Laminate Design
An-Cor manufacturing systems, techniques and quality control methods are critically reviewed on every project to assure materials manufactured in house or on site are of the composition engineered. Laminate visual quality and designs are routinely validated on fully cured laminates. Post-cure convection ovens often play a key roll in obtaining the properties necessary for high performance laminates. Glass content and laminate sequence verification is performed in addition to tensile property testing to assure composition validates design properties utilized. Property testing has also included deflection, strain, peel, shear, dead load, electrical conductivity and abrasion. Field validation is typically done when manufacturing on site and the customer prefers an installed materials and workmanship warranty for field fabricated or shop fabricated field installed equipment.
An-Cor approaches laminate design on your project as both a science and an art, where theory comes together with practical engineering and manufacturing judgment that is rooted in decades of experience. All An-Cor laminate designs are derived through raw material review, laminate computer modeling and proof testing following ASTM standards to demonstrate properties for a reliable equipment design basis. From there, every component and completed assembly undergoes a thorough application review and is engineered utilizing design rules or stress analysis. Finite Elemental Analysis (FEA) modeling and Acoustic Emission testing of manufactured equipment is also performed where appropriate to assure added laminate design reliability.
 Finite Elemental Analysis for 14’ ID 60K Gallon 15 psig ASME Stamped Vessel |  ASME RTP-1 Laminate Quality Visual Inspection |  Hot Air Post-cure Convection Oven |  ASTM D2584 Glass Content and Laminate Sequence Verification |
An-Cor laminates have been reported by our customers to last remarkably longer and require less maintenance
than other manufacturers claiming to make the same laminate deigns. This feedback has proven that
understanding laminate manufacturing goes a long way towards successful installation of equipment, where
decision makers strive for lowest owning and operating costs. Many options can be specified to optimize
performance and meet design requirements. Longer equipment design life and lower maintenance costs are
significantly influenced by laminate design services you put to work when choosing An-Cor.
An-Cor has been serving a wide number industries, with an in depth involvement in each dating back to 1958.
This exposure has resulted in An-Cor’s ability to offer you a broad base of Application Specialties to draw on
when faced with similar design challenges. This practical laminate design and equipment engineering
experience is also supplemented with years of involvement with Industry Associations and Certifications.
Specifiers, FRP Consultants, Original Equipment Manufacturers incorporating An-Cor equipment into their
systems and End Users have all come to know the An-Cor name as an industry leader setting the standard for
reliable laminate performance.
Generic FRP Laminate Cross Section
The generic laminate cross section below illustrates the definitions associated with the layers that make up
laminates used for corrosive environments. It also correlates industry standard terminology used on the left
with ASME and other layer definitions on the right. Thickness contributed by corrosion barriers are often
regarded as non-contributory, excluded from structural design calculations and seen as sacrificial from a
materials and mechanical engineering standpoint. The mils of thickness represented are what have been
typically specified in industry.
The thicknesses range from minimums to commonly specified thicker laminate
designs. Laminates are classified as to the type of fiberglass reinforcements used, where Type I is all random
strand mat, Type II is a combination of random strand mat and woven roving and Type X involves filament
winding. Glass content by weight is typically 10% for surface veils, 30% for Type I and 40% for Type II
laminates and 50 to 80% for Type X laminates. Laminate inner surfaces are also referred to as a process side.
