Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Fibreglass Layer Query

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic13671.aspx

By jm_aw - 11/7/2014 10:55:32 PM

Hi from Chester by the way!

I'm a designer and manufacturer of surfboards, and i'm working on a few projects in which i'm trying to minimise weight without sacrificing strength, particularly compression strength.

Currently, the deck of my boards use 2 layers of 4oz (~113g) woven S Glass with PE resin.

I have an idea to use one layer of biaxial 320g fibreglass with epoxy resin on the deck. From what I've read, biaxial glass is more effective in distributing compressive loads across the laminate, so will this construction result in a strong but compression resistant laminate?

Both constructions are laminated around a PU foam core...
By wozza - 11/8/2014 6:11:31 AM

Welcome, good to have another Northerner on board.Smile
Using biaxial will certainly give you a stronger laminate compared to woven. The fibres are running much straighter and flatter so tensile strength is higher, one layer of biaxial is effectively two layers of uni directional at 90 degrees.
It's more awkward to work with than woven especially with wet lay as the fibres are only held together with intermittent cross stitching. Surface finish won't be as flat either so may require more finishing work compared to woven.
Warren