Low maintenance costs.
Very lightweight and easy to handle/join
High corrosion resistance
No cathodic protection required.
Low transport and disposal costs.
Environmentally friendly.
Wide range of applications.
It is more economical than Traditionally used metal pipes or Plastic Pipes
Heat/Fire Resistance

OTA Fiberglass Tools For Both GRE and GRP pipes

In Butt & Wrap Fiberglass Lamination Joints We offer Fiberglass Lamination Tools and Materials Like Woving Roving, Chopped Strand Mat, Lamination Kits, Laminator Safety Kit, Fiberglass Aluminum Roller, Bubble Busting Aluminum Rollers, Wool based Rollers, Catalyst, Mixers, Dispensers, Measuring Cylinders, Resins, and Adhesive among Others. See full list

Fibreglass Pipe Shaver:

OTA Fiberglass Pipe Shaver for cutting tapers on fiberglass pipes, inserting and angling the male pipe ends into female spigots

Fibreglass raw materials:

HARDENER AND ACCELERATORS:

Luperox MEKP Catalyst, Benzoyl Peroxide, Cobalt Octoate, DMA.

GRP RAW MATERIALS:

Release Agent, Accelerator, Polyurethane Rubber, Cemfil ARG Fibers, Silcon Rubber, Reusable Rubber.

RESINS:

Marine Grade resins / Lloyds approved

Orthophthalic, Isophthalic, Bisphenol, Vinylester, Translucent, Fire Retardant, Casting Resin, Epoxy Resin, Acrylic modified Resins.

GELCOATS:

Clear, White, Coloured, Tooling, and Topcoat.

COLOR PIGMENT PASTES & POWDERS:

All Colors.

RELEASING AGENTS:

Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze No.8, PVA (Clear, Matt, Glossy), Stoner Semi-perm.

FILLERS & MOULDING COMPOUNDS:

Calcium Carbonate, Aluminium Hydroxide, Fumed Silica, Microspheres, Talc Powder, Glass Beads, Antimony Trioxide, Titanium Dioxide, Silica sand, Gypsum, Plasticine Clay, Wax Fillet, Metallic Jewels, Duratec Products, Putty, Wax Sheet.

SOLVENTS:

Acetone, Methylene Chloride, Styrene, Paraffin Wax Solution, Methyl Acetate

RUBBING COMPOUND/POLISHES:

Meguiars Mirror Glaze No.1 & No. 3, Aqua Buff 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, Meguiar’s Boat Care Products.

SANDWITCH CORE MATERIALS:

Balsawood, Polyurethane Foam, Polystyrene, Honeycomb and Coremat.

MARINE ADHESIVES & FITTINGS:

Sika Adhesives, Boat Fenders & Keels, U Clamp, Dekking Materials & Accessories for Boats.

FIBERGLASS MATS, ROVING, TISSUE & MORE

CSM Powder & Emulsion Bonded, Switched Mat, Woven Roving, Spray Up Roving, Filament Winding Roving, Surface Tissue, ARG Roving, Milled Fibre, Chopped Strands, Combination Mat, Carbon Fibre, Kevlar Aramid, Printed Tissue, Multiaxial Fabrics, Advantex ECR Mat, Polyester Netting, Polyester Scrim, Polyester Film.

TOOLS, EQUIPMENT & MACHINERY:

Pipe Shaver (notably mentioned above), Heating Blanket, Barcol Tester, Laminating Rollers/Brushes, Catalyst Dispenser, Diamond Cutters, Sanding Wheels, PI Tapes, Circometer, Thickness Measuring Gauge, Demoulding Wedges.