Design considerations
- Fiber type
- Glass provides strength and insulation; aramids provide impact resistance; quartz supports low dielectrics and thermal resistance.
- Fabric construction
- Woven fabrics interlace warp and fill yarns. Nonwovens bond a fiber matrix. Unidirectional and bidirectional constructions control strength direction.
- Weave pattern
- Plain, basket, leno, four-harness satin, eight-harness satin, and twill influence stability, drapability, and thickness.
- Weight and thickness
- Glass fabric weights typically span 0.50 to 52 ounces per square yard (17 to 1,773 gsm); thicknesses span 0.001 to 0.060 inches.
- Finish
- Post-weaving surface treatments support the intended downstream application and resin system.
Advantages of composite materials
Properly designed composites offer design flexibility, manufacturing productivity, durability, strength-to-weight performance, and dimensional stability.
Industries and applications
Applications include aerospace structures, protective systems, PCB substrates, power insulation, industrial belting, and recreational equipment.