Book excerpt: In this 3rd Edition of the Reinforced Plastics Handbook the authors have continued the approach of the late John Murphy, author of the first and second editions.The book provides a compendium of information on every aspect of materials, processes, designs and construction.Fiber-reinforced plastics are a class of materials in which the basic properties of plastics are given mechanical reinforcement by the addition of fibrous materials. The wide choice of plastics resin matrices and the correspondingly wide choice of reinforcing materials mean that the permutations are virtually unlimited. But the optimum properties of resin and reinforcement cannot be obtained unless there is an effective bond between the two, and this is the continuing objective of reinforced plastics production, design and processing. - New 3rd edition of this comprehensive practical manual - This is a 'bible' for all those involved in the reinforced plastics industry, whether manufacturers, specifiers, designers or end-users - Has been completely revised and updated to reflect all the latest developments in the industry