ISO 2558:2010

Overview - ISO 2558:2010 (Textile glass chopped‑strand mats, binder dissolution in styrene)

ISO 2558:2010 specifies a standardized laboratory method to determine the time of dissolution of the binder in textile glass chopped‑strand mats when immersed in styrene. The test measures the time required for a tensile load to break the bond between strands of the mat (i.e., when a lower clamp falls a set distance). This standard is intended for use in quality control, materials characterization and comparative testing of reinforcement mats used in plastics and composite manufacture.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and principle: A vertically suspended test specimen is immersed in pure styrene (or a stabilized styrene‑in‑water emulsion) and loaded; the time to bond failure is recorded.
• Test specimens: Cut at least five specimens (100 mm × 125 mm) from a full‑width strip; specimens must be oriented with length parallel to roll direction and not cut nearer than 30 mm from trimmed edges.
• Conditioning: Condition specimens and the styrene (or emulsion) for 1 hour at the chosen temperature per ISO 291 (standard atmospheres).
• Apparatus:
  • Template and trimming tool for specimen preparation
  • Beaker (min. 2 000 ml, depth ≥195 mm)
  • Stainless steel sieve to fit beaker and support apparatus
  • Pair of stainless steel clamps (lower clamp mass 100 g ±2 g)
  • Stopwatch (accuracy 1 s)
• Solvent options: Styrene monomer (density 0.907) or stabilized emulsions at 80%, 60%, 40% or 20% styrene concentrations; emulsions can improve discrimination for highly soluble binders (only where binder is water‑insoluble).
• Procedure: Immerse specimen so styrene reaches the upper clamp, start timing when upper clamp touches beaker rim, stop when lower clamp touches sieve or discontinue after 10 min if no break.
• Results & reporting: Report individual times and the arithmetic mean (rounded to nearest second), test temperature, emulsion concentration (if used), mat identification and any deviations or incidents.

Practical applications and users

• Quality control laboratories in composite and reinforced‑plastics manufacturing
• Material suppliers and converters of textile glass chopped‑strand mats
• R&D teams evaluating binder formulations and mat compatibility with styrene‑based resins
• Procurement and specification engineers requiring reproducible binder‑dissolution data for supplier acceptance

Related standards

• ISO 291 - Plastics: standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing (referenced for test temperature and conditioning)
• ISO 2558:2010 is the second edition and replaces ISO 2558:1974 (minor revisions in specimen edge distance and conditioning requirements)

Keywords: ISO 2558:2010, textile glass chopped‑strand mats, binder dissolution, styrene, reinforcement of plastics, test method, specimen conditioning, quality control.