According to Kevin Horne, President & CEO, “We closely examined our markets, searching for specific areas of product weakness. One of the recurring concerns for customers of composite reinforcements has been the instability of the stitch matrix that holds the reinforcement fibers in place. Existing warp/weft knit stitching technology was just not adequate for holding the fabric matrix together when cut into complex shapes.”
Horne explains, “During fabric/resin lay-up, when a stitch line is disturbed or fractured by a roller or brush, the stitch yarn can become caught and may very easily run out of the fabric.” This problem is similarly observed in woven fabrics, which tend to fall apart at the edges when cut into complex shapes. Horne continues, “The problem has been frequently reported and is very annoying to customers. You can imagine laminate workers trying to cut these yarns or strings (as they are called) with resin-gummed scissors. It’s a harrowing chore.”
The industry’s move towards computerized cutting tables, in order to save time and maximize pattern lay-ups, is accelerating the demand for fabrics that cut more cleanly, and which hold their edge without tangling up around the cutting head.
V2 is addressing this problem with its unique V-Lock™ non-run stitch technology. According to Horne, the V-Lock process welds the ascending stitches together on the loop side of the fabric only. The stitch medium remains polyester (as opposed to low-melt vinyl ester sheathing, etc.), therefore eliminating contamination or off-gassing during the lamination/cross-linking process.
V-Lock technology also makes it possible for fabrics to be bonded using a looser stitch. According to Horne, “Over-tension in stitching can restrict resin flow through and along the reinforcement fibers, forcing fibers to lay flatter in a lower profile and thereby increasing fiber volume fraction.”
Kevin Horne, president and CEO of V2 Composites, Inc. reports, “These high-performance reinforcement fabrics don’t unravel. The added value for customers is significant in terms of reduced waste and improved longevity of their pre-cut dry reinforcement materials.”
The V-Lock system is proprietary and involves precise thermal coupling management technology. According to Horne, the process takes place as the fabric is manufactured so that no secondary handling is required.
Horne concludes, “V-Lock technology is taking composite reinforcement fabrics to a higher level of performance. That’s good news for an industry that is aggressively pursuing value-added solutions for infrastructure, construction, heavy-duty transportation, sports and recreation, aerospace, automotive, marine, and other commercial applications.”








