From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The properties and applications of wire-reinforced fabric plastic.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\2\ scan0056 | |
| Date | 1st December 1939 guessed | |
| WIRE REINFORCED FABRIC PLASTIC. Warp and Weft. The fact that the strength of an impregnated fabric is in practice solely dependent on the strength of the fabric used has led to the idea of increasing the strength, by replacing a certain proportion of the fibres with wires made from steel of high tensile strength; and the reinforcement being both warp and weft, stability is given to the structure, and balance to the material. Strength - Weight - Thickness. There is no standard sheet - the fabric can be made to almost any strength and thickness; the object has been to select and arrange wires of high tensile strength - which are woven in the fabric - so that the fabric will serve the particular purpose for which it will be used - building up the required number of "layer units" to the degree of strength and resilience required. For example, two layer unit sheets have been produced containing in each layer, and to each inch, 12 wires (24 wires in 2 ply); 8 of these wires have a guaranteed breaking strain of 135 tons to the square inch, and each 4th wire a tensile strength of 220 tons per square inch, and this two ply sheet weighs but 4.50 ozs. to the square foot, with thickness of .032". Another thinner and lighter material has been made, with 16 wires to the inch, in each layer (32 wires in 2 ply) and although these wires are finer, they have a breaking strain of 160 tons to the square inch. The two layer unit sheets above described are meant as covering for controls - or wings, or parts of wings of aeroplanes. Greater thickness is obtained by moulding together the number of single sheets required. The warp and weft reinforcing wires, the arrangement and size of these wires, and the "spring" caused thereby enable the sheets to be sprung to double curvature, to a much greater extent than with sheet metal. Smooth Wing Surface. The glass smooth surface of the fabric is exceedingly important as it reduces aerial friction and, as established by trial flights, this applies equally to fluid motion on an aeroplane wing passing through air - the formation of ice being lessened, with a consequent increase of speed of the machine. Attachment. The thin sheets (one or two ply) for use as covering, can be drilled, punched, sheared and sawn, and eyelets, which may be fixed to rivet holes, add resistance to strain. .1. | ||