Types of Woven Fiberglass Fabric

by | Mar 8, 2023 | Fire Protection | 0 comments

woven fiberglass fabric

Woven fiberglass fabric is one type of fiberglass. In this case, fiberglass has the primary composite, namely glass fiber or mat. Safety and security standards are the main benchmarks in the use of this material because not all fiberglass mats function the same (as a fiberglass resin composite reinforcement). This is because some glass fibers are intentionally designed not to withstand large loads (such as ship hulls, water reservoirs, surfboards, etc.) but only for models or decorations. Here are some types of fiberglass according to the way they are produced or the shape of the strands:

Chopped Strand Mat (CSM)

Woven fiberglass is produced randomly (irregularly) in various directions. CSM is the type of fiberglass that is most widely used by fiberglass craftsmen because it is relatively cheap and easy to use. This type of glass fiber is like a collection of fibers that are chopped and formed into one strand or a new sheet that is suitable as a reinforcement for polyester and epoxy-type resins.

This is because it already contains a binder powder that will react when exposed to resin. The absorbing capacity can exceed the size of its weight, thus making this type of glass fiber strong enough to support large loads. Additionally, the thickness of this type of fiberglass produced varies, ranging from thin to thick. Sometimes it is combined with a better fiber, namely Woven Roving Mat. The type of fiberglass will be discussed next.

In choosing fiberglass, you need to consider the quality of the fiberglass fabric manufacturer. Silicapro which offers a wide range of fiberglass fabric products. You can get a fire blanket made of high-quality fiberglass.

Other products they offer include heat insulation material; high silica fiberglass cloth, high silica chopped yarn, high temp sewing thread, fireproof cloth, silicone cloth, microporous insulation board, and finished products. Their Fire Blanket products are included in the type of the finished product. Other products that fall into the Finished Product category include; Removable Glass Fiber Insulation covers, Welding Blanket, and Welding Safe House.

Woven Roving Mat (WRM)

Woven Roving Mat is a type of glass fiber that is produced neatly woven from two directions, namely horizontal and vertical, with the same level of load strength. The type of WRM glass fiber is often referred to as the 0-degree/90-degree type, which follows the horizontal angle and the vertical angle with the woven shape that can withstand loads in both directions (horizontal and vertical) but is slightly weak in the diagonal or 45 degrees direction.

However, the WRM type of glass fiber is still widely used to meet various needs. Woven Roving Mat has also been tested for its strength for use in the shipping industry, especially for the 600 gram/m² or WR600 Woven Roving type; this is due to its good thickness level for each layer per meter.

The use of resin in WRM tends to be lower when compared to CSM, which is 1 to 1. Thus, this is a consideration for equipment manufacturers as well as when fiberglass is used for commercial purposes. Furthermore, there is a glass fiber that combines types similar to WRM and CSM by forming a 45-degree fiber direction, which is called a Biaxial Mat. Woven fiberglass fabric does have many types of.

Biaxial Mat (BX)

It is the third type of fiberglass based on the method of production. Biaxial Mat or Biax Fiberglass is a fiber that, in its production, combines Woven Roving Mat and Chopped Strand Mat, which has maximum strength. The direction of the fiber strands forms 45 degrees, with CSM as the bottom layer. Thus, making BXi fiber stronger than CSM and WRM types.

The lack of use of fiber in layers is an advantage of the Biaxial Mat. Thus, it can save on the use of resin when compared to CSM and WRM. This type of fiberglass Biaxial Mat is called +/- 45 degrees, according to the direction of the fiber strands being formed. This makes the application of the Biaxial Mat very easy because it can follow the curve of the surface.

These types of fiberglass (CSM, WRM, and BX) are suitable for the manufacture of goods that require leakage resistance with an economic value that has a good level of strength but does not demand lightweight properties. Examples of applications of this type of fiberglass include; a water tank, canoe, surfboard, boat, and so on. Types of fiberglass according to the method of production are quite diverse, as well as the type of woven fiberglass fabric.

Carbon Fiber

The application of fiberglass for products that demand the lightweight nature of the product but still have strong properties can use Carbon Fiber (CF) or also called Graphite Fiber. This type of fiber has been popular since the seventies and has been mass-produced in line with the increasing market demand for fiberglass with strong but lightweight characteristics.

Another advantage of this carbon fiber is that it has resistance to extreme hot and cold temperatures. In addition, Carbon Fiber also has good resistance to large chemical reactions. Carbon fiber is widely applied to the manufacture of aircraft, defense weapons, racing cars, racing bicycles, fishing gear, and other needs.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass measurements are made based on the weight of the material, unlike measurements on regular fabrics, which are based on width. So, the correct fiberglass measurement is 200gr, 300gr, which means the weight of the roll per meter is 200 and 300 grams.

But in reality, fiberglass is sold per meter in weight per square meter. This sometimes confuses the type of glass fiber to buy. The importance of the size of the weight and not the width is because the glass fiber is designed according to the use of resins that are adjusted to the weight to ensure the resulting strength.

Thus, knowing the weight of glass fiber per meter can determine the amount of resin and glass fiber that we must prepare for the surface area. This aims to reduce waste and difficulty in determining the appropriate price. Therefore, you need to consider the type of fiberglass that suits your needs. You need a Fiberglass Chopped Strand Mat, Woven Roving Mat, Biaxial Mat, or woven fiberglass fabric.