Why can't I find S-glass these days?

10-15 years ago I could find S-glass just about anywhere, but not so nowadays.

SP resins only lists a single 800gm uni and it's as expensive as 500gm carbon uni!!! Used to be about 50-66% of carbons price.

Any sources, anyone???

Especially europe.

 

s-glass

I used to use 6oz on occasion (200 gr) but can't find it anymore at reasonable cost. Currently when I need s-glass I'll use an 8.9oz aircraft weave. Pricing on it isn't too bad... probably 50% of what you'd pay for 6oz carbon. My source is Composites Canada in Mississauga (near Toronto).

 

Just found a source for woven s-glass (while looking for something else) in Must, Virginia in 4, 6 and 9 ounce weights.

John R Sweet Co

 

Fiber availability

People can't seem to find ANY fiber these days, especially carbon, Spectra, and S-glass. I think alot of S-glass is being used up in armoring for vehicles over in Iraq.. Sorry that I don't have any sources, but at least it's a viable reason for the shortage.

 

S-glass vs Basalt

I have found that Basalt fiber has slightly better mechanical properties than S-glass and much better UV resistance. It works well with both poly and epoxy resins. The only drawback I can find is that it is not transparent.

 

If someone is in the need:

I have a 50lm x 127cm (50" wide x approx 150') roll of S-Glass, unidirectional multiaxial (250 gr in 0 direction, 50gr in 90 direction) which I do not use.

Available for nice price (125 dollar or 100 euro) + shipping. Roll weighs approx 20 kgs or 45 lbs.

At this moment S-glass is hard to come by, E-glass is OK, Aramid is OK, just carbon is a disaster. Both in 3K and 12K.