The following is to help select what product may be the best for you application.[spacer height=”10px”]
Material selection:[spacer height=”10px”]
The following table compares properties of a number of materials (values are for comparison only):[spacer height=”15px”]
Product | Tensile strength | Strength/same weight | High temp | Easy cut | Price | Abrasion resistant |
mPa | reference is glass | |||||
High strength steel | 690 | 230 | yes | no | na | na |
Nylon | 45 | 100 | no | yes | low | good |
Glass: plain weave | 3600 | 3600 | yes | yes | mid | ok |
glass: twill weave | 3600+ | 3600+ | yes | yes | mid | ok |
Glass: satin weave | 3600+ | 3600+ | yes | yes | mid | ok |
Glass: 6 oz / 200g | 3600 | 3600 | yes | yes | mid | ok |
Glass: 9 oz / 300 g | 3600 | 3600 | yes | yes | mid | ok |
Glass roving 24 oz / 800 g | 3600 | 3600 | yes | yes | mid | ok |
Basalt Glass | 4850 | 4850 | yes++ | yes | higher | better |
Aramid (Kevlar) fiber | 3600 | 6400 | no | no | highest | best |
Carbon fiber | 5650 | 8500 | yes+++ | yes | highest | no |
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Glass, Kevlar and Carbon are much stronger than steel and nylon. Glass will provide high strength, is reasonably priced, but is heavier than Kevlar and Carbon.
If you need great strength and resistance to abrasion, Kevlar is your choice.
If you need high strength and low weight, carbon is your choice.[spacer height=”20px”]
Fabric selection:[spacer height=”10px”]
The type of weave and the yarn used impact the physical properties of the fabric.
The following table provides a comparison of what a weave does to a fabric:[spacer height=”20px”]
Item changed | Strength | Weight | Permeability | Thickness |
More # ends in weft | higher | higher | lower | higher |
More # ends in warp | higher | higher | lower | higher |
Larger Size of the ends | higher | higher | lower | higher |
Plain weave | s | s | s | s |
4h Satin weave | + | s | + | – |
8h satin weave | ++ | s | ++ | — |
Twill weave | + | s | + | – |
Mock leno weave | – | s | ++ | +++ |
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The cost of the fabric goes up with the weight of the fabric and also with some of the more complex weaves.