Glass Fibers

Introduction
 As per American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), a glass is an
inorganic product of fusion which has cooled to a rigid condition
without crystallization.
 Contradicting the general definition of high performance fibers, the
glass fiber has an isotropic three-dimensional network structure and is
not crystalline.
Drawing of Glass…… is an ancient technology
 Winding coarse glass fibers onto clay mandrel was used to make vessels
 In the 1700s, Réaumur recognized that glass could be finely spun into
fiber that was sufficiently pliable to be woven into textiles.
 Napoleon’s funeral coffin was also decorated with glass fiber textiles.
 Glass fiber dress was first made in 1893 by Edward Drummond Libbey
 Glass fiber dress was first time worn by actress Georgia Cayvan.
 The first commercial production of glass fibre started in 1936.
Glass Fibers
Glass Chemistry, Composition and Types
Glass
Addition of 25 % soda (Na2O)
lowers the liquidus temperature
of silica from 1713 °C to 793 °C Silica (SiO2)
and lowers its viscosity Properties
substantially.

High melting temp. Difficult to Very high

1713 °C Process crystallinit
y

Addition of Rapid cooling

impurities to Processability prevents
lower crystallizati
melting point on
Glass Fibers
Glass Chemistry, Composition and Types
 Addition of impurities, reduces the Si-O linkages

Such additives, which are used in production of glass to lower melting

temperature, inhibit crystallization and control fluidity are called
modifiers/fluxing ions.
Glass Fibers
Glass Chemistry, Composition and Types
The oxides used in glass compositions can be classified into three
categories:
 Former
 This is the main component of glass, which has to be heated to a very high
temperature to become viscous. Silicon dioxide (contained in sand) is the most
common former.
 Silica or silicon dioxide (SiO2) is the most frequently used glass former but the
oxides of boron (B2O3), germanium (GeO2), phosphorous (P2O5), vanadium
(V2O5) and arsenic (As2O3) are also used to form glasses.
 Flux
 Helps formers melt at lower temperatures. This is usually soda ash or potash,
which was traditionally made from marine plant ashes.
 Modifiers include calcium oxide (CaO), sodium oxide (Na2O), potassium
oxide
(K2O), barium oxide (BaO) and lithium oxide (Li2O).
 Stabilizer
 Keeps the finished glass from dissolving, crumbling, or forming unwanted
crystals. Calcium oxide in the form of limestone, a mineral, is a common
stabilizer.
Glass Fibers
 Glass Chemistry, Composition and Types

Glass for lenses Glass for windows

Very brittle Tougher

Glass Fibers
Glass Chemistry, Composition and Types
 Compositions of Different classes of Glasses

SiO2 Oxides (wt%)

Type/Composition Property
(wt%) Al2O3 CaO MgO Na2O others

AR-Glass ZrO2
62.2 0.74 5.2 0.16 14.3 Resistant to alkali
Soda lime silicate glass 16.7

C-Glass B3O3 Chemically stable in corrosive

65 4 14 3 8.5 acid environment
Calcium borosilicate glass 5

E-Glass
B3O 3 High strength and electrical
Alumina-calcium-borosilicate 55.2 14.4 18.7 3.3 0.3 resistivity
7.3
glass

S-Glass High strength, modulus and

Magnesium aluminosilicate 65 25 10 stability under high
glass temperatures
Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
 It is done in two stages
 Formation of glass
 Formation of Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Formation of glass
 In this stage mixing and fusion of raw materials is carried out in a batch
furnace at a temperature of about 1700 °C to form a homogeneous glass.
 The glass manufacturing can end either with the liquid glass flowing directly to
fiber forming furnaces called “bushings” or the glass is formed into marbles or
rods, annealed and cooled at room temperature for further use.

Schematic of direct melt

process for production of
continuous
filaments
Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Formation of glass

Schematic of marble melt process for continuous filament

Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Formation of fibers
 The molten glass, is fed into a series of electrically heated platinum
bushings each of which has several hundred holes in its base.
 The glass flows under hydrostatic pressure (i.e. weight of the glass melt
column above the nozzle) and fine filaments of 8-15 micron average
final diameter are drawn mechanically downwards at speeds of 1000
meters per minute or more.
 The viscosity of the glass melt, the hydrostatic pressure, the diameter
and length of the nozzle and the winding speed are the most important
parameters which determine the diameter of the drawn glass fiber.
 The fibers are immediately cooled by sprayed water at the bushing,
coated with a size, assembled into a ‘strand’ and wound
Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Formation of fibers
 The size (or finish) is crucial to the handleability of the fibers and their
compatibility with the matrix.
 The size is chosen to suit the application or further processing. The
‘finish’ consist of:
 an adhesion promoter or coupling agent,
 a protective polymeric size or film former,
 lubricant(s),
 surfactant(s),
 antistatic agent(s), and
 an optional polymeric binder (emulsion or powder) used for fiber mats.
Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Formation of fibers
 Coupling agent
 The coupling agent plays a key role in a composite and provides a proper
adhesion between the fiber and the matrix so that the stress is transferred
efficiently.
Glass Fibers
Preparation of glass fibers
Formation of Glass wool
 For making a glass suitable for various insulation and composite based
applications, rotary spin process shown below

Centrifugal forces cause the

molten glass to flow along the
walls and stream of air cut the
fibers into pieces

Chemical binder is sprayed

simultaneously which binds
the fibers to make a matt.
Glass Fibers
 Properties of Glass
fibers
Glass Fibers
Properties of Glass fibers
 Time dependent failure
 The sodium ion acts as a catalyst for the degradation of the silica network
which is propagated by the -OH ion.
Glass Fibers
Properties of Glass fibers
Strength and stiffness:
Glass Fibers
Properties of Glass fibers
Static Fatigue (Time dependent failure)
Glass Fibers
Properties of Glass fibers
Environmental stress corrosion cracking (ESCC): (Composite)
Glass Fibers
Properties of Glass fibers
Environmental stress corrosion cracking (ESCC): (E-Glass)