Weitong Composite Leads with Cutting-Edge Woven Roving Technology
A fiberglass mat is a type of reinforcement material used in fiber‑reinforced composites. At its core, it consists of glass fibers (often E‑glass) that have been processed into a “mat” form — either randomly oriented fibers bonded together or more structured layers — which can then be saturated with resin (such as polyester, vinyl‑ester, or epoxy) and cured to form rigid composite parts.
Raw materials such as silica sand, limestone and other minerals are melted in furnaces, then extruded through fine orifices (spinnerets) to form continuous glass fibers.
The freshly drawn glass fibers are coated with a sizing (or coupling agent) to protect them during processing and to improve bonding with resin matrices.
Depending on the intended mat type, different forming methods are used:
For non‑woven mats like chopped strand mats, fibers (or rovings) are chopped into shorter lengths (e.g. ~25–50 mm) and randomly dispersed to form a web. Then a binder (powder or emulsion) is applied to hold the strands together.
For mats like woven roving / combo mats, continuous rovings may be woven or combined with chopped‑strand layers, then stitched with polyester yarn to integrate layers — often without chemical binder.
Other processes (for core mats, stitched mats, etc.) involve layering and stitching or bonding to build mats tailored for specific composite manufacturing methods.
The mats are rolled, packaged (often plastic wrap + carton), and stored with moisture control until use.
When resin is applied (e.g. in hand lay-up, RTM, vacuum infusion, pultrusion, filament winding), the fiberglass mat acts as reinforcement: after resin cures, the composite acquires high strength, stiffness, and other mechanical/physical properties.
Fiberglass mats bring a set of advantages that distinguish them from many other reinforcement or base‑materials — making them widely used in composites manufacturing:
Versus metals: fiberglass mats + resin yields composites that are lighter and corrosion‑resistant, yet with adequate strength — beneficial where weight or corrosion is a concern.
Versus fabrics or wovens: mats (especially chopped or non‑woven) offer better resin permeability, easier molding for complex shapes, and more isotropic behavior, though they may have lower directional strength than highly oriented fabrics.
Versus simple plastic or polymer parts: fiberglass mat–reinforced composites gain mechanical strength, stiffness, and durability far beyond what plain plastics can offer.
Here are 4 common mat types, as you requested:
Fiberglass core mat is a bulky, non-woven reinforcement material made by combining lightweight synthetic core layers with fiberglass. Its main purpose is to add thickness and stiffness without significantly increasing weight. Because the inner core improves resin flow and reduces print-through, core mat is widely used in large panels, RV parts, marine decks, and applications that require smooth surfaces and uniform thickness.
Fiberglass stitched mat is produced by layering continuous or chopped fibers and stitching them together with polyester yarn instead of using chemical binders. This creates a mat with higher structural strength, better resin permeability, and improved delamination resistance. Stitched mats are common in wind turbine blades, automotive structural parts, boat hulls, and composite components where high strength-to-weight performance is required.
A woven roving combo mat combines a layer of woven roving for directional strength with a chopped-strand layer for isotropic reinforcement. The two layers are mechanically stitched together, creating a hybrid mat that balances tensile strength, smooth resin wet-out, and easy handling. This type is popular in marine laminates, structural panels, tanks, and applications needing both strength and good surface finish.
Chopped strand mat is made from short fiberglass strands that are randomly dispersed and bonded into a uniform sheet. It offers consistent thickness, excellent moldability, and fast resin wet-out, making it the most widely used fiberglass mat. CSM is ideal for complex shapes, cost-efficient mass production, and general-purpose FRP parts such as boat hulls, pipes, panels, bathroom fixtures, and corrosion-resistant products.
Recent market analyses suggest that the demand for fiberglass mats (and fiberglass-based composites overall) will continue growing significantly over the next decade:
In short, the future outlook for fiberglass mats is promising: steadily growing market demand, expanding applications, and technological innovation will combine to raise their value and prevalence in composite manufacturing.
Fiberglass mats play a pivotal role in modern composite manufacturing. Consider a real-world scenario: a yacht manufacturer building a hull. By using a woven‑roving combo mat, they can ensure sufficient structural strength and directional reinforcement to resist water pressure and impact, while thanks to the chopped‑strand layer, achieve good resin wet‑out and uniform fiber distribution for smooth, high-quality finish — all with lower weight and cost than metal alternatives.
As global industries increasingly prioritize lightweight, durable, and cost‑effective composite materials — from automotive to wind energy to construction — fiberglass mats stand to become even more critical. For manufacturers and buyers alike, understanding the types, properties, and future trends of fiberglass mats is essential to selecting the right reinforcement and staying ahead in a competitive composites market.
