Glass fiber | Properties and Chemistry | Their applications

 

Glass fiber

Glass fiber is a material that contains a number of extremely fine fibers in the glass. The number of raw materials from melting glass fibers sand for silica, clay for alumina, calcite for calcium oxide, and colloidal for boron oxide are made in different compositions by changing. Therefore, different types of glass fibers show different performances such as higher corrosion resistance or higher mechanical properties using higher amounts of silica or other sources. These fibers products are classified according to the type of attachment where they are used.

It has almost mechanical properties similar to other fibers like polymers and carbon fibers. It is much less and significantly less brittle when used in composites, although it is not as rigid as carbon fiber. These fibers are used as a reinforcing agent for many polymer products; to form a very strong and relatively lightweight fiber-reinforced polymer composite material known as glass-reinforced plastic.

Properties of glass fiber

i. Glass fiber has higher tensile strength than steel wire of the same diameter; although underweight.

ii. Its dimensional stability is usually 3% or less with a slightly increased load.

iii. It has high heat resistance power.

iv. It has high fire resistance power.

v. Glass fibers are better thermal conductivity.

vi. It has good chemical resistance properties.

vii. It has outstanding electrical features.

viii. It has almost mechanical properties similar to other fibers such as polymers and carbon fibers.

ix. Although it is not as rigid as carbon fiber, it is much less and significantly less brittle when used in composites.

Chemistry of glass fiber

The glass fiber basis of textile-grade is silica, SiO₂ that pure form exists as a polymer, (SiO₂) n. It does not have a true melting point, but it does soften to 1200°C, where it begins to decline. At a temperature of 1713°C, most molecules can move freely. If the glass is extruded and cooled rapidly at this temperature, it will be unable to form the original structure. At the making of polymer, it forms the SiO₄ group that is configured as a tetrahedron with silicon atoms in the center and four oxygen atoms in the corners. These atoms divide the oxygen atoms into a network bound at the corners. Silica has similar strengths on a molecular basis between vitreous and crystal states, which implies that the glass form is extremely stable. To induce crystallization, it must be heated to temperatures above 1200 ° C for a long time.

Applications of glass fiber

i. Glass fibers are used in making mats and fabrics for thermal insulation, electrical insulation, sound insulation, high-strength fabrics, or heat- and corrosion-resistant fabrics.

ii. It is used to reinforce different materials like tent poles, pole vault poles, arrows, bows, and crossbows.

iii. It is extensively used for making FRP tanks and vessels.

iv. Glass fiber-reinforced polymer rebar is used instead of steel rebar.

v. Recently it is also used in biomedical applications.

vi. It is used in electronic applications for improving electronic properties.