FIBREGLAS

Fibreglas textile fibres are produced by two methods, the continuous filament process and staple fibre process. In each process glass marbles, made from melted and refined raw materials are remelted in small electrical furnaces, each of which has many small holes in the base of the melting chamber, through which the molten glass flows in fine streams by gravity. In the continuous filament process more than 100 filaments are drawn simultaneously and gathered into a thread or strand. The strand is attached to a high-speed winder that, as it draws the strand, attentuates each stream of molten glass to a fraction of the diameter of the hole through which it emerges. In the staple fibre process the streams of molten glass are struck by jets of high-pressure air or steam which attentuate the glass into fibres varying in length from 8-in. to 15-in. These fibres are driven on to a revolving drum on which they form a web, which is gathered from the drum and wound on to a tube in the form of a sliver. Strands of either continuous filament or staple fibres are twisted and plied into yarns on standard textile machinery. Fibreglas yarns are particularly suitable where fire-proofness, resistance to acids or other chemicals other than alkalis is demanded. Uses include electrical yarns, cords, tapes, cloths and sleevings which form the basis for a plain and varnished or impregnated electrical insulation material; chemical filter fabrics, anode bags used in electroplating, wicking for oil lamps and stoves, pump diaphragms, special fabrics for resisting high-temperature fumes and acids, facing materials for insulating or acoustical blankets, also rubber-coated, acid-proof and waterproof fabrics. Decorative uses include draperies, shower curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, lamp shades and some apparel accessories, such as men's neckties. Also decorative work in architecture, dress fabrics, particularly for fancy effects, non-stretching cord for use in radio indicating dials, bookbinding, fire-screens, etc.