Understanding Fiberglass Reinforcements: Types, Uses, and Benefits.

Fiberglass fabrics are essential materials in various industries, offering strength, durability, and versatility. In this guide, we’ll explore four popular types of fiberglass fabrics: fiberglass cloth, chopped strand mat (CSM), biaxial woven fiberglass and woven roving. We’ll cover what they are, their uses, and their benefits.

Fiberglass Cloth

Fiberglass cloth is a woven fabric made from fine glass fibers. It is known for its strength and flexibility, making it a popular choice for reinforcing and repairing surfaces. It comes in a variety weights and widths. It also comes in different weaves such as plain weave, satin weave and twill weave.

Uses:

Marine Applications: Ideal for boat repairs and building, providing a strong, lightweight layer.

Automotive Industry: Used to repair or reinforce car parts and panels.

Construction: Strengthens wood, fiberglass or other materials. 

Benefits:

*High Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Provides reinforcement without adding significant weight.

*Flexibility: Adapts to various shapes and contours.

*Durability: Resists impact, abrasion, and corrosion.

Chopped Strand Mat (CSM)

Chopped Strand Mat is a non-woven mat of randomly oriented glass fibers held together by a styrene binder. It is known for its ease of use and suitability for creating complex shapes. It builds up thickness quickly and is great to use in conjunction with fiberglass cloth or woven roving. It is also known as fiberglass mat.

Uses:

Composite Manufacturing: Commonly used in boat hulls, automotive parts, mold making and structural panels.

Repairs: Ideal for patching and repairing damaged fiberglass. 

Benefits:

*Ease of Use: Simple to apply and conforms to irregular shapes. It also prevents print through which is the fiberglass cloth weave showing through the resin or gel coat. It is often used as the first layer in a mold or the final layer of a laminate when aesthetics are an issue.

*Good Wet Out: If enough resin is added, it wets out the mat thoroughly, creating strong bonds. Chopped strand mat is compatible with polyester and vinyl ester resins. It is not compatible with epoxy resin because of the styrene binder.

*Cost-Effective: Generally more affordable than woven fabrics.

*Pairs well with woven roving. It fills in the gaps in the roving weave, creating a strong laminate.

Biaxial Knit Woven Fiberglass

Biaxial woven fiberglass is a type of fiberglass fabric where the fibers are woven in two directions (typically 0° and 90°). This orientation enhances its strength and rigidity. The most popular biaxial is known as 1708.

Uses:

*High-Strength Applications: Used in high-performance composites, such as in the marine industry, automotive, and sporting equipment. It is very popular in the construction of boats and decks.

*Structural Reinforcement: Provides excellent strength and durability for structural components.

Benefits: 

*Superior Strength: Offers high tensile and compressive strength due to its bi-directional fiber orientation.

*Rigid and Durable: Provides excellent resistance to stress and strain.

*Versatile: Suitable for a wide range of applications from high-performance sports equipment to structural components.

Woven Roving

Woven roving is a heavy weight fiberglass fabric that adds strength and builds thickness quickly. It is made up of bi-directional bundles that are oriented at 0º/90º. It is best paired with chopped strand mat to help with laminating additional layers together. The mat fills in the large gaps found in the weave of the roving.

Uses: 

*Large Applications: Used in large, flat applications such as boat decks and pools where strength is needed.

*Building Thickness Quickly: Great for applications that require a thick laminate. 

Benefits:

*Powerful: Offers high tensile and impact strength.

*Cost effective: A budget friendly way to build up thickness quickly on flat surfaces.

*Compatibility: When used in conjunction with chopped strand mat, it is compatible with polyester and vinyl ester resins. The chopped strand mat makes it incompatible with epoxy resin systems. The benefit of layering it with chopped strand mat is that it creates a stronger bond. The mat will also help avoid any print through from the woven roving weave.

Conclusion

Each type of fiberglass fabric—fiberglass cloth, chopped strand mat, biaxial woven fiberglass and woven roving—has unique characteristics that make it suitable for different applications. By understanding their uses and benefits, you can select the right material for your project and achieve the desired performance. Whether you’re reinforcing a boat, repairing a car, or creating high-strength composites, fiberglass fabrics offer a reliable solution for your needs.

Still not sure which fiberglass to choose for your project? Give us a call at 877-877-4133 or email at support@truecomposites.com . Our customer service reps are here to help!