Composite Plastic: Structure, advantages and disadvantages, applications, price quotes 2025

Composite plastic (FRP - Fiber Reinforced Plastic) is a synthetic material made up of two main components: a continuous phase (matrix) consisting of polymers such as thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics and a discontinuous phase (reinforcement) consisting of reinforcing materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, etc.

Composite plastic has 4 outstanding advantages:

• High durability, outdoor life up to 30 years
• 30 – 40% lighter weight than traditional materials
• Adapts well to harsh environmental conditions
• Easy to process, diverse shapes.

However, this material has two main disadvantages:

• Difficult to recycle and dispose of waste due to complex structure
• High cost due to expensive raw materials and complex production process.

Composite plastic materials are now widely used in many fields such as interior and exterior construction (wood plastic floors, wall panels), defense industry (bulletproof armor), aerospace, transportation and chemical industry.

Composite plastic prices range from 40.000 - 280.000 VND/m² depending on thickness from 0.4mm - 3mm, with the number of layers from 1 - 7 layers (updated March 3).

“Composite materials reduce weight by 30 – 40% compared to traditional materials while maintaining structural integrity, contributing to significant savings in transportation and installation.” according to the American Composite Manufacturers Association (ACMA) 2024 Technical Report.

What are the components of composite plastic?

Composite resin consists of one or more discontinuous phases distributed in a single continuous phase. (A phase is a type of component material within the structure of a composite material).

• Continuous phase (base, matrix): Is the component that binds discontinuous phases together, creating uniform properties for the entire material. The matrix often accounts for a large proportion in the composition of the Composite. Common matrix materials are Polymer (thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic such as Polyester, Epoxy, ...), metal, ceramic.
• Intermittent phase (reinforcement phase): Has the role of increasing the strength, hardness and mechanical properties of the material. The reinforcement is usually in the form of fibers or particles. Typical reinforcing materials are glass fibers, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, mineral powder (CaCO3), wood powder, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of composite plastic

According to many reliable sources that Kosmos has compiled, Composite materials are chosen to replace old materials because of many outstanding properties. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of Composite materials that users may be interested in.

Advantages of Composite Plastic

It is not simple that Composite plastic is increasingly popular and loved by many users. Below are 4 highlights of this synthetic material line.

1. Durable: Thanks to its uniform structure and the reinforcement of fibers/core particles, Composite plastic has good resistance to force and impact, and can be used outdoors for up to 30 years.
2. Light-weight: Composite plastic is usually 30-40% lighter than traditional materials such as steel, aluminum, natural wood, etc. This property helps reduce the load on the structure, making it convenient to transport and construct. A 10mm thick FRP composite plastic sheet can be 1/3 as light as a steel sheet of the same thickness.
3. Well adapted to environmental conditions: Composite materials have good resistance to harsh weather conditions such as sun, rain, humidity, frost, etc.
4. Easy to process and shape: Thanks to the flexibility and ease of molding of the base material, Composite plastic can form complex shapes, with a variety of colors and surfaces to meet user needs.

Disadvantages of Composite materials

According to official sources that Kosmos has compiled, Composite materials have 2 disadvantages:

• Difficult to recycle and treat waste: Due to its complex structure and many different components, recycling Composites is more difficult and costly than single-element plastics and metals.
• High price: Input materials and production processes of composite plastic are quite expensive, complicated, requiring modern technology and equipment. Therefore, products made from composite plastic are often more expensive than conventional materials.

In which fields are composite materials applied?

Composite materials are applied in many different fields including design, construction, aerospace, transportation, chemical industry, etc.

In construction, interior and exterior

Composite plastic is used to make composite wood plastic floors (WPC floors, SPC floors) with 30% HDPE plastic, composite wall panels, ceilings, and partitions with 35% - 40% made from plastic particles,...

In the defense industry

Composite plastic is used to make bulletproof vests, helmets, riot shields, gun bodies, bullets, armored vehicle shells, etc.

In the aerospace industry

Composite plastic is used to manufacture many devices of aircraft, spacecraft, rockets, etc. to help reduce weight, increase durability and performance of engines.

In the transportation industry

This material helps reduce vehicle weight, save fuel and increase performance, so it is a popular material for manufacturing auto and motorbike parts.

In the chemical industry

Composite materials are also popular in the chemical industry with applications such as making tanks, chemical pipes, equipment and machinery shells, insulating materials, etc.

Latest Composite Plastic Price 2025

Below is the price list of Composite plastic by layer updated by Kosmos warehouse in March 3:

Note: The above price is for reference only, not including other costs. Product prices may vary depending on time and different suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions about Composite Plastic

Are Composite Plastics Toxic?

Thanks to quality input materials and modern production processes, Composite plastic is non-toxic under normal use conditions and when the product is finished.

What are the popular types of composite plastics in decoration?

With more than 10 years of experience in the field of distributing decorative materials, Kosmos has found that there are two popular types of composite plastic: wood powder core material (WPC) and stone powder core material (SPC).

Wood Powder Composite Material – WPC

WPC (Wood Plastic Composite) or also known as wood plastic, Composite wood is a composite material whose main component is plastic with wood particles. Plastic in WPC can be used from PVC, PS plastic,… First, people will mix plastic and wood powder, then apply modern extrusion technology. Produce materials with shapes according to requirements, applicable in many different fields.

Because it is mainly composed of plastic and wood powder, wood plastic has outstanding properties of both plastic and wood. Typically, it is highly moisture resistant, heat resistant, strong and has long-lasting durability. Although the hardness of composite wood plastic is not as high as natural wood. But this is a material used to replace natural wood in many large and small outdoor projects.

Stone Powder Composite Plastic – SPC

SPC (Stone Plastic Composite) is a type of composite material with a plastic base combined with stone powder. We can call Stone Plastic Composite synthetic plastic stone or Composite plastic stone.

This material is produced by pressing technology under high temperature and pressure. With main components of plastic and stone, SPC material has high water resistance thanks to the properties of plastic. At the same time, it has a rustic yet luxurious beauty, recreating 70 - 80% of the beauty of natural stone.

Composite plastic production technologies?

Today's composite materials industry uses many modern manufacturing techniques, allowing the creation of products with superior physical properties and diverse applications. Below are 7 outstanding technologies used to produce composite plastics, compiled by Kosmos from reputable sources:

1. Contact mold technology
2. Mold technology with elastic diaphragm
3. Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)
4. Compression Molding
5. Filament Winding
6. Production process under high temperature and pressure conditions
7. Production process under normal pressure conditions.

Supplier of quality composite plastic materials?

Kosmos Vietnam is a reputable supplier of quality composite plastic materials, specifically: Outdoor Composite Wood, plastic wall panels, interior ceiling panels,… Kosmos products have achieved many international certifications such as FSC, Intertek and Vietnam's Quatest 3 certification, affirming their quality and long-lasting aesthetics.

Kosmos composite wood material for facade decoration, outdoor gate

Kosmos plastic wall and ceiling panels for home decoration

>>> Details of outdoor wood plastic | WPC wood plastic | Composite wood plastic.

Kosmos Warehouse has a nationwide distribution network with more than 500 large and small agents. This network not only helps customers easily access products but also ensures quick support and consulting services. At the same time, the unit owns a large warehouse of up to 10.000m², ready to provide large quantities of materials to customers in need.

Please contact Kosmos to receive information about the nearest dealer if you are in need of interior and exterior decoration from Composite materials.

Composite plastic materials are on the rise, promising to bring many breakthroughs in the future. With outstanding advantages in physical properties, diverse application capabilities and the potential for customization according to needs, Composite plastic deserves to be one of the new materials today.