Chopped Strand Mat
Binder less so it can be used with epoxy, this is a mat of chopped strands held together with a loosely stitched net on either side. The short strands are randomly oriented which means that the epoxy chopped strand mat composite has equal strength in all directions, that is it has isotropic strength. Unfortunately, the actual strength is quite low compared with what can be obtained using other fabrics. This is partly due to the short glass fiber lengths, but mostly it is due to the random arrangement of the chopped strand fibres which prevents them being packed tightly together. It is extremely conformable, that is you can get it to lie nicely round quite complicated shapes.Unlike most chopped strand mats, this is held together with a light glass net on either side of the mat. (Most have a glue or binder which glues them together, and the glue dissolves in the polyester (etc) resin, how-ever epoxy does not dissolve the binder and so those mats are not suitable for use with epoxy.)