Glass fibers can be divided into continuous fibers, fixed-length fibers, and glass wool according to shape and length; according to glass composition, they can be divided into alkali-free, chemical-resistant, high-alkali, medium-alkali, high-strength, high elastic modulus, and alkali-resistant (alkali-resistant) glass fibers.
The main raw materials for producing glass fiber are: quartz sand, alumina and pyrophyllite, limestone, dolomite, boric acid, soda ash, Glauber's salt, fluorite, etc. The production methods are roughly divided into two categories: one is to directly make fibers from molten glass; the other is to first make molten glass into glass balls or rods with a diameter of 20mm, and then heat and remelt them in various ways to make very fine fibers with a diameter of 3 to 80μm. Infinitely long fibers drawn through mechanical drawing methods through platinum alloy plates are called continuous glass fibers, commonly known as long fibers. Discontinuous fibers made by rollers or airflow are called fixed-length glass fibers, commonly known as short fibers.
Glass fiber is divided into different grades according to composition, properties, and uses. According to the standard grade regulations (see table), E-grade glass fiber is more commonly used and widely used in electrical insulation materials; S-grade glass fiber is a special fiber.
High-grade glass fiber is characterized by high strength and high modulus. Its single fiber tensile strength is 2800MPa, which is about 25% higher than the tensile strength of alkali-free glass fiber. Its elastic modulus is 86000MPa, which is higher than E-glass fiber. The fiberglass products produced with them are mostly used in the military industry, space, bulletproof armor, and sports equipment.
AR glass fiber is also called alkali-resistant glass fiber. Alkali-resistant glass fiber is the rib material of glass fiber-reinforced (cement) concrete (GRC). It is a high-standard inorganic fiber and an ideal substitute for steel and asbestos in non-load-bearing cement components. The characteristics of alkali-resistant glass fiber are good alkali resistance, can effectively resist the erosion of high-alkali substances in cement, strong gripping force, high elastic modulus, impact resistance, tensile strength, and flexural strength. It is non-flammable, anti-freeze, and has strong resistance to temperature and humidity changes. It has excellent crack resistance and impermeability properties. It has the characteristics of strong designability and easy molding. Alkali-resistant glass fiber is a new green and environmentally friendly reinforcing material widely used in high-performance reinforced (cement) concrete.
D glass, also known as low-dielectric glass, is used to produce low-dielectric glass fibers with good dielectric strength.
In addition to the above glass fiber components, there is now a new alkali-free glass fiber that does not contain boron at all, thereby reducing environmental pollution, but its electrical insulation properties and mechanical properties are similar to traditional E glass. There is also a type of glass fiber with double glass components, which has been used in the production of glass wool. It is said that it also has potential in making fiberglass-reinforced materials. In addition, there is fluorine-free glass fiber, which is an improved alkali-free glass fiber developed for environmental protection requirements.
Alkali glass or soda lime glass. It is the most widely used type of fiberglass. Alkali glass accounts for approximately 90% of all manufactured glass. It is the most common type and is used to make glass containers such as jars and bottles for food and beverages, as well as window glass.
Bakingware made from tempered soda lime glass is also an example of glass. It's affordable, highly feasible, and fairly difficult. A-type glass fiber can be re-melted and re-softened many times, making it an ideal fiber type for glass recycling.
AE or AR glass stands for alkali-resistant glass, which is specifically used on concrete. It is a composite material composed of zirconia.
The addition of zirconia, a hard, heat-resistant mineral, makes this fiberglass suitable for use in concrete. AR-Glass prevents concrete from cracking by providing strength and flexibility. Additionally, unlike steel, it does not rust easily.
C-glass or chemical glass is used as the surface texture of the outer layer of laminates for pipes and containers that store water and chemicals. Due to the high concentration of calcium borosilicate used in the glass formulation process, it displays excellent chemical resistance in corrosive environments.
C-Glass maintains chemical and structural balance in any environment and is quite resistant to alkaline chemicals.
Dielectric glass (D-glass) fibers are commonly used in appliances, cookware, etc. It is also an ideal type of fiberglass for fiber optics due to its low dielectric constant. This is due to the presence of boron trioxide in its composition.
Electronic glass or E-glass cloth is an industry standard that provides a balance between performance and cost. It is a lightweight composite material with applications in aerospace, marine, and industrial environments. E-Glass's performance as a reinforcing fiber has made it a favorite in commercial products such as planters, surfboards, and boats.
E-glass in glass wool fibers can be made into any shape or size using a very simple manufacturing technique. In pre-production, the properties of E-glass fiber make it clean and safe to work with.
Structural glass (S glass) is known for its mechanical properties. The brand names R-Glass, S-Glass, and T-Glass all refer to the same type of glass fiber. Compared with E-glass fiber, it has higher tensile strength and modulus. This fiberglass is designed for use in the defense and aerospace industries.
It is also used in rigid ballistic armor applications. Because this type of fiberglass is high-performance, it is only used in specific industries and has limited production. This also means that S-Glass can be expensive.
Advantex glass fibers are widely used in the oil, gas, and mining industries, as well as power plants and marine applications (sewage treatment systems and wastewater treatment systems). It combines the mechanical and electrical properties of E-glass with the acid corrosion resistance of E, C, and R fiberglass. It is used in environments where structures are more susceptible to corrosion.
