ISO 2078:2022

Overview

ISO 2078:2022 - "Textile glass - Yarns - Designation" specifies a standardized system for designating textile glass yarns (including single, multiple-wound, folded/plied, cabled, textured yarns, strands, slivers and rovings) using their linear density expressed in the tex system. The standard provides a concise, machine-readable and human-readable naming convention that helps manufacturers, specifiers and buyers identify yarn composition and construction consistently.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Applies to textile glass yarn designation, aligning with ISO rules for yarn naming (see ISO 1139).
• Core designation elements:
  • Type of glass (single-letter codes such as E, D, A, C, S, R, AR, E‑CR, Q, QB, BF) indicating glass chemistry and general properties (e.g., electrical, chemical resistance, high silica).
  • Type of yarn letter (C = continuous, D = discontinuous, B = binary/composite).
  • Nominal fibre/filament diameter (1–2 digits in micrometres).
  • Linear density preferably expressed in tex (unit may be omitted when tex is used).
  • Twist direction and twist value (turns per metre) when applicable.
  • Number of constituents for plied, cabled or assembled yarns.
  • Optional manufacturer code to record additional information (sizing, finish, total linear density).
• Designation formats for different constructions:
  • Base yarns and tapes (e.g., EC10 40)
  • Simple yarns, textured yarns (e.g., EC9 34 Z 40; EC9 340 T352)
  • Plied/retwisted yarns, cabled yarns and assembled yarns with rules for simplified or full notations (examples: EC9 34 Z 150 × 2 S 100 × 3 Z 80)
  • Stratifil (global linear density for rovings/strands, e.g., EC10 2400)
• Referenced standards: ISO 1139 (yarn designation rules), ISO 2 (twist indication), ISO 472 (vocabulary).

Applications and users

Practical uses of ISO 2078:2022 include:

• Specification and procurement of glass yarns for composites, reinforcement fabrics, laminates, and technical textiles.
• Quality control and traceability in manufacturing, ensuring consistent material identification across suppliers.
• Product datasheets, test labs and certification bodies requiring unambiguous yarn descriptions.
• R&D and material selection for engineers designing fiber-reinforced components.

Who uses it:

• Glass yarn and fibre manufacturers
• Composite and textile fabricators
• Material engineers, procurement specialists and standards writers
• Test laboratories and quality assurance teams

Related standards

• ISO 1139 - Textiles: general rules for yarn designation
• ISO 2 - Indication of twist direction
• ISO 472 - Plastics vocabulary (relevant terms)

ISO 2078:2022 enables clear, consistent identification of textile glass yarn properties (glass type, construction, linear density and twist), improving specification accuracy and supply-chain communication for industries using glass fibre reinforcement.