Continuous Strand Mat (CSM) Continuous Filament Mat (CFM)
Continuous Filament Mat (CFM), most commonly known in the industry as Continuous Strand Mat (CSM), is a fundamental non-woven reinforcement material widely used in the fabrication of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites. It is characterized by its unique structure of uncut, endless glass filaments laid down in a random swirl pattern and bonded together with a chemical binder.
Specifications
Advantages
- Excellent Mechanical Properties
- Superior Conformability/Drape
- Fast Wet-Out
- Good Isotropic Behavior
- Enhanced Permeation Resistance
Applications
- Pultrusion: Serves as a core reinforcement, providing transverse strength and surface smoothness.
- Filament Winding: Used as a inner liner or as part of the structural wall in pipes and pressure vessels for enhanced hoop strength and leak prevention.
- Hand Lay-up / Spray-up: Often combined with chopped strand mat to build thickness and improve structural performance.
- Resin Infusion (RTM, VARTM): Its open structure facilitates consistent resin flow and high fiber content.
- Compression Molding (SMC): Incorporated as a reinforcing layer in Sheet Molding Compound.
