Glass fabric 160 g/m² (twill weave), width 100 cm

This 160 g/m² E-glass fabric combines a fine twill construction with good conformability and reliable processing characteristics. It is particularly suitable for thin GFRP laminates where low laminate thickness, good drapability and a uniform surface are required.

Benefits of the Fabric

The twill weave provides good drapability. Compared with a comparable plain-weave fabric, the lower number of yarn interlacings allows greater movement within the fabric structure. This enables the reinforcement to conform more readily to curves, radii and three-dimensional contours.

EC 9-66 glass yarn is used in both the warp and weft directions. With 12.0 ends/cm in the warp direction and 11.5 picks/cm in the weft direction, the yarn distribution is very similar in both principal directions, resulting in a largely uniform fibre distribution.

The fine fabric structure can be wetted out uniformly with a suitable resin system. When fully impregnated, the glass fabric becomes highly transparent. This is particularly advantageous for thin surface plies and applications where the substrate or underlying laminate should remain visually apparent.

Applications

The 160 g/m² twill fabric is suitable for lightweight laminates, surface reinforcement and moulded GFRP components. Its good drapability makes it particularly useful where the dry reinforcement must conform to curved or three-dimensional component geometries.

Typical applications:

• Curved and three-dimensional GFRP components
• Model aircraft and general model-making applications
• Moulded parts and lightweight composite structures
• Surface and facing plies in GFRP laminates
• Sports and leisure equipment
• High-transparency laminates and surface reinforcement

Suitable Resin Systems

The modified silane finish is suitable for processing with epoxy and polyester resin systems. Low-viscosity laminating resins are advantageous for thin laminates, as they facilitate uniform wet-out of the fine fabric structure.

For mechanically demanding lightweight components, epoxy resin systems are commonly used, particularly where high mechanical properties, good adhesion and low cure shrinkage are required.

Calculated Data for Hand Lay-Up Laminates with 35 Vol.-% Fibre Content

Benefits of the 100 cm Width

The 100 cm working width provides convenient handling for small to medium-sized moulded parts, model components and general composite structures. The fabric can be laid out, cut and positioned efficiently without the handling difficulties associated with very wide reinforcement fabrics.

Components within the available fabric width can be covered with a continuous ply without an additional longitudinal joint. For smaller components, multiple cut pieces can be arranged efficiently across the fabric width to reduce material waste.

Technical Notes

Twill Weave
The twill construction provides good drapability and allows the reinforcement to conform readily to curved and three-dimensional geometries. Compared with plain weave, however, the fabric has lower resistance to yarn displacement and should therefore be handled carefully during cutting and positioning.

Wet-Out and Transparency
The laminating resin should be applied uniformly until the fabric is completely wetted out. Full impregnation significantly increases the transparency of the glass reinforcement. Excess resin should nevertheless be avoided, as it increases laminate weight and thickness without increasing the fibre content.

Processing
The dry fabric should be cut carefully and positioned with minimal distortion. Particularly on curved components, the twill structure can be used to conform the reinforcement to the mould contour without unnecessarily distorting the yarn orientation.

Resin Application
The resin should be applied uniformly and in the quantity required for complete wet-out. Resin-rich areas should be avoided, as they add weight without contributing to the fibre-related reinforcement.

Calculated Laminate Data
The stated values are calculated for a hand lay-up laminate with a fibre volume fraction of 35%. Actual resin consumption, laminate thickness and laminate weight depend on the resin system, processing method and fibre volume fraction achieved in practice.