What Are Welding Blankets Made Of
Like most things, when it comes to welding blankets, there is no one single material that 'does it all. Welding blankets and drapes are made from various fabrics, each offering different temperature resistance properties, price points, and specific benefits.
What Is The Best Welding Blanket Fabric To Use?
Selecting the best welding blanket will depend on the application. Refer to this welding blanket selection chart and the following materials information for assistance with matching the best Weldclass blanket to your application.
The Pros And Cons Of Different Welding Blanket Fabrics
The following table outlines the materials that welding blankets are typically made from, with their advatanges and disadvantages.
|
Material
|
Some Advantages
|
Some Disadvantages / Further Comments
|
Weldclass
Blanket
Examples
|
|
Cowhide Leather
|
- High density, resists spark penetration
- Non-irritant
- Economical
- Relatively strong
|
- Relatively low temperature resistance (typically 200oc max)
- Can absorb oils and solvents, which can then become a fire hazard
|
PROMAX Leather
|
|
Glass Fibre (Fibreglass)
|
- Typical temperature resistance of up to 500oc, may be capable of higher temperature if specially treated or coated
- Strong and chemical resistant
- Economical
|
- Can shed fibres / dust which is irritating and uncomfortable to handle
- Being a woven fabric, sparks can penetrate the blanket after some wear & tear
- Coatings can reduce irritation & improve durability, however some coatings have lower temperature resistance than the fabric, and can burn and give off undesirable or even toxic fumes
|
PROMAX WB550
PROMAX WB1000
|
|
Silica Glass
|
- High temperature resistance of up to 1100oc
- Softer and more flexible than fibreglass, more comfortable to handle
- Very low thermal conductivity, makes it particularly effective for applications that require maintaining consistent temperatures and preventing heat loss or gain.
|
- While more comfortable than fibreglass can still shed fibres / dust
- Not as strong as fibreglass
- Being a woven fabric, sparks can penetrate the blanket after some wear & tear
- Coatings can reduce irritation & improve durability, however some coatings have lower temperature resistance than the fabric, and can burn and give off undesirable or even toxic fumes
|
PROMAX WB1100
|
|
Carbon Fibre / Felt
|
- High temperature resistance of up to 1000oc & more
- Soft, flexible and non-irritant
- Relatively lightweight
|
- Very porous fabric, readily absorbs oils and solvents, which can then become a fire hazard
- Less resistant to chemicals etc vs fibreglass
- Higher cost than fibreglass, especially when used in volume or larger sizes
- Not recommended for heat-treatment / stress-relief
|
Not currently offered
by Weldclass |
|
Bespoke Materials
|
|
PLATINUM WB1250+
|
Weldclass Welding Blanket Range Welding Blanket Selection Chart
