The Ultimate Guide of Glass Fibre Fabric

1. What Is Glass Fibre Fabric?

Glass fibre is a special type of synthetic fibre. It is also known as fibreglass that is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibres of glass. It is a very strong fibre. The versatility of glass as fibre makes it unique industrial textile material. Glass fibre in fabric form offers an excellent combination of properties from high strength to fire resistance.

2. Types of Fibreglass

Depending on the raw materials used and their proportions to make fibreglass, fibreglass can be classified into the following major types:

• A-glass: A glass is also called alkali glass and is resistant to chemicals. Due to the composition of A glass fibre, it is close to the window glass. In some parts of the world, it is used to make process equipment.

• C-glass: C-glass offers very good resistance to chemical impact and is also called chemical glass.

• E-glass: It is also called electrical glass and is a very good insulator of electricity.

• AE-glass: This is alkali-resistant glass.

• S glass: It is also called structural glass and is known for its mechanical properties.

• Fibreglass comes in various forms to suit various applications, the major ones being:

• Fibreglass Tape: Fiberglass tapes are made up of glass fibre yarns and are known for their thermal insulation properties. This form of fibreglass finds wide applications in wrapping vessels, hot pipelines, and the likes.

• Fibreglass Cloth: Fiberglass cloth is smooth and is available in various variants like glass fibre yarns and glass filament yarns. It is widely used as heat shields, in fire curtains and others.

• Fibreglass Rope: Ropes are braided from glass fibre yarns and are used for packing purposes.

3. Materials of Glass Fibre Fabric

• PTFE Coated Fiberglass Fabric

  Fibreglass fabric coated with PTFE is made up of high-capability fibreglass which has steeped into PTFE. It is a new product with high capability and multiform function of complex material. Fibreglass fabric coated with PTFE has various good capabilities and it is widely used in the aircraft industry, paper manufacture, food, environment protection, print and painting, costume, chemical, glass manufacture, medical, electronic, insulation, building (basic cloth of topping frame), sharpener slice, machinery, etc.

  
  

• Silicone Coated Fiberglass Fabric

  A fibreglass fabric with silicone coating is made of fibreglass cloth and coated on one side or both sides with specially bonded silicone rubber. The physiologically inert silicone rubber doesn’t only increase the strength but also heat insulation properties, fire resistance, ozone resistance. Silicone coated fibreglass fabric protects against impact from oxygen ageing, climate ageing and oil.

  
  

• Aluminum Foil Fiberglass Fabric

  Fireproofing fibreglass cloth of complex aluminium foil is mainly made by special technique adopting the special type of fireproofing bond which formed in a thick membrane, it has a smooth surface and high luminous reflectance and tensile strength, good sealing capability, and it is gas-proofing and waterproofing.

  
  

• PVC Coated Fiberglass Fabric

  PVC fibreglass fabric (fibreglass fabric coated with PVC)

  PVC coating fabric takes fibreglass fabric, fibre-cotton fabric and polyester fabric as basic cloth, coating by special technique. The main capability and characteristics are waterproofing, flame resistant, mildew-proofing, cold-proofing and corrosion-proofing; seasoning resistance; ultraviolet-proofing; easy washing; high-temperature resistance (180℃), good capability of heat maintaining.

See also：

• Classification of glass fiber materials

• Glass fiber manufacturing technology-common glass fiber shapes in composite materials

• Comparison of glass fiber reinforced materials and carbon fiber reinforced materials

4. Applications of Glass Fibre Fabric

Materials with high-temperature insulation provide an effective thermal barrier for industrial gaskets. Since fibreglass is durable, safe and offers high thermal insulation, fibreglass is one of the widely preferred materials in industrial gaskets. They not only provide better insulation but also help in protecting the machinery, conserving the energy and ensuring the safety of the professional workforce. This is the reason perhaps why fibreglass is widely used in industries given below:

Beverage industry: Fiberglass grating is used in many areas like bottling lines and brew houses.

Car washes: Recently, fibreglass grating is greatly used for rust resistance and to give a contrasting colour to areas that previously looked forbidden. It brightens the inside of the carwash tunnel making the car look cleaner than it was.

Chemical industry: In this industry, fibreglass grating is used for the anti-slip safety feature of the embedded grit surface and the chemically resistant feature of different resin compounds. The chemicals being used are matched with the resins.

Cooling towers: Since cooling towers are always wet, they have to be protected from rust, corrosion, and other safety issues. Due to the excellent properties of fibreglass, it is used in these towers as screening to keep people and animals away from the danger zones.

Docks and marinas: The docks get corroded, rusted and damaged by the salty seawater. So, fibreglass is used here for protection.

Food processing: In the chicken and beef processing plants, fibreglass grating is used for slip resistance and for holding up to corrosive blood. Most of the areas of food processing also use fibreglass as other grating materials are not suitable.

Fountains and aquariums: All sizes of fountains and aquariums use fibreglass to support rocks to help in circulation and filtering from under the rocks. In large public fountains, fibreglass grating is used to protect spray headers and lights from getting damaged. This also keeps people from drowning in the fountains.

Manufacturing: The embedded grit surface of fibreglass grating ensures slip resistance in the areas that are wet or in places where hydraulic fluids or oils are present.

Metals and mining: Fiberglass grating is used in electronic refining areas prone to chemical corrosion. Other grating materials cannot be used here.

Power generation: Many areas of the power generation industry like tank farms, scrubbers, and others use fibreglass. The reason for this is the non-conductive property of fibreglass.

Plating plants: This application uses fibreglass grating due to the anti-slip property of the surface.

Pulp and paper industry: The property of fibreglass which makes it chemical corrosion resistant is useful in pulp and bleach mills. Recently, fibreglass is used in many areas due to its corrosion resistance and anti-slip properties.

Automotive industry: Fiberglass is extensively used in the automobile industry. Almost every car has fibreglass components and body kits.

Aerospace & Defense: Fiberglass is used to manufacture parts for both military and civilian aerospace industry including test equipment, ducting, enclosures, and others.

See also：

• What kind of fabric to use for sun shade curtains?

• Application and Classification of High Temperature Fibreglass Cloth

• Glass Fiber Fabric-Glass Fiber Cloth

• Application and Classification of High Temperature Fibreglass Cloth

• what fiberglass can do for you?

5. How to Care for Glass Fibre Fabric?

1. Acetate: Hand Wash — Air Dry

   Acetate is a man-made fibre, often found blended with other fibres to create beautiful, easy-to-drape clothing. Acetate and acetate blends clean up well, but they can be very sensitive to dye transfer. Check the care label, and then wash garments containing acetate fibres in cold water.

   
   

2. Cotton: Hot Water Wash — Tumble Dry Warm

   Cotton is a worldwide favourite for comfortable, versatile clothing. A natural fibre, cotton can be found in garments as casual as a T-shirt or as elaborate as a ball gown.

   Cotton fibres will shrink unless the fabric has been preshrunk or processed, so start with the care label. "Coldwater only" may signal that your ankle-length cotton trousers will convert themselves to capri pants if not washed correctly.

   
   

3. Linen: Cool Water Wash — Air Dry

   Linen is a natural fiber, made from the flax plant. Check care labels on linen garments to determine whether the garment must be dry-cleaned. If machine-washable, wash according to label instructions, using water appropriate to the garment's color. Linen absorbs more water during the washing process than other fibres, so guard against overcrowding in the washer and dryer. Iron linen from the inside out, using steam at a hot iron setting.

   
   

4. Polyester: Cool Water Wash — Tumble Dry Warm or Air Dry

   The last century's "wonder fibre," polyester creates colorful, durable, easy-care garments. Most polyester fabrics may be machine-washed using warm water, but check care labels first.

   
   

5. Silk: Hand Wash or Cool Warm Wash — Tumble Dry Cool or Air Dry

   Supple, strong and lustrous, this natural fiber is among the world's oldest clothing materials. While silk fiber itself is washable, many weave patterns used for silk fabric will tighten or pucker if washed, and deep dye tones may not be colour-fast.

See also：

How to repair the car surface with glass fiber？