Overview
ISO 2559:2011 - "Textile glass - Mats (made from chopped or continuous strands) - Designation and basis for specifications" defines a framework for specifying and designating textile glass mats used as reinforcement for plastics. It applies to mats made from chopped or continuous glass strands bonded by chemical or mechanical means and excludes surfacing mats, staple‑fibre mats and glass mats used for thermal/acoustic insulation.
This standard provides manufacturers, purchasers and testing labs with a common basis for product descriptions, required test methods, sampling, labelling and acceptable visual non‑conformities.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and exclusions: Applicable only to mats for plastic reinforcement; surfacing, staple‑fibre and insulation bats are excluded.
- Property categories:
- Characteristic properties (inform design/use): resin compatibility, glass type (ISO 2078), filament diameter, strand linear density & length, size type, bonding system, width, edges, roll length, binder solubility in styrene (ISO 2558).
- Controlled properties (routine quality control): mass per unit area (ISO 3374), percentage combustible matter (ISO 1887), dry tensile strength (ISO 3342), thickness (ISO 3616).
- Visual properties: uniform appearance, edge alignment, permissible defects (tears, holes, dirt, clumps, irregular edges).
- Designation: Structured into three blocks - mat type (chopped strand or continuous filament), mass per unit area and width, binder type/strand length/tex. Commercial name and edge/trimming codes may precede/follow.
- Labelling & traceability: Each roll/pallet must be labelled with manufacturer, mat type and traceability data (roll number, mass, length, production date).
- Sampling & conditioning: Procedures for roll selection, laboratory sampling and conditioning in standard atmospheres (ISO 291).
- Measurement guidance: Includes an informative Annex A method for determining the width of untrimmed mats.
Applications and users
ISO 2559:2011 is used by:
- Composite manufacturers specifying reinforcement mats for polyester, vinyl ester or epoxy laminates.
- Mat producers defining product specifications, production tolerances and labelling.
- Quality control and test laboratories performing standardized measurements (mass per unit area, tensile strength, thickness, binder solubility).
- Procurement and engineering teams requiring consistent product data for laminate design, material selection and supplier acceptance criteria.
Practical benefits include improved compatibility between mats and resins, clearer supplier–buyer agreements on tolerances and test methods, and streamlined quality control in composite manufacturing.
Related standards
ISO 2559 references and works alongside testing and conditioning standards such as:
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