Differences between the material structure of Fiberglass Surfacing Veil and ordinary glass fiber

1. Type and form of fiber
Fiberglass Surfacing Veil:
Fiberglass Surfacing Veil is a material made of very fine glass fibers. Its fiber diameter is usually 5 to 10 microns, which is much smaller than the diameter of ordinary glass fibers. These fine glass fibers are processed into a uniform thin layer through a non-woven fabric process or an air-laid process. Due to the small fiber diameter, the material structure of Surfacing Veil is lighter and thinner, and the fiber distribution between layers is looser. This structure enables Surfacing Veil to penetrate quickly during the resin impregnation process, providing better surface coverage and consistency.

Ordinary glass fiber:
Ordinary glass fiber has a larger diameter, usually between 10 and 20 microns. It can be processed in the form of long fibers or short fibers, which mainly play a role in strengthening the structure in the material. Ordinary glass fibers are usually made into continuous long fibers through drawing technology during the production process. These long fibers can be further woven into cloth, felt, cloth strips, etc., or they can be blown into short fibers. Since ordinary glass fiber has a thicker fiber diameter, it has a higher mechanical strength and is suitable for providing reinforcement.

2. Fiber Arrangement
Fiberglass Surfacing Veil:
The fiber arrangement of Surfacing Veil is irregular, usually randomly interwoven. This structure makes the thickness of Surfacing Veil uniform and can form a uniform protective layer on the surface of the composite material. Due to its loose fiber arrangement, Surfacing Veil can more easily form good adhesion with the surface of the composite material after combining with the resin, thereby enhancing the smoothness, corrosion resistance, and UV resistance of the composite surface layer.

Ordinary glass fiber:
Ordinary glass fiber has a variety of fiber arrangements, which can be directional (such as unidirectional fiber cloth or fabric) or randomly interwoven (such as glass fiber mat). In composite materials, the arrangement of glass fibers is usually selected according to the needs of the application to provide strength and rigidity in different directions. Directed fibers can provide higher tensile strength and bending resistance, while randomly interwoven fibers are more suitable for providing isotropic reinforcement.

3. Material thickness and density
Fiberglass Surfacing Veil:
Surfacing Veil is usually thinner, with a thickness of 50 to 150 g/m2. Its thin layer structure means that it is mainly used to enhance the surface rather than provide structural support. Due to its thin and dense structure, Surfacing Veil can effectively form a protective film on the surface of the composite material, providing additional smoothness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, but it does not bear the main load of the composite material.

Ordinary fiberglass:
Ordinary fiberglass is usually thicker and denser than Surfacing Veil. Its thickness can be adjusted according to specific application requirements, usually between 200 g/m2 and several kilograms/m2, or even thicker. Ordinary fiberglass plays a structural reinforcement role in composite materials. Its thickness and density are directly related to the strength and rigidity of the composite material, especially the tensile, bending and compressive properties of the enhanced composite material.

4. Production process and structure formation
Fiberglass Surfacing Veil:
The production process of Surfacing Veil usually adopts non-woven fabric technology, or uses air-laid process to blow the fibers and evenly lay them into a net. These fine glass fibers are interwoven together through different processing methods to form a thin membrane structure. This process ensures the consistency and thinness of the surface of Surfacing Veil, allowing it to quickly penetrate the resin and form a uniform surface layer. The structural characteristics of Surfacing Veil enable it to remain light and have a flat surface during the resin curing process.

Ordinary glass fiber:
The production process of ordinary glass fiber is relatively traditional, and the molten glass is usually drawn into long fibers by drawing technology. These long fibers can be formed into different forms of glass fiber products such as fabrics, felts, cloth strips, etc. by weaving, laying or rolling. Its production process emphasizes the strength and rigidity of the fiber, so its material structure pays more attention to providing reinforcement and support.

5. Main functions and applications
Fiberglass Surfacing Veil:
The main function of Surfacing Veil is to provide surface protection and aesthetics for composite materials. It plays a protective role in the surface layer of the composite material, which can increase the corrosion resistance, UV resistance, moisture resistance and chemical erosion resistance of the composite material. It can also improve the smoothness of the composite material, giving the final product a better appearance. In addition, Surfacing Veil can also effectively prevent the penetration of resin and the exposure of glass fiber, thereby improving the durability of the composite material.

Ordinary glass fiber:
The main function of ordinary glass fiber is to enhance the structural properties of composite materials, especially in providing strength, stiffness and durability. It is widely used in the manufacture of the core structural part of composite materials, usually by combining with resin to form a stronger composite material system. Ordinary glass fiber is widely used in construction, automobiles, aerospace and other fields, and undertakes the main task of improving the strength and toughness of composite materials.