What is Fiberglass?
Fiberglass is just what the name sounds like…very tiny fibers of glass. Glass is one of the world’s oldest and most available materials. Fiberglass was first created by accident in 1932 by a young Owens-Illinois researcher named Dale Kleist. He was working to attempt to weld together architectural glass blocks to form a vacuum-tight seal. A jet of compressed air accidentally struck a stream of molten glass he was working with resulting in fine glass fibers. Mr. Kleist then refined the process to utilize steam instead of air. Steam is cheaper, he reasoned, and would produce a finer fiber. Kleist was correct. The result was a glass fiber material thin enough to be used as a commercial insulation. From 1933 to 1935 Owens-Illinois expanded its research and manufacturing. In1935, realizing the marketing potential, Corning Glass approached Owens-Illinois with a proposal to join forces. Corning had briefly experimented with glass fiber manufacturing in the 20s. Recognizing the benefits of C
A material consisting of extremely fine glass fibers, used in making various products, such as yarns, fabrics, insulators, and structural objects or parts. Fiberglass fibers are made from molten glass extruded at a specified diameter. Go to top 2. What is FRP? Frp (fiberglass reinforced plastic), is a composite made from fiberglass reinforcement in a plastic (polymer) matrix. Go to top 3. Is FRP durable? Frp products are extremely durable versus many traditional products. The thermosetting resin properties provide chemical, moisture, and temperature resistance, while the fiberglass reinforcement increases strength and provides good performance over a wide temperature range (the properties of thermoplastics are greatly affected by temperature). Go to top 4. Will FRP burn? Frp can be modified with additives to meet the code requirements of the particular application, either building construction or use in OEM equipment. Go to top 5. FRP Terminology Accelerator: A highly active oxidizing
Fiberglass is a woven mat or cloth made from tiny glass fibers. When saturated with polyester resin it hardens into a very strong structure. This is what is used to create many custom car audio projects. It’s also how Corvette bodies and boat hulls are fabricated. But when we say “fiberglass” in the car audio realm it doesn’t always mean true fiberglass. Many times we will use a different type of cloth with the polyester resin. This is because we want to form specific shapes that would fall apart if we tried to do it with fiberglass mat. These cloths are usually polyester based and are stretchable to conform to the curves we need to create. We also use automotive body filler to further shape and strengthen our projects. This includes both regular filler such as Bondo and fiberglass reinforced fillers such as Kitty Hair. They each serve a specific purpose when creating custom installations. Fiberglass Step by Step There are three basic steps to creating nearly any fiberglass project. It
In the strictest sense, fiberglass is a trademarked product of the Owens Corning company, invented in 1938 and marketed as a home insulation product (Fiberglas). While home insulation remains one of the most common applications of fiberglass, the name itself has become a generic term for any material containing thin fibers of glass formed into a woven layer or used as reinforcement. The ‘glass’ in fiberglass is the same basic substance used in windows and glassware. Molten glass is extruded through ultra fine openings measured in microns, resulting in thread-like formations which can be woven together to form a rough cloth or patch. Different resins can then be added to this fiberglass material, allowing it to be formed and pressed into molds. The result is a heat-resistant, lightweight fiberglass panel ideal for electronic circuit boards or support structures for complex machinery. Fiberglass mixed with resins can also be used to form the shell of racing cars or other custom designs.
Fiberglass is a composite material widely used in the automotive industry, kit cars are often made from fiberglass as are many sports cars including the Chevrolet Corvette. Fiberglass is an incredibly versatile material and it comes in several forms. Almost everyone has seen fiberglass insulation and anyone who has touched it will recall the itchy feeling often with a little rash which develops afterwards. This Is because the minute shards of glass cut into the skin and cause irritation. The fiberglass used in the automotive industry is different from insulation fiberglass. It usually comes in a mat, tissue or cloth, although a chopped strand mixed with resin is often used for large applications such as boat hulls. Working with Fiberglass is an unpleasant business due to the fumes from the resin and itchiness of the fiberglass. Whenever you are working with fiberglass use gloves, overalls and a respirator, take frequent breaks for fresh air if you are in a confined space. To reduce the
