A unidirectional (UD) fabric is one in which the majority of fibres run in one direction only. A small amount of fibre or other material may run in other directions with the main intention being to hold the primary fibres in position, although the other fibres may also offer some structural properties. Some weavers of 0/90° fabrics term a fabric with only 75% of its weight in one direction as a unidirectional, whilst for others the unidirectional designation only applies to those fabrics with more than 90% of the fibre weight in one direction. Unidirectionals usually have their primary fibres in the 0° direction (along the roll ­ a warp UD) but can also have them at 90° to the roll length (a weft UD).

True unidirectional fabrics offer the ability to place fibre in the component exactly where it is required, and in the optimum quantity (no more or less than required). As well as this, UD fibres are straight and uncrimped. This results in the highest possible fibre properties from a fabric in composite component construction. For mechanical properties, unidirectional fabrics can only be improved on by prepreg unidirectional tape, where there is no secondary material at all holding the unidirectional fibres in place. In these prepreg products only the resin system holds the fibres in place.

Unidirectional Construction

There are various methods of maintaining the primary fibres in position in a unidirectional including weaving, stitching, and bonding. As with other fabrics, the surface quality of a unidirectional fabric is determined by two main factors: the combination of tex and thread count of the primary fibre and the amount and type of the secondary fibre. The drape, surface smoothness and stability of a fabric are controlled primarily by the construction style, while the area weight, porosity and (to a lesser degree) wet out are determined by selecting the appropriate combination of fibre tex and numbers of fibres per cm.

Warp or weft unidirectionals can be made by the stitching process. However, in order to gain adequate stability, it is usually necessary to add a mat or tissue to the face of the fabric. Therefore, together with the stitching thread required to assemble the fibres, there is a relatively large amount of secondary, parasitic material in this type of UD fabric, which tends to reduce the laminate properties. Furthermore the high cost of set up of the 0° layer of a stitching line and the relatively slow speed of production means that these fabrics can be relatively expensive.

TEI provides high quality Structural UD Fabric and UD Aramid Woven for customers. If you need more details about unidirectional fabrics, welcome to visit our website and feel free to contact Taiwan Electric Insulator Co. Ltd.

Article Source: http://netcomposites.com/guide-tools/guide/reinforcements/unidirectional-fabric/