| Corrosion Resistance |
Resists chemicals & Insect damage |
Subject to oxidation & Corrosion |
Can cause galvanic corrosion |
Can rot & decay when exposed to moisture, water & Chemicals |
| Density (g/cm3) |
1.9-2.1 |
7.85 |
2.7-2.8 |
0.3-0.7 |
| Electrical Conductivity |
Non-conductive |
Conducts electricity |
Conducts electricity |
Can be conductive when wet |
| Thermal conductivity |
Good insulator with low thermal conductivity |
Conducts heat |
Conducts heat |
Low thermal conductivity |
| Impact resistance |
Will not permanently deform under impact |
Can permanently deform under impact |
Easily deforms under impact |
Can permanently deform or break under impact |
| Cost |
Lower installation & maintenance cost and longer product life allow for a lower life cycle cost |
High life cycle cost |
Comparable price to FRP |
Wood is cheaper but also much more susceptible to degradation, causing higher maintenance costs lifecycle cost |
| EMI/RFI Transparency |
Transparent to radio waves & EMI/RFI transmissions |
Can interfere with EMI/RFI Transmissions |
Highly reflective to EMI/RFI Transmissions |
Transparent |
| Fabrication |
Because of low weight, FRP allows for considerable flexibility in terms of design. No welding are required |
Require welding. heavier material requires special equipment to erect & Install |
Good machinability |
Can be field-fabricated using simple carpenter’s tools |