GRP composites v/s traditional materials like Steel, Aluminium and Wood Timber

COMPARISON BASIS	GRP COMPOSITES	STEEL	ALUMINIUM	TIMBER
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent corrosion and chemical resistance Higly suitable for sea water or chemical environments.	Low corrosion resistance It oxidises fast in normal environmental .	Low corrosion resistance Corrodes when exposed to Aluminium oxide if not galvanised. Requires anodizing or other coatings.	Low corrosion resistance It can distort, rot and deteriorate from exposure to moist conditions and chemicals. Requires coating or preservatives.
Weight	Light weight Upto 80% lighter than steel and approx 30% lighter than Aluminium.	Extremely Heavy Handling requires heavy lifting gear with high safety precautions.	Lightweight About 1/3 the weight of copper or steel	Dependent on size.
Slip Resistance for Flooring	Very high slip resistance Our integral grit finish ensures non slip,safe usage of a walking surface, even in wet or oily conditions.	Little or about no slip resistance Poses major health and safety risks for users.	Little or about no slip resistance Poses major health and safety risks for users.	Little or about no slip resistance Poses major health and safety risks for users.
Conductivity	Non-Conductive. No earthing required	Conducts Electricity Earthing required	Conducts Electricity Earthing required	Conducts Electricity Earthing required
Strength	High Strength-to-Weight Ratio Stronger than metalic products on a weight to weight basis.	High Strength But heavy in weight necessary to achieve its high strength properties.	Low strength Resilience is weak compared to other materials.	Dependant on Size Product sizes need to be very large to achieve reasonable strength properties.
Impact Resistance	High Impact Resistance No permanent deformity under impact	Medium to Low Impact Resistance There can be permanent deformity under impact.	Low Impact Resistance Easily deforms under impact.	Medium Impact Resistance There can be permanent deformity under impact.
Fabrication	Easy to Fabricate Just simple carpenter tools with carbon or diamond tip blades required. Light weight makes it easier to errect and install	Complicated to fabricate Needs welding and cutting torches.Special handling equipment is required to erect and install heavier material.	Complicated to fabricate Requires welding, brazing, soldering or mechanical joining work to errect and install.	Easy to fabricate Can be done with regular tools like saws and carpenter jigsaws.
Maintenance	Maintenance free free over a design life of 40-50 years.	Continuous maintenance required due to damage, rust, repainting and repair. Negative cost impact.	Continuous maintenance required due to decay, rot, re-painting or insect attack. Negative cost impact.
Cost	Lower cost, higher savings Nominal installation and maintenance expenditure over time . Lower lifecyle costs	Low Cost, High Maintenance Material cost is low, but regular maintainence increases expenditure. Higher lifecyle cost	Low Cost, High Maintenance Material cost is low, but regular maintainence increases expenditure. Higher lifecyle cost	Low Cost, High Maintenance Material cost is low, but regular maintainence increases expenditure. Higher lifecyle cost
Ergonomic	Good Ergonomic Properties Easy way of handling of GRP provides comfort to workers. Productivity is high.	No Ergonomic Properties Difficut to handle, no comfort underfoot.	No Ergonomic Properties N/A	Good Ergonomic Properties Provides comfort underfoot
EMI/RFI Transparency	Transparent to EMI/RFI transmissions	It interferes with EMI/RFI transmissions	It interferes with EMI/RFI transmissions	Transparent to EMI/RFI transmissions
Aesthetics	Required colour pigments added to Resin The composite colour will be throughout the part. No maintenance required.	Painted or dyed for colour Repainting may be required to maintain the colour and to block corrosion.	Painted or dyed for colour Repainting may be required to maintain the colour and to block corrosion.	Primed and Painted for Colour Repainting may be required to maintain the colour and to block corrosion.