Product Selector

The following is to help select what product may be the best for you application. Material selection: The following table compares properties of a number of materials (values are for comparison only):

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

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. Fabric selection: 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:

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	++	+++

The cost of the fabric goes up with the weight of the fabric and also with some of the more complex weaves.