Showing posts with label Glass Fiber. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glass Fiber. Show all posts
15 November 2012
Dyeing of Glass Fiber
Glass Fiber:
Dyeing of Glass Fiber:
Dyeing of glass fiber filaments, fabrics or fabric is not so easy. In this case, it must be taken into consideration that, under normal circumstances, there is no affinity between glass fiber and dye and that no penetration of the dye into the glass fiber is possible, only surface dyeing or coloration is possible.
The following overview includes patented processes of glass fiber dyeing or coloration which must be regarded as being legally protected:
1. Fused mass coloration or dyeing: Using coloured metal oxides yielding weak dyes only as the colour intensity inevitably decreases with the cross section of the filament.
2. Dyeing of activated surfaces of glass fiber: Predominantly older processes of relatively little practical importance and usually yielding weak coloration, deficient in crocking fastness and, almost without exception, having a tendency to damage the fibers surface.
3. Direct dyeing methods of glass fiber: Without pre-treatment, using conventional dyeing techniques and, in this case, yielding surface coloration or dyeing which is barely acceptable. Methods involving the deposition of water-insoluble dyes are exceptions to this but usually only weak coloration can be achieved, e.g., when using sulphur or vat dyes.
4. Pre-mordanting dyeing methods:
Glass fiber
is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.
Fiberglass is a strong and lightweight reinforcement used in composites,
communication, data transfer, or decorative purpose. Glass fibers able
to transfer light, ray and radiation inside its subtle hole. Although
strength properties are somewhat lower than carbon fiber and it is less
stiff, the material is typically far less brittle, and the raw materials
are much less expensive.
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| Glass fiber fabric |
Dyeing of glass fiber filaments, fabrics or fabric is not so easy. In this case, it must be taken into consideration that, under normal circumstances, there is no affinity between glass fiber and dye and that no penetration of the dye into the glass fiber is possible, only surface dyeing or coloration is possible.
The following overview includes patented processes of glass fiber dyeing or coloration which must be regarded as being legally protected:
- Fused mass coloration or dyeing
- Dyeing of activated surfaces of glass fibre
- Direct dyeing methods of glass fibre
- Pre-mordanting dyeing methods
- Bonding-agent dyeing methods
1. Fused mass coloration or dyeing: Using coloured metal oxides yielding weak dyes only as the colour intensity inevitably decreases with the cross section of the filament.
2. Dyeing of activated surfaces of glass fiber: Predominantly older processes of relatively little practical importance and usually yielding weak coloration, deficient in crocking fastness and, almost without exception, having a tendency to damage the fibers surface.
3. Direct dyeing methods of glass fiber: Without pre-treatment, using conventional dyeing techniques and, in this case, yielding surface coloration or dyeing which is barely acceptable. Methods involving the deposition of water-insoluble dyes are exceptions to this but usually only weak coloration can be achieved, e.g., when using sulphur or vat dyes.
4. Pre-mordanting dyeing methods:
a) metal-salt process gives strong colours in some cases but almost always with insufficient crocking fastness,
b) cation active process gives very strong colorations which, with the
right choice of dye, can have good fastness properties against water and
light but only moderate crocking fastness.
5. Bonding-agent dyeing methods: Coating with dyeable or dyed films:
5. Bonding-agent dyeing methods: Coating with dyeable or dyed films:
a) Pigment dyeing methods are the most
elegant and simplest to use. Pale to medium shades are possible with
maximum light, water and crocking fastness (with the right choice of
dye) while the properties of the dark colours (marine and black) are
frequently much worse. The principle consists of fixing the pigment
using synthetic resins.
b) Other bonding-agent dyeing methods
are to some extent still very inconvenient and unsatisfactory
(especially with regard to crocking fastness). Exception: Õ Corona
discharge process with good overall fastness but crocking fastness and
grease resistance are not completely satisfactory. No dark full shades
obtainable.
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13 September 2012
Introduction of Glass Fiber
Glass fiber also called fiberglass. It is material made from extremely fine fibers of
glass Fiberglass is a lightweight, extremely strong, and robust
material. Although strength properties are somewhat lower than carbon
fiber and it is less stiff, the material is typically far less brittle,
and the raw materials are much less expensive. Its bulk strength and
weight properties are also very favorable when compared to metals, and
it can be easily formed using molding processes. Glass is the oldest,
and most familiar, performance fiber. Fibers have been manufactured from
glass since the 1930s.
Types of Glass Fiber
As to the raw material glass used to make glass fibres or nonwovens of glass fibres, the following classification is known:
1. A-glass: With regard to its composition, it is close to window glass. In the Federal Republic of Germany it is mainly used in the manufacture of process equipment.
2. C-glass: This kind of glass shows better resistance to chemical impact.
3. E-glass: This kind of glass combines the characteristics of C-glass with very good insulation to electricity.
4. AE-glass: Alkali resistant glass.
Generally, glass consists of quartz sand, soda, sodium sulphate, potash, feldspar and a number of refining and dying additives. The characteristics, with them the classification of the glass fibres to be made, are defined by the combination of raw materials and their proportions. Textile glass fibres mostly show a circular
Properties of Glass Fiber
Glass fibers are useful because of their high ratio of surface area to weight. However, the increased surface area makes them much more susceptible to chemical attack. By trapping air within them, blocks of glass fiber make good thermal insulation, with a thermal conductivity of the order of 0.05 W/(mK).
The strength of glass is usually tested and reported for "virgin" or pristine fibers those which have just been manufactured. The freshest, thinnest fibers are the strongest because the thinner fibers are more ductile. The more the surface is scratched, the less the resulting tenacity. Because glass has an amorphous structure, its properties are the same along the fiber and across the fiber. Humidity is an important factor in the tensile strength. Moisture is easily adsorbed, and can worsen microscopic cracks and surface defects, and lessen tenacity.
In contrast to carbon fiber, glass can undergo more elongation before it breaks. There is a correlation between bending diameter of the filament and the filament diameter. The viscosity of the molten glass is very important for manufacturing success. During drawing (pulling of the glass to reduce fiber circumference), the viscosity should be relatively low. If it is too high, the fiber will break during drawing. However, if it is too low, the glass will form droplets rather than drawing out into fiber.
Glass Fiber Manufacturing Processes
After the initial process of melting glass and passing it through spinnerets, continuous filaments or staple fibers of glass are manufactured by two different methods.
Continuous Filament Process
In this process, continuous filaments of indefinite length is produced. The molten glass passes through spinnerets having hundreds of small openings. These strands of multiple filaments are carried to winder revolving at very high speed of more than 2 miles per km. This process draws out the fibers in parallel filaments of the diameter of the openings. A sizing or a binder is applied to facilitate the twisting and winding process and to prevent breakage during yarn formation. After winding, filaments are further twisted and plied to make yarns by methods similar to those for making other continuous filament yarns. The sizing is removed through volatizing in an oven. These yarns are used for making such items as curtains and drapes.
Staple Fiber Process
Fibers with long-staple qualities are manufactured through staple fiber process. There are many methods for producing such fibers.
In one of such methods, the molten glass flows through the small holes of bushing, where jets of compressed air shake the thin streams of molten glass into fine fibers. These fibers vary in length ranging from 8 to 15 inches. The fibers fall through a spray of lubricant and a drying flame onto e revolving drum where they form into a thin web. These fibers in the form of web are gathered from the drum into a sliver. Yarn is then made from this sliver by similar methods that are adopted for making cotton or wool yarns. These yarns are used for fabrics for industrial purposes where insulation is required.
In yet another method, the ends of the glass rods are melted from which drops of glass fall away drawing off glass filaments after them onto a speedily revolving cylinder where they are wound parallel to each other. A web of sliver is formed if the cylinder moves sideways. Sometimes, the staple may be thrown off the cylinder onto a stationary sieve where it forms a sliver. In either conditions, the sliver is then converted into spun yarn.
The staple fiber, if subjected to oven, is compressed to the desired thickness and the binder which was earlier applied, is cured. This permanently binds the fibers.
Production:
The subsequent manufacture of glass fibres may be executed to the direct melting process. However, in most cases glass rods or balls are made first which then may undergo a variety of further processes.
Nozzle-Drawing:
As can be seen in Fig. 1-50, the glass fed in is melted in a heated melt tub at 1250–1400oC. Then, it emerges at the bottom of the melt tub from nozzle holes of 1–25 mm diameter and it is taken off and drawn. The filaments solidify and are finished and wound. One can find them in the shops as various kinds of “glass silk”. To make them into webs, the filaments are cut to length (mostly, between 6 and 25 mm).
Types of Glass Fiber
As to the raw material glass used to make glass fibres or nonwovens of glass fibres, the following classification is known:
1. A-glass: With regard to its composition, it is close to window glass. In the Federal Republic of Germany it is mainly used in the manufacture of process equipment.
2. C-glass: This kind of glass shows better resistance to chemical impact.
3. E-glass: This kind of glass combines the characteristics of C-glass with very good insulation to electricity.
4. AE-glass: Alkali resistant glass.
Generally, glass consists of quartz sand, soda, sodium sulphate, potash, feldspar and a number of refining and dying additives. The characteristics, with them the classification of the glass fibres to be made, are defined by the combination of raw materials and their proportions. Textile glass fibres mostly show a circular
Properties of Glass Fiber
Glass fibers are useful because of their high ratio of surface area to weight. However, the increased surface area makes them much more susceptible to chemical attack. By trapping air within them, blocks of glass fiber make good thermal insulation, with a thermal conductivity of the order of 0.05 W/(mK).
The strength of glass is usually tested and reported for "virgin" or pristine fibers those which have just been manufactured. The freshest, thinnest fibers are the strongest because the thinner fibers are more ductile. The more the surface is scratched, the less the resulting tenacity. Because glass has an amorphous structure, its properties are the same along the fiber and across the fiber. Humidity is an important factor in the tensile strength. Moisture is easily adsorbed, and can worsen microscopic cracks and surface defects, and lessen tenacity.
In contrast to carbon fiber, glass can undergo more elongation before it breaks. There is a correlation between bending diameter of the filament and the filament diameter. The viscosity of the molten glass is very important for manufacturing success. During drawing (pulling of the glass to reduce fiber circumference), the viscosity should be relatively low. If it is too high, the fiber will break during drawing. However, if it is too low, the glass will form droplets rather than drawing out into fiber.
Glass Fiber Manufacturing Processes
After the initial process of melting glass and passing it through spinnerets, continuous filaments or staple fibers of glass are manufactured by two different methods.
Continuous Filament Process
In this process, continuous filaments of indefinite length is produced. The molten glass passes through spinnerets having hundreds of small openings. These strands of multiple filaments are carried to winder revolving at very high speed of more than 2 miles per km. This process draws out the fibers in parallel filaments of the diameter of the openings. A sizing or a binder is applied to facilitate the twisting and winding process and to prevent breakage during yarn formation. After winding, filaments are further twisted and plied to make yarns by methods similar to those for making other continuous filament yarns. The sizing is removed through volatizing in an oven. These yarns are used for making such items as curtains and drapes.
Staple Fiber Process
Fibers with long-staple qualities are manufactured through staple fiber process. There are many methods for producing such fibers.
In one of such methods, the molten glass flows through the small holes of bushing, where jets of compressed air shake the thin streams of molten glass into fine fibers. These fibers vary in length ranging from 8 to 15 inches. The fibers fall through a spray of lubricant and a drying flame onto e revolving drum where they form into a thin web. These fibers in the form of web are gathered from the drum into a sliver. Yarn is then made from this sliver by similar methods that are adopted for making cotton or wool yarns. These yarns are used for fabrics for industrial purposes where insulation is required.
In yet another method, the ends of the glass rods are melted from which drops of glass fall away drawing off glass filaments after them onto a speedily revolving cylinder where they are wound parallel to each other. A web of sliver is formed if the cylinder moves sideways. Sometimes, the staple may be thrown off the cylinder onto a stationary sieve where it forms a sliver. In either conditions, the sliver is then converted into spun yarn.
The staple fiber, if subjected to oven, is compressed to the desired thickness and the binder which was earlier applied, is cured. This permanently binds the fibers.
Production:
The subsequent manufacture of glass fibres may be executed to the direct melting process. However, in most cases glass rods or balls are made first which then may undergo a variety of further processes.
Nozzle-Drawing:
As can be seen in Fig. 1-50, the glass fed in is melted in a heated melt tub at 1250–1400oC. Then, it emerges at the bottom of the melt tub from nozzle holes of 1–25 mm diameter and it is taken off and drawn. The filaments solidify and are finished and wound. One can find them in the shops as various kinds of “glass silk”. To make them into webs, the filaments are cut to length (mostly, between 6 and 25 mm).
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| Manufacture of glass melt |
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| Processes to make glass fibres |
Nozzle-Blowing:
The same as with nozzle-drawing, glass balls are melted in the tub. The melt emerging from the nozzle holes is then taken by pressed air, which draws the liquid glass so as to make fibres of 6–10 um diameter. A fluttering effect is caused by the flow of pressed air, which results in fibres of lengths from 50 to 300 mm. A lubricant is put on and the fibres are laid down on a sieve drum which sucks them in. The dry web received is held together by the long fibres, the short ones lying in between them as a filling material. Then, the slivers of glass fibre material are cut.
Rod-Drawing:
By means of a burner, bundles of glass rods are melted at their bottom ends. This results in drops which, as they fall down, draw filaments after them. The filaments are taken by a rotating drum, a squeegee laying them down onto a perforated belt. Thus, a dry web is received which can be wound as glass fibre slivers. – Machine performance being limited by the number of glass rods fed in, the rotating drum may be combined with nozzle-drawing, which results in drum-drawing. This multiplies machine performance. The dry web is again laid down onto a perforated belt and solidified or, after winding it so as to receive slivers, cut for further processing on machines producing wetlaid nonwovens. Using and processing glass fibres is not without any problems. For example, fine pieces of broken fibres may disturb if the work place is not well prepared for the purpose. Using the nonwovens to manufacture glass-fibre reinforced plastics, it is important the surface of the plastic material is fully even. Ends of fibre looking out may be pulled out or loosened by outward stress (temperature, gases, liquids), which may influence material characteristics. In some cases, it is
advisable to cover up such layers of glass fibre with suitable chemical fibres.
Uses of Glass Fiber or Glass Yarn
Glass fiber is manufactured in a wide range of fine diameters. Some of them are so fine that they can be seen only through a microscope. This quality of fineness contributes greatly to the flexibility of glass fibers. Various manufacturers produce different types of glass fibers for different end uses. Glass fibers them are used for various purpose.
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The same as with nozzle-drawing, glass balls are melted in the tub. The melt emerging from the nozzle holes is then taken by pressed air, which draws the liquid glass so as to make fibres of 6–10 um diameter. A fluttering effect is caused by the flow of pressed air, which results in fibres of lengths from 50 to 300 mm. A lubricant is put on and the fibres are laid down on a sieve drum which sucks them in. The dry web received is held together by the long fibres, the short ones lying in between them as a filling material. Then, the slivers of glass fibre material are cut.
Rod-Drawing:
By means of a burner, bundles of glass rods are melted at their bottom ends. This results in drops which, as they fall down, draw filaments after them. The filaments are taken by a rotating drum, a squeegee laying them down onto a perforated belt. Thus, a dry web is received which can be wound as glass fibre slivers. – Machine performance being limited by the number of glass rods fed in, the rotating drum may be combined with nozzle-drawing, which results in drum-drawing. This multiplies machine performance. The dry web is again laid down onto a perforated belt and solidified or, after winding it so as to receive slivers, cut for further processing on machines producing wetlaid nonwovens. Using and processing glass fibres is not without any problems. For example, fine pieces of broken fibres may disturb if the work place is not well prepared for the purpose. Using the nonwovens to manufacture glass-fibre reinforced plastics, it is important the surface of the plastic material is fully even. Ends of fibre looking out may be pulled out or loosened by outward stress (temperature, gases, liquids), which may influence material characteristics. In some cases, it is
advisable to cover up such layers of glass fibre with suitable chemical fibres.
Uses of Glass Fiber or Glass Yarn
Glass fiber is manufactured in a wide range of fine diameters. Some of them are so fine that they can be seen only through a microscope. This quality of fineness contributes greatly to the flexibility of glass fibers. Various manufacturers produce different types of glass fibers for different end uses. Glass fibers them are used for various purpose.
- For making home furnishings fabrics;
- For making apparels and garments; and
- For the purpose tires and reinforced plastics.
- Filament windings around rocket cases;
- Nose cones;
- Exhaust nozzles; and
- Heat shields for aeronautical equipment
- Boat hulls and seats;
- Fishing rods; and
- Wall paneling
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9 May 2012
Glass Fiber Composites
Glass Fiber Composites
Introduction:
Today, almost any specialization for structural material can be met by combination of glass fiber
and plastic resin, which are characterized by many outstanding
properties. During 1942 glass fiber reinforced composites were first
used in structural aerospace parts. In the early 1960’s high strength
glass fibers, S-Glass were first used in joint work between Owens
corning textile product and the united states air force later in 1968
S-2 glass began evolving into a variety of commercial application. High
strength glass fiber combine high strength, high stability, transparency
and resilience at a very reasonable cost-weight performance. The
utilities of high strength glass fiber composites are compared by
physical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, acoustical, optical and
radiation properties.
The glass fiber
composites strength/weight ratios are higher than those of most other
materials and their impact resistance is phenomenal. Further they
possess good electrical properties, resistance to moisture and outdoor
weathering and resistance to heat and chemicals. These properties are
coupled with ease of fabrication.
Composites:
Composites are artificially produced multiphase materials having a desirable combination of the best properties of the constituent phases or more precisely these are the materials consist of fibers of high strength and modulus embedded in or bonded to a matrix with distinct interfaces between them.
Properties of Glass Fibers:
Glass fibers basically made by,
Composites:
Composites are artificially produced multiphase materials having a desirable combination of the best properties of the constituent phases or more precisely these are the materials consist of fibers of high strength and modulus embedded in or bonded to a matrix with distinct interfaces between them.
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- Incombustibility
- Corrosion resistance
- High strength at low densities
- Good thermal.
- Sound insulation
- Special electrical properties.
- Mixing silica sand, limestone, boric acid and other minor ingredients.
- The mixture is heated until it melts at about 1260OC/2300OF.
- Letting the molten glass flow through fine holes. (In a platinum plate)
- The glass strands are cooled, gathered and wound. (Protective coating may be added.)
- The fibers are drawn to increase the directional strength.
- The fibers are woven into various forms for use in composites.
Type:
- A Soda-lime glass.
- E Electrical type (Borosilicate)
- C Chemical resistant type
- AR Alkali resistant type
- S High performance application
- General purpose glass fiber
- Quartz fiber
- Protective fiber
- Hollow fiber
- Conducting/Semi-conducting
Properties
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E-glass
|
AR-glass
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S-glass
|
Tensile Strength (Gpa)
|
3.5
|
3.5
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4.6
|
Modulus (Gpa)
|
73.5
|
175
|
86.8
|
Elongation (%)
|
4.8
|
2
|
5.4
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Density (g/cc)
|
2.57
|
2.68
|
2.46
|
Refractive Index
|
1.547
|
1.561
|
-
|
Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion (107/0c)
|
50-52.0
|
75.0
|
23-27.0
|
Dielectric Constant RT, 1010
Hz
|
6.1-6.3
|
-
|
5.0-5.1
|
Forms of the Glass Fiber Reinforcement:
Glass Fabric:
This form of glass fiber is particularly suitable for high strength, low weight laminates. Continuous filament glass is preferred in these applications on account of it’s greater strength and low bulk factor. The fabric woven from continuous filament yarn ranges in thickness from 0.002-0.02 inches. In general directional properties of laminates depend on the type of weave and cloth setting employed. (We’ll discuss this later). The example of fabric-reinforced plastic is aircraft radar. In this application, a material is required which will allow the radar rays to go without distortion from the rays sending equipment out of the target and then back to the radar receiving equipment on the plane. It must also stand the air pressure strain of a sonic or supersonic speed. Combination of glass fabric and low-pressure plastic resin provides an excellent answer to these requirements.
Combination of glass fabrics and fire-proofed polyester resin are also used for making high strength flat and shaped laminates for aircraft components such as a ducting, panels, nose, wings tips, rudder parts, covers, dash-boards, shelves, floors
This material is also used for hollow fishing rods, where unidirectional fabric lends itself to winding round a solid mandrel, for body armor and for the manufacture of large article such as boats by the low pressure technique and for many other products.
Molding Techniques:
Molding methods are almost legion. At present count more than 22 general molding methods is basic process categories are widely used. These includes
1.Hand and spray saturating and mixing.
2.Continuous impregnation, laminating.
3.Cure or flat or corrugated panels, solid rods, hollow bar stock.
4.Compression, transfer and injection molding.
5.Filament wrapping and winding.
6.Centrifugal and static casting.
7.Rotational molding.
8.Cold forming.
9.Combination of those above.
Effect of Different Weaves:
The plain weave fabric having square setting i.e. equal number per inch of ends in the warp as picks, is employed where uniformity in strength is desired. Another popular structure is 8-shaft satin weave, in which each weft yarn goes under one and over seven warp yarns. It is mostly used in heavier fabrics when lamination calls for high strength in all direction and where a smooth surface and decorative appearance are desired. Due to lower crimp or ‘weaving take up’ the strength of a satin weave fabric is comparatively greater then of a plain weave fabric.
When maximum strength in one direction is required at a maximum weight, a unidirectional weave is employed. In order to produce such a fabric, usually a large amount of relatively strong warp yarn and fewer weaker weft yarns are employed.
Non-woven materials from glass fibre are dominated because least labour intensive and most efficient to manufacture.
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| Different weaves of glass fiber |
Glass fibre composites making in roads many markets due to general properties of excellent molded surface finish almost unlimited size, lightness of weight, insulation against heat transfer and electricity and many other attributes. These will become evident in ensuring discussion, build around in nine major market for GFC which includes following:
1.Aircraft and Aerospace
2.Appliances and equipments
3.Constructions
4.Consumer goods
5.Corrosion resistant product
6.Electrical rods, tubes and components
7.Marin and Marin accessories
8.Land transportation
9.Miscellaneous (Protective gears, Farming, industrial tools, material handling).
Aircraft and Aerospace Market:
Stability is an important criterion for any material used. Light weight with the ability to withstand heavy loads and provide excellent resistance to bumps and impact. Aerospace and aircraft applications include overhead storage bins, aircraft toilets and helicopter rotor blades. Other benefits from using composites for these applications include cost performance, dimensional stability and corrosion resistance.
Entire external fuselages of smaller planes have been constructed using GFC, interior and commercial plane (Boeing 747) entire exterior of flight vehicle guided missile
S-glass, which is the more exotic of the current reinforced glass products, has a much higher strength and modulus than E-glass. It also has a high laminate strength-to-weight ratio, high strength retention at elevated temperatures and a high fatigue life. It is very often used for aircraft components such as flight deck armour, and helicopter armour, seats and floors. Apart from their high mechanical performance, S-glass composites are inherently non-conductive and offer low radar thermal profiles, thereby providing the military with the opportunity to see without being seen S-glass fibre has proved itself by performing superbly in hazardous environments. Its strength and reliability have encouraged various manufacturers to use the fibre in fabricating composite blades for different models of helicopter . A new dimension to the applications of glass fibres is the use of hollow S-glass in fibre reinforced composites. In general, the mechanical properties of hollow S-2 glass compare favorably with standard fibre glass composites and show significant weight savings of approximately 16-18%.
Reinforcements commonly used
- Preform Rovings
- Roving for weaving
- Woven Roving
- Plied yarns
Construction and Infrastructure:
Composites are ideal for use in the construction market because of their dimensional stability, high strength, reduced weight, impact resistance, low flammability, given an appropriate choice of resins and additives, low maintenance and design flexibility.
Use in both interior and exterior building components for residential, commercial industrial and farm construction, tub, and shower units. Corrugated translucent architectural paneling, solar heating elements. Industrial building sky light, yard swimming pool fences and bathroom fixtures. (Resistant to mechanical impact and billing water
Exterior:
For rebuilding or creating new infrastructures, composite materials bring a number of benefits to various applications, including high strength, reduced weight, corrosion resistance, lower maintenance, dimensional stability, low installation costs and design flexibility. In bridge construction, for instance, composites provide a high load capacity with low material weight. This low composite weight eliminates the costs of heavy equipment needed to build the bridge, which in turn reduces the installation time. Composites are also very durable; they won't corrode like steel or rot like wood, so maintenance and replacement costs are reduced.
Consumer Goods:
Properties –leisure, recreational, basic frames for furniture as well as finished items both traditional and modern, also includes divider screens, decorative and utilities trays, wall plaques, luggage. In sports equipments skis, patio furniture, swimming pool, plays ground equipments, portable tennis courts tennis racquets fishing rods vaulting polls snow mobiles garden tractors skate boards and surf boards.
Properties: controlled
flexibility, high mechanical strength, lightness of weight, easy
formability, durability, molded in colours excellent surface and
resistant to corrosion and wear.
Corrosion Resistant Products/Equipments:
Exhaustive analyses of mechanism of corrosion in fiberglass and their composite structure are available in literature. Engineers and Managers have realized that superior corrosion resistant properties exist in glass fibre composites as compared to traditional material. Composites are ideally suited for corrosive, hostile environments. Applications in this market include all types of pipes, oilfield pipes, fume handling ducts, underground petrol tanks, sucker rods, water, wastewater, drainage and irrigation piping (potable water, sewage, storm drains), cooling towers, component for water and sewage treatment facilities in textile processing, flood control and navigational waterway structures (dam gates, pipes, grating, weirs), energy production structures for oil and gas production (offshore platforms, grating, piping) .
Composites are ideal for use in the construction market because of their dimensional stability, high strength, reduced weight, impact resistance, low flammability, given an appropriate choice of resins and additives, low maintenance and design flexibility.
Use in both interior and exterior building components for residential, commercial industrial and farm construction, tub, and shower units. Corrugated translucent architectural paneling, solar heating elements. Industrial building sky light, yard swimming pool fences and bathroom fixtures. (Resistant to mechanical impact and billing water
Exterior:
- Composites for exterior design are present in columns, pediments, domes, cornices
- Composites are used for paneling, cladding and covering for protection and insulation panels, shingles, translucent flat or corrugated sheets (facing systems, decorative fascia)
- Fascia renovation using glass-cement composites contributes to improving the appearance of buildings, external insulation and coatings of facades where dimensional stability and prevention against cracking is required.
- Composites form work and moulds for concrete, easy to make and corrosion-resistant.
- Roofing applications include sealing and waterproofing .
- Technical glass fabrics are used in the industrial filtration of gases, vapours and smoke.
- Doors and windows.
- Blinds (against sun or for decoration)
- Aesthetic coverings for use on walls, partitions, ceilings, doors and furniture
- Glass-reinforced plaster in a wide variety of shapes: columns, ceilings, cornices etc.
- Decor and furnishings of reinforced plastics and glass-cement composites
- Gypsum boards and partitions
- Dry wall tapes
- Partitions of glass-cement composites
- Composite panels (double-sided insulated, phenolic resins treated)
- Sanitary-ware (baths, wash basins, showers, sinks, toilets)
- Flooring (flexible flooring, hard flooring
- Functional items (letter boxes, meter boxes)
- Decorative items..
For rebuilding or creating new infrastructures, composite materials bring a number of benefits to various applications, including high strength, reduced weight, corrosion resistance, lower maintenance, dimensional stability, low installation costs and design flexibility. In bridge construction, for instance, composites provide a high load capacity with low material weight. This low composite weight eliminates the costs of heavy equipment needed to build the bridge, which in turn reduces the installation time. Composites are also very durable; they won't corrode like steel or rot like wood, so maintenance and replacement costs are reduced.
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| Glass fiber used in Construction |
Properties –leisure, recreational, basic frames for furniture as well as finished items both traditional and modern, also includes divider screens, decorative and utilities trays, wall plaques, luggage. In sports equipments skis, patio furniture, swimming pool, plays ground equipments, portable tennis courts tennis racquets fishing rods vaulting polls snow mobiles garden tractors skate boards and surf boards.
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Corrosion Resistant Products/Equipments:
Exhaustive analyses of mechanism of corrosion in fiberglass and their composite structure are available in literature. Engineers and Managers have realized that superior corrosion resistant properties exist in glass fibre composites as compared to traditional material. Composites are ideally suited for corrosive, hostile environments. Applications in this market include all types of pipes, oilfield pipes, fume handling ducts, underground petrol tanks, sucker rods, water, wastewater, drainage and irrigation piping (potable water, sewage, storm drains), cooling towers, component for water and sewage treatment facilities in textile processing, flood control and navigational waterway structures (dam gates, pipes, grating, weirs), energy production structures for oil and gas production (offshore platforms, grating, piping) .
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| Corrosion resistant products |
- Chopped Strand Mat
- Roving
- Continuous filament mats
- Woven Roving
- Yarns
- Glass mats
Substantial incursion of glass fibre composites into field requiring desirable properties for electrical and electronics applications. Mechanical strength and temperature stability were the factors, which favored the use of glass filament technical fabrics in industry as an insulator for electrical conductors. In association with lacquers and coatings, it is used for covering wires and cables. Weather stability, high dielectric strength, high arc resistance and good mechanical toughness were rapid once. These materials were proven in critical areas. They are used in distribution-pole hardware, switchgear, and transformers, telephone equipments, PCB’s, computer parts.
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| Glass fiber in transformer |
- Continuous Filament Mat
- Roving for pultrusion
- Roving for weaving
- Yarns
- Plied yarns
- Technical fabrics
- Chopped Strands for thermoplastic reinforcement
Marine Products/Accessories:
Properties of fibre glass composites so favorable that approx. 70% of all out board pleasure boats is now constructed with it. The major benefit of using GFC’s in any boat construction are mouldability to almost any boat design or size, seamless construction, high strength and great durability, minimum maintenance, freedom from corrosion, rust, dry rot and water logging.
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| Glass fiber used in marine |
Reinforcements commonly used:
- Chopped Strand Mats
- Continuous filament mats
- Woven Roving
- Yarns and Glass mats
The first real success splash of glass fibre composites in automotive or land transportation field was the 1953 corvette, which had complete glass fibre body. At the most recent count, more than 154 different automotive applications in GFC existed. The prime contribution of GFC is weight saving and this factor alone will go a long way toward helping automakers satisfy future energy consumption requirements. This is energy effectiveness at it’s best.
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| Glass fiber used in car |
- Chopped Strands
- Chopped Strand Mat
- Continuous Filament Mat
- Yarns
- Rovings for thermoplastic reinforcement
- Woven Roving
- Chopped Strands for thermoplastic reinforcement
Glass fibre is also used successfully in railway fishplates. These are produced from a combination of woven fabric and unidirectional nonwoven E-glass reinforcement by using an epoxy resin matrix.
Miscellaneous/Specialty Products:
The tooling industries are largest single facet making up this final marketing category for GFC parts. A comprehensive list would include such highly serviceable and behind-the-scenes component as temporary or short run forming dies for plastic and metals, checking fixture, hydro forming shapes, hammer forms, stretch dies, foundry patters and many other creative and utilitarian elements.
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By using their light and image transmission characteristics, optical fibres are also employed in the manufacture of medical instruments such as the gastroscope, in traffic-control signals, in various control instrumentation, in sales-code reading devices and so on.
Other applications are: Screening and filtration. Glass reinforced mortar/cement.
Appliance and Equipment :
Properties - heat insulation, noise reduction, excellent molded surfaces, dimensional stability, high dielectric strength frames, bases and housing for composites, time-share terminal units, similar appliances.
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With this, I want to conclude that these glass fibre composites really taking away the ”market” from conventional materials like metals. With further new technological advancement in fibreglass and resins, their composites always have been able to satisfy the need of any engineering field. At last I want to say that these GFC’s are solution for growing building engineering avenues.
References:
- “Fibre science and technology” By V.I.Kostikov.
- “Fiberglass” By Mohr & Rowe.
- “Inorganic fibers”
- “Fibre reinforced composites” – A seminar report.
- “Composite material in Health care & wound Management” Technical Textiles International, July-Aug 2003
- New Fibers By Tatsuya Houngu & Glyn O. Phillips
- Wellington Sears Handbook of Industrial Textiles By S. Adanur
- Handbook of Technical Textiles By A.R. Horrocks & S.C. Anand
- Textile Progress.
- Construction World, Jan. 2005.
- Composite Technology, Aug. 2003.
- Composite Technology, June 2003.
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