The Introduction of Alkaline-resistant Fiberglass Mesh (May 5, 2009)

Fiberglass mesh fabrics are widely used in the construction industry round the world to reinforce the tensile impact and flexural strengths of plasters, renderings (stuccos), screeds etc.

They are also used as an integral part of External Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS) or in other words, External Thermo Insulating Composite Systems (ETICS).

Fiberglass mesh fabrics are manufactured from glass yarns. The quality of the yarn bears a direct impact ¦Ïn the quality of the final product.

So when you compare fiberglass mesh fabrics, you should compare apples with apples!

The environment of the cement mixes (plasters, renderings or stuccos, screeds etc.) is very caustic due to the high alkalinity of cement and lime.

To withstand this caustic/alkaline environment the yarns have to be protected with a substance resistant to strong alkalis.

Most usually an acrylic acid copolymer or an SBR latex play this role.

The fabric is immersed in a liquid bath and its yarns are completely covered with the protective substance. Now the fiberglass mesh fabric is alkali resistant.

Alkali resistant fiberglass mesh fabrics vary a lot with the weight. Usually this weight ranges from 50-450 gr/m².

Obviously the heavier products are stronger, with a higher impact and tensile strength and they are used in places where high stresses are present.

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