Biaxial fabric

A stitched reinforcement in which two or more layers of fibres at different orientations, as in biaxial, triaxial and quadraxial constructions, are combined in a single fabric. It allows several plies to be laid in one operation, cutting layup time on large structures such as wind turbine blades and boat hulls.

A family of reinforcements in which straight, uncrimped layers of fibre are held together by stitching or bonding rather than by weaving. Avoiding crimp improves stiffness, strength and fatigue performance compared with equivalent woven fabrics, and the format suits automated handling and the infusion of large parts.

A reinforcement in which nearly all fibres run in a single direction, held together by light stitching, a binder or occasional weft threads. It delivers the highest stiffness and strength along the fibre axis and is used where loads are strongly directional, for example wind blade spar caps and bonded strengthening plates.

A closed-mould process in which dry reinforcement is laid into a mould, sealed under a vacuum bag, and liquid resin is drawn through the fibre stack by vacuum alone. It achieves higher fibre content and lower void levels than open moulding, with much lower workshop emissions.