In co-development with the startup company Fibrecoat, Vetrotex is developing a revolutionary glass fiber. Coated with aluminum, it can replace metal wires for many uses, for a much lower cost and energy consumption.

Presented for the first time in Paris, at the JEC World 2023 trade fair, AluCoat® is the first metal-coated glass fiber. It was designed and developed by Vetrotex and Fibercoat, a startup based in Aachen, Germany.

 Since May, it has been undergoing industrial production tests on a pilot line at the ADFORS plant in Gorlice, Poland. For these first tests, aluminum was preferred to other metals because of its lower melting temperature and its excellent electrical and thermal properties. 

Other possibilities may be explored later, depending on the characteristics required. This new fiber makes it possible to weave flexible textiles capable of replacing metallic or metallized fibers in many situations in the face of new thermal management applications linked to the rise of connectivity and electrification in our daily environments.

 In this high value-added market, it has the immense advantage of costing much less than purely metallic or metallized fibers and consuming much less energy to produce.

In parallel with the production tests, application trials are underway at Saint-Gobain Research Paris. “In addition to the qualities of AluCoat® wire, glass fiber offers flexibility, lightness and excellent mechanical properties,” says Jonas Bouchard, Business Development Manager at SG Vetrotex. “We have many opportunities to seize.” he adds. To this end, Saint-Gobain and Fibercoat have decided to forge closer ties. Backed by the very specific technical skills of the latter and the industrial and commercial strength of the former, AluCoat® is a solution to be followed closely”

Main applications 

• Shielding against electromagnetic interference, particularly that of 5G for defense, security or health equipment.
• Thermal management of equipment sensitive to heat transfer, such as batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, or of interior parts close to electronic systems.
• Lightning protection for composite parts for aeronautics or railways.
• Dissipation of electrostatic charges for the filtration market, floor coverings or the electronics industry.