How to choose fiberglass chopped strand mat for manufacturing FRP boat?

Asia composite materials (Thailand)co.,Ltd

The pioneers of fiberglass industry in THAILAND 

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When choosing high-quality fiberglass chopped strand mat for manufacturing fiberglass fishing boats, it’s essential to understand its advantages and suitability. Here’s a summary of the selection criteria, but it’s crucial to note that compatibility with the resin, particularly in terms of impregnation, is a significant factor. Therefore, the best approach is to conduct impregnation tests at the fiberglass boat manufacturing facility to confirm suitability.

Furthermore, fiberglass chopped strand mat are primarily used in hand lay-up molding processes, and products meeting the following conditions are generally considered high-quality:

1.Uniform weight per unit area. This factor is crucial as it affects both thickness and strength. Under light, it’s easier to identify products with significant unevenness, which can be seen with the naked eye. While uniformity in weight per unit area does not guarantee consistent thickness—since this also depends on the uniformity of the gap between the cold rollers—variations in mat thickness can lead to uneven resin content in the final fiberglass product. A more uniformly weighted mat tends to absorb resin more evenly. The standard test for uniformity involves cutting the mat into 300mm x 300mm pieces across its width, numbering them sequentially, weighing each piece, and calculating the weight deviation.

2.Even distribution of yarns without excessive accumulation in any area. The dispersibility of the chopped strands during production is a critical factor that affects the uniformity of the mat’s weight per unit area and the distribution of strands on the mat. After chopping, each strand bundle should disperse thoroughly. If some bundles do not disperse well, they can form thick streaks on the mat.

3.The surface should be free from roving fallout or delamination. The mechanical tensile strength of the mat indicates the quality of bonding between the strand bundles.

4.No dirt should be present on the mat.

5.The mat must be thoroughly dried. A mat that has absorbed moisture will fall apart when spread out and picked up again. A moisture content of less than 0.2% is generally acceptable for normal production processes.

6.Complete resin impregnation is crucial. The solubility of styrene can be used as a proxy for testing the mat’s solubility in polyester resin, as direct solubility testing in polyester can be time-consuming and difficult to quantify. Using styrene as an alternative has been accepted worldwide and standardized.

7.After resin impregnation, the yarns should not slacken.

8.The mat should be easy to degas.

These criteria help ensure the selection of a high-quality fiberglass mat, crucial for manufacturing durable and efficient fiberglass fishing boats.