Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP)
Fibreglass is an excellent example of relatively modern composite material (invented in 1938 by Russel Games). In industry it is often referred to as Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP).
GRP is composed of strands of glass. Each individual glass fibre is very fine with a small diameter, and they are woven to form a flexible fabric. The fabric is normally placed in a mould, for instance a mould for a canoe and polyester resin is added, followed by a catalyst. The process is repeated so that there are many layers of fiberglass and resins allowed to cure. The resulting material is stony, light weight. GRP can be sanded for a smooth finish and painted.