The Most Common Uses for GPO-3 Materials

Modern manufacturing utilizes a variety of materials to form the components it produces. If you’ve never heard of GPO-3 materials, you may be surprised to know that this thermoset plastic is one of the toughest non-metallic materials in the industry. Plus, we can use GPO-3 materials in a wide range of applications due to their unique properties. If you’re curious about these applications, keep reading to discover the most common uses for GPO-3 materials across different industries. We’ll go over the many different uses of GPO-3 materials in different fields, including:

• Electrical Insulation

• Mechanical Applications

• Transit Applications

• Structural Parts

Each of these fields benefit differently from GPO-3 materials. But first, for those that might need a refresher course on thermosets and GPO-3 materials, here is a quick review.

Review: What Is GPO-3 Materials?

As a quick review, GPO-3 is non-metallic, thermoset polyester material that has been reinforced by glass. Thermoset polymer materials are ones that have been cured during the manufacturing process and you cannot melt them down and reform them again. This makes GPO-3 materials particularly strong and stiff, and they are usually available in a sheet form. You can find these materials manufactured in a range of colors and thicknesses, from smaller than a millimeter to several inches thick. This variety makes them great for many manufacturing projects.

Advantages of GPO-3 Materials

As a thermoset material, GPO-3 has many strengths and resistances which make it useful to manufacturing. Most obviously, these non-metallic materials do not conduct electricity, which opens new doors for material applications in the manufacturing industry and elsewhere. This material also has high strength and heat resistance, which makes it able to maintain its form under high pressure and difficult conditions. Thermoset materials like GPO-3 also have excellent corrosion resistance, which is just another example of the material’s resilience. What’s even better is that these materials are extremely cost-effective, which is great for manufacturers and other professionals on a tight budget.

GPO-3 Properties

GPO-3 has many unique physical properties that contribute to its multi-purpose abilities. As mentioned above, it has superior electrical properties as well as structural properties. In fact, it is flame, arc, and track-resistant, and some GPO-3 materials have an operating temperature of up to 320° F. It even has good smoke resistance, which is ideal for a few unique applications in the transit industry. For more metrics and specifics on its properties, check out Red Seal Electric where you can find all the details on GPO-3. The only downside of being so strong and resistant is that this material may suffer brittleness common with some thermosets.

Common GPO-3 Uses

Due to its resistances to multiple conditions including heat, electricity, and impacts, GPO-3 is a tough and multi-purpose material that spans multiple industries and fields. Thermosets themselves are a common feature in many of the products we use every day, and GPO-3 is no exception. These materials are a staple of modern manufacturing. The following categories are some of the fields that most commonly use GPO-3 manufactured parts.

Electrical Insulation

These materials are non-metallic, which means they don’t conduct electricity. This leads to their use in several electrical and insulation products such as:

• High-voltage appliances

• Switchgear barriers and mounting panels

• Switchboards

• Voltage switches

• Circuit breakers

• Fuses

• Phase barriers

• End barriers

• Antenna bases

• And more

Without non-metallic solutions like thermosets and GPO-3, we wouldn’t have the electrical safety in equipment that we do today. Even circuit breakers and electrical cords around the house are made safe by these materials. Electrical insulation and components are easily the most common uses of GPO-3 materials.

Mechanical Applications

Besides its non-conductivity, GPO-3's other resistances make it ideal for a variety of mechanical applications, too. The heat, corrosion, impact, and smoke resistances of this material are just as important as its electrical resistance. You can find GPO-3 materials used in welding materials such as jigs due to their heat resistance. These materials are even featured in splash guards for their corrosion resistance.

Transit Applications

Another unique property of GPO-3 materials is their resistance to smoke and toxicity. This means that, in a situation of intense heat or fire, this material generates very little smoke and toxicity. Other materials can be very dangerous when they burn, meaning that they cannot be utilized in safety parts. GPO-3 on the other hand makes a great material for transit and other safety parts due to this factor. It can even be utilized in applications with high frequency and microwave levels.

Structural Parts

For any structural parts that require strength and durability under stress, GPO-3 is a great building material. The resilience of this material means that it can withstand a variety of conditions and stresses, including pressure and impacts. Manufacturers make use of it in supports and connectors of many types, including busbar supports, insulating supports, and more. Its strength means it can hold up to wear and tear over time, and the corrosion resistance helps protect from unnatural damages as well.

Where To Find GPO-3 Materials

You can find GPO-3 thermoset polyester materials right here at Red Seal Electric Company. Red Seal Electric Company carries a wide variety of non-metallic materials, including GPO-3. We can help you find the right materials to fit all your specifications, like size, thickness, color, and more. Whether you need thermoset materials for your manufacturing company, for electrical insulation, mechanical applications, structural parts, and more, we can supply the materials your business needs. Contact Red Seal Electric today for more information on our vast supply of materials.

Hopefully this deep dive into the most common uses for GPO-3 materials has inspired you with ways that you can incorporate this material into your business. GPO-3 is a strong and sturdy material that will perform well in a variety of applications, as you now know. For being a type of plastic, thermosets surprise many people with their strengths. If you’re curious about incorporating thermoset materials like GPO-3 into your manufacturing process, don’t forget to check out Red Seal Electric Company for all your non-metallic solutions.