FRP Slide Manufacturing Process and Service Life
As a new-generation playground facility, FRP slides have become widely adopted in water parks and residential communities due to their safety, durability, and design flexibility. This article details the manufacturing process and service life of FRP slides.
1. Manufacturing Process
(1) Design Phase
Using 3D modeling software to create ergonomic designs that meet safety standards (GB/T18168-2017), with curvature radius strictly controlled between 1.8-3.5m.
(2) Mold Making
CNC machining creates aluminum alloy male molds (accuracy ±0.15mm) followed by 6-8 layers of gel coating application.
(3) Material Preparation
Resin matrix (orthophthalic/iso-polyester) mixed with 35% glass fiber (ECR-glass) using vacuum bagging process.
(4) Forming Process
Hand lay-up: 3kg/m² fiber content
Spray-up: 2.8kg/m² fiber content
Compression molding: 100-150℃ curing temperature
(5) Post-processing
UV-resistant coating (500μm thickness) with slip resistance coefficient >0.5 (ASTM F1637 standard).
2. Service Life
Under normal usage conditions (temperature -30℃ to 80℃), well-maintained FRP slides can achieve:
– Water parks: 10-15 years
– Residential areas: 15-20 years
– Indoor venues: 20+ years
Factors affecting longevity:
① Surface maintenance cycle (recommended repainting every 3 years)
② Structural design safety factor (≥2.5)
③ Environmental stress (wind load ≤0.5kN/m²)
