Uni-Directional and Bi-Directional

Two types of glass cloth, a bi-directional cloth and a uni-directional cloth are used. BID cloth has half of
the fibers woven parallel to the selvage edge of the cloth and the other half at right angles to the selvage,
giving the cloth the same strength in both directions. UND cloth has 95% of the glass fibers woven parallel
to the selvage, giving exceptional strength in that direction and very little at right angles to it. BID is
generally used for pieces which are cut at a 45 angle to the selvage, a bias cut, which enables the builder
to lay BID into contours with very little effort and provides the needed shear and torsion stiffness for flying
surfaces. UND is used in areas where the primary loads are in one direction, such as wing skins and spar
caps. Multiple layers of glass cloth are laminated together to form the aircraft structure. Each layer of
cloth is called a "ply".

A unidirectional (UD) fabric is one in which the majority of fibres run in one direction only. A small amount
of fibre or other material may run in other directions with the main intention being to hold the primary
fibres in position, although the other fibres may also offer some structural properties. Some weavers of
0/90 fabrics term a fabric with only 75% of its weight in one direction as a unidirectional, whilst for others
the unidirectional designation only applies to those fabrics with more than 90% of the fibre weight in one
direction. Unidirectionals usually have their primary fibres in the 0 direction (along the roll a warp UD)
but can also have them at 90 to the roll length (a weft UD).

True unidirectional fabrics offer the ability to place fibre in the component exactly where it is required,
and in the optimum quantity (no more or less than required). As well as this, UD fibres are straight and
uncrimped. This results in the highest possible fibre properties from a fabric in composite component
construction. For mechanical properties, unidirectional fabrics can only be improved on by prepreg
unidirectional tape, where there is no secondary material at all holding the unidirectional fibres in place.
In these prepreg products only the resin system holds the fibres in place.
Woven Roving

Woven Roving is used in laminating open mold fiberglass parts where strength and laminate bulk is
required.

Woven Roving is single-end roving in thick fiber bundles that are woven in a 00/900 (warp and weft)
orientation much like standard textiles on a weaving loom. Woven roving is a staple of open mold
applications commonly used in conjunction with chopped strand mat or gun roving. It is produced in a
variety of weights and widths and can be balanced with the same number of rovings in each direction or
unbalanced with more rovings in one direction. Other fibers like carbon or aramid can also be produced
in a woven roving form and fibers can mixed into hybrid reinforcements. Woven roving is very drapable
and conforms to complex shapes.

Chopped Strand Mat

Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) is a widely used traditional reinforcement solution.

Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) is a random fiber mat that provides equal strength in all directions and is used
in a variety of hand lay-up and open-mold applications. Chopped strand mat is produced by chopping
continuous strand roving into short 1.5 to 3 inch lengths and dispersing the cut fibers randomly over a
moving belt to from a sheet of random fiber mat. A binder is applied to hold the fibers together and the
mat is trimmed and rolled. Because of is random fiber orientation, chopped strand mat conforms easily
to complex shapes when wet-out with polyester or vinyl ester resins. Chopped strand mats are available
as a roll stock product produced in a variety of weights and widths to suite specific applications.
Multi Axial

Multiaxial fabrics technology allows fabric construction

with up to five layers of fibres oriented in different
directions and stitched together to form a single
reinforcement. Multiaxial fabrics is non-crimp, multi-
axis and multi-layered reinforcements. Layer count,
orientation, weight and fiber content of the layers vary
based on product line and application. The layers are
stitched via polyester yarn. Multiaxial fabrics can be
produced using multiple axis(0,90 ,+45,-45),or
combined with chopped mat and multiple layers of veil
and/or non-woven materials. The typical application of
this kind of products are wind energy, marine/ship
building, recreation/leisure products, automotive,
aerospace & defense etc.

Properties:

Increased strength, reduced product weight and

better surface finish.
Orientated unidirectional layers are structurally more
efficient
Quicker to wet-out than woven fabrics
Available in very heavy weights allowing faster
deposition rates
Binderless CSM can be added to further cut down on
lay-up time and increase speed of wet-out

Application:

It's mostly applied to wind blade, pultrusion profiles,

fiberglass moulds, boats and others.