Glass Fiber

Encyclopedia : G : GL : GLA : Glass Fiber

Contents

1 Facts about Glass
2 History
3 Major Fiber Properties
4 Production Method
5 Producers of Glass Related Fiber Products by Company and Country
6 Trade Names
7 Uses and products made from glass fibers
8 Care
9 Other Information
10 Sources for More Information
11 References

Facts about Glass

Glass is defined by the Federal Trade Commission as, "Glass — a manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming substance is glass.” (1) There is a distinct difference between Glass Fibers and Fiberglass. Fiberglass is only one product that can be made from glass fibers. Glass fibers can be used in not only fiberglass, but also draperies, clothing, and other industrial applications.

4 billion pounds of glass are used per year. The market for glass is growing, while the inventories are low, and prices are high. This means that some companies are using less glass in their products, resulting in a lower quality product. (35)

Glass can be categorized as a manmade mineral fiber, or MMMF. Producing these fibers requires the methods of "drawing, a combination of blowing and centrifugal force, and flame attenuation”. The methods listed will "determine fiber size and the probability of occurrence of fibers within the respirable range." (23) It is important to note that studies are being undertaken to determine the health risks associated with occupational exposure to MMMF, but the results will not be available for the time being. Therefore, "industrial products must now, as far as possible, be proved safer rather than accepted as safe until proved otherwise”. (22)

Glass is also a high-tech fiber, which includes carbon and ceramic fibers. (29)

Glass can be recycled and used again.

History

Glass fibers have been made and used since ancient times by the Phoenicians. However, it was not until the 1920s that glass was first used commercially.

Major Fiber Properties

Glass fibers have many strong and desirable properties.

Incombustible
"Short term heat resistance at 800 degrees Fahrenheit"
"Thermal stability at 600 degrees Fahrenheit for 100 hours"
Heavy
Nonabsorbent
Resistant to sunlight
Rot and mildew resistance (2)
"Most chemicals have little or no effect on glass fiber. Glass fibers are affected by hydrofluoric, hot phosphoric acids, and strong alkaline substances". (3)
Doesn't stretch or shrink
High tensile strength of 9.6 grams/denier when dry and 6.7 grams/denier when wet
"100% elastic recovery when stressed close to its point of rupture" (3)

However, it might be a possible carcinogen.

Production Method

Glass contains five different ingredients, those are:

Sand
Silica
Limestone
Feldspar
Boric Acid

Then the above mentioned ingredients are heated to 2400˚F, in large a furnace, where the ingredients melt and start to fuse together. Two different types of fibers can be created, filament and staple fibers. In the creation of both fibers, there are holes in the bottoms of the melting chambers, to allow the fibers to escape. For filament fibers, the fine streams of liquid glass comes out the bottom of the melting chambers, and are carried down through holes in the floor, to a winder room. The winder room revolves faster then the glass comes down from the furnace. This strengthens the fibers and reduces them to the appropriate size needed for end production use. The creation of staple fibers is a little different. The glass still comes out in fine streams from the melting chamber. However, in staple fibers, jets of high pressure air or steam break those fine streams in to shorter fibers, eight to ten inches in length.

Producers of Glass Related Fiber Products by Company and Country

Beta Fiberglas by Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation
Johns Manville-producer of Illuma White; a facer for ceiling tiles with a pre-applied white coating, Duracore SF Plus; a fire-rated wallboard made from chopped fiberglass, and nonwoven glass mats, as well as roofing and flooring.
Clark-Schwebel fiberglass business
Schuller Filtration
Elk Corporation
Unitika
EDANA-producer of Solaris, a paper substitute
Culzean Fabrics-producers of "leaf springs and suspension devices for trailer trucks and trains”. (30)
Burton Company-producer of Burton Snowboard
Solar Integrated Technologies and Coatema-producers of photovoltaic (PV) roofing membranes
BSN Medical-producer of "non-fraying and non-irritant glass fiber orthopedic bindings for broken bones”. (10)

United States-manufacturer of S-2 glass fibers. The U.S. has continued to stay competitive in the field of fiberglass production, which was started there, alongside companies within the European Union and Japan.
Russia-manufacturer of Vertex; a high strength glass fiber (4)
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom; leading producers of high performance composites.

Trade Names

Fiberglas

Beta glass

Chemglass

J-M fiberglass

PPG fiberglass

Vitron

E-glass

Vetrotex RN glass fibers-used in conjunction with Cyanamide CYCOM 4102 polyester resin impreg as a woven fabric to be "evaluated for structural armor applications," where the "mechanical and ballistic properties of the fabric were compared with military standards." (14)

Borosilicate glass

Uses and products made from glass fibers

Related fields of glass fiber use:

Aerospace

Space suits
"Laminates based on polybenzimidazole and 1581-994S glass fabric," "have applications in the manufacture of laminates and adhesives for nose fairing, thermal insulation, aircraft leading edge, re-entry nose cones, radomes, de-icer ducts, and other components in which high temperature resistance is required." (9)

Automotive, land transportation, marine

Reinforcement fiber (boats, cars, airplane parts, repair for bridges and highways)

Construction and Architecture

Noise abatement
Good for places that fire is a problem
Fire protection
Temp control
Air purification
Insulation, roofing materials, and filters
Safety Glass and windows

Electrical equipment

Optical Fibers
Low loss infrared fibers; used in "medical and industrial sensor and laser power delivery systems”. (20)
Glass fiber reinforced circuit boards

Nonwoven Fabrics

Not good for everyday apparel, but highly useful for antiballistic and protective apparel
Flame retardant draperies (Because of the weight special rods may be needed)
Ironing board covers
Mattress covers for hotels, dorms, and hospitals
Glass nonwoven mattresses
Knitted insect screen cloth

Industrial and home use

Ropes and cables
Display screens
Food product containers
Dinnerware
Various bottles, dishes, jars, glasses, vases, pitchers
Picture Frames
Etc.

Sports

Pole vaulting poles-ANF Pacer III
Fishing rods
Snowboards
Tennis rackets

Care

A product of glass fiber does not need to be cleaned that often, when cleaning is needed simply wipe with a damp cloth. Machine wash, dry cleaning, and hand washing is not recommended because of the frailty of glass fiber products. It is very easy to break glass fibers even if you cannot see damage to the cloth, any tiny broken fibers can cause skin irritation. There is no need to iron, just smooth and dry. In addition, unlike other fibers, washing glass fiber products will not whiten or brighten the fabric.

Other Information

Sources for More Information

Glass

Fiberglass

References

(1) Kadolph, Sara J., and Anna L. Langford. Textiles Ninth Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.

(2) [Texcel Co., Ltd.]

(3) [Hexcel Corporation]

(4) Analysis of Russian Vertex High-Strength Glass Fiber. By: Spurgeon W. A.. Analysis of Russian Vertex High-Strength Glass Fiber., Sept. 1999, 51p; (AN TDH0632825200002474)

(5) BIG LIFT. High Performance Textiles, Jan. 1986, Vol. 6 Issue 7; (AN TDH0495605198605850)

(6) Circuit Board Advances. Future Materials, Mar.-Apr. 2002, p25, 2p; (AN TDH0654796200205245)

(7) DEFENSE CUTS SHOOT DOWN PERFORMANCE FIBERS. By: Morris G. D.. Chemical Week, Jan. 22, 1992, Vol. 150 Issue 3; (AN TDH0555017199201598)

(8) Dip-coated insect screening. Advances in Textiles Technology, Feb2006, p2-3, 2p; (AN 19884605)

(9) Evaluation of Polybenzimidazole Glass-Fabric Laminates. By: Mackay H. A.. Evaluation of Polybenzimidazole Glass-Fabric Laminates., Jan. 1966, 7p; (AN TDH0609727199708176)

(10) FIBER GLASS: A DREAM FIBER FOR A DREAM CENTURY. FIBER GLASS: A DREAM FIBER FOR A DREAM CENTURY., 1980, 39p; (AN TDH0418233198202103)

(11) General Topics. By: Carraher Jr., Charles E.. Polymer News, May2005, Vol. 30 Issue 5, p155-157, 3p; (AN 17230112)

(12) Glass Reinforced Diallylbisphenol/Maleimide Composites with Modified Interphases. By: Sundar R. A.; Mathias L. J..

Glass Reinforced Diallylbisphenol/Maleimide Composites with Modified Interphases., July 15, 1994, 5p; (AN TDH0585612199503418)

(13) Glass - A Market on the Cutting Edge. By: Wuagneux E. L.. Nonwovens Industry, Aug. 1995, Vol. 26 Issue 8, p30, 5p; (AN TDH0589489199507295)

(14) HIGH-STRENGTH GLASS SECOND SOURCE QUALIFICATION TO COMPOSITE ARMOR SPECIFICATION MIL-L-46197. By: Haskell W. E.. HIGH-STRENGTH GLASS SECOND SOURCE QUALIFICATION TO COMPOSITE ARMOR SPECIFICATION MIL-L-46197., Apr. 1992, 18p; (AN TDH0563143199300240)

(15) Industry and Trade Summary: Fiberglass Products. By: Lukes J. J.. Industry & Trade Summary: Fiberglass Products., Mar. 1994, 33p; (AN TDH0619215199808064)

(16) Innovations in Fibers, Technical Textiles, Apparel and Machinery. Technical Textile Markets, 3rd/4th Quarter 2004 Issue 58/59, p96-125, 30p; (AN 16337418)

(17) INNOVATIONS IN NON-WOVEN FABRICS. (English) Vetir, Nov. 1981 Issue 11; Language: French; (AN TDH0432305198210394)

(18) JM to Build Large Glass Mat Line in Tennessee. International Fiber Journal, Dec2005, Vol. 20 Issue 6, p40-40, 1/3p; (AN 19534943)

(19) JM Upgrades Chopped Fiberglass Offerings. Nonwovens Industry, Dec2004, Vol. 35 Issue 12, p18-18, 1/9p; (AN 15531694)

(20) LOW LOSS CHALCOGENIDE GLASS INFRARED FIBERS. By: Tran D. C.. LOW LOSS CHALCOGENIDE GLASS INFRARED FIBERS., Sept. 1989, 25p; (AN TDH0566164199303154)

(21) MANMADE MINERAL FIBERS: REPORT OF A WORKING PARTY TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TOXIC SUBSTANCES. MANMADE MINERAL FIBERS: REPORT OF A WORKING PARTY TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TOXIC SUBSTANCES., 1979, 35p; (AN TDH0381317198001317)

(22) MANMADE MINERAL FIBERS: WHAT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN AND DONE. By: Gilson J. C.. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Oct. 1977, Vol. 20, p175; (AN TDH0377917197917917)

(23) Process for Making Optical Fibers from Core and Cladding Glass Rods. By: Sanghera J.. Process for Making Optical Fibers from Core & Cladding Glass Rods., Aug. 12, 1996, 27p; (AN TDH0615284199804133)

(24) Profile of Springs Industries. By: Finnie T. A.. Textile Outlook International, May 1996 Issue 65, p9, 24p; (AN TDH0597901199606128)

(25) PV ROOFING MEMBRANES. Future Materials, Nov/Dec2005, Vol. 2005 Issue 6, p25-25, 1/4p, 1c; (AN 19514795)

(26) Rapid reaction. Nonwovens Report International, Aug2005, p18-19, 2p, 3c; (AN 17967502)

(27) Sea change in boatbuilding. WSA: Performance & Sports Materials, Nov/Dec2004, Vol. 10 Issue 6, p16-20, 5p; (AN 15458616)

(28) SOLUTIONS FOR THE 1990s -- A JAPANESE PERSPECTIVE -- UNITIKA. By: Dempsey E.. ITS Textile Leader, Fall 1992 Issue 11, p26; (AN TDH0563164199300622)

(29) Sophisticated Fibers. By: Luke, John E.. Textile World, Jul/Aug2005, Vol. 155 Issue 7, p28-31, 4p, 3c; (AN 17734274)

(30) Springing into Action. Future Materials, Nov.-Dec. 2002, p21, 1p; (AN TDH0660596200301445)

(31) Studies in Black and White. HFN: Home Furnishings News, 2/13/2006, Vol. 80 Issue 7, p10-10, 1p, 3c; (AN 19820336)

(32) TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION OF MANMADE MINERAL FIBERS. By: Klingholz R.. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, Oct. 1977, Vol. 20, p153; (AN TDH0376746197916746)

(33) Technical Textiles in 1998. By: Conroux J.-J.. TUT: Textiles a l'Usage Technique, 1st Quarter 1999, Vol. 1 Issue 31, p14, 2p; (AN TDH0625846199905095)

(34) THE ADVANCED FABRICS EXHIBITION. By: O'Mahony, Marie. Industrial Fabric Products Review, Dec2005, Vol. 90 Issue 13, p65-75, 11p, 17c; (AN 19286246)

(35)Top U.S. Monthly Imports. Nonwovens Markets, 4/14/2006, Vol. 21 Issue 7, p4-5, 2p; (AN 20711672)

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