Why use fiberglass with a liquid applied membrane?
A composite membrane material is made when two or more different substances with distinct properties combine to create a material with improved characteristics. In this technical bulletin, Dave Waldron (Stormcure CTO / National Technical Director) explores how chopped strand matting, or fiberglass reinforcement, combines with Stormcure hybrid polymer liquid resin technology to create a durable composite membrane that provides outstanding protection for your structures.
Stormcure’s liquid applied membranes utilize fiberglass reinforcement to impart outstanding tensile strength and shear resistance, while helping to control liquid consumption rates during application for a uniform, consistent membrane. Fiberglass reinforcement behaves very differently to a polyester non-woven fleece fabric, in that its properties change upon consolidation with the liquid applied membrane as it forms a new composite material.
Inspecting the dry matting can be somewhat misleading, in that it can easily be torn or ripped. This happens to be a big advantage for roofing contractors, who can quickly rip sections of matting for detailing work greatly reducing labor costs, while creating a feathered edges for perfectly invisible overlap to the main areas. This feature should not be misconstrued as weakness, however, as once the matting is consolidated with resin the properties change completely.
Before use, the randomly orientated glass filament strands are prominent and straight in shape. Each one of the filament bundles is made up of hundreds of individual glass fibers held together by a powder or emulsion binder, which dissolves in contact with the Stormcure resin. This releases the fibers to become free and separate, spreading out in a non-linear manner and dispersing themselves evenly throughout the base coat. This dispersion is crucial for ensuring that the fibers are fully impregnated with the resin, forming a continuous and strong composite membrane structure.
As the Stormcure liquid resin saturates the fibers, it also bonds to them chemically, creating a matrix where the glass fibers are embedded. The resin serves as the matrix material, while the glass fibers act as the reinforcement. The fibers provide the composite with strength, while the resin offers flexibility, waterproofness, and durability.
The final product is a reinforced fiberglass structural composite membrane, where the glass fibers are uniformly distributed and bonded to the resin, creating a material that is both lightweight and exceptionally strong. This is fundamentally different to polyester non-woven fleece, which acts more as a carrier for the liquid. The fleece is saturated with the liquid, ensuring a consistent coverage and creates a membrane with excellent flexibility, but not the same level of structural strength achieved through the formation of a composite membrane with fiberglass.
Stormcure liquid applied membranes is representative of our approach to high performance roofing, waterproofing and surfacing systems: we create solutions that don’t just perform on paper within a Product Data Sheet, we produce solutions that installers want to use due to their simplicity, speed, and results.
