fibreglass

fibreglass
or glass fibre

Fibrous form of glass, developed in the 1930s.

Liquid glass issues in fine streams through hundreds of fine nozzles, and the solidifying streams are gathered into a single strand and wound onto a spool. Strands can be twisted into yarns, woven into fabrics, or chopped into short pieces and then bonded into mats. Glass filaments and yarns add strength and electrical resistivity to molded plastic products. Glass fabrics are used as electrical insulators and as reinforcing belts in automobile tires. Discontinuous fibres are formed into wools, mats, or boards, commonly used in buildings, appliances, and plumbing.

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also spelled  Fiberglass,  also called  Glass Fibre,  

      fibrous form of glass that is used principally as insulation and as a reinforcing agent in plastics.

      Glass fibres were little more than a novelty until the 1930s, when their thermal and electrical insulating properties were appreciated and methods for producing continuous glass filaments were developed. Modern manufacture begins with liquid glass obtained directly from a glass-melting furnace or from the remelting of preformed glass marbles. For producing continuous fibre, the liquid is fed into a bushing, a receptacle that is pierced with hundreds of fine nozzles through which the liquid issues in fine streams. The solidifying streams are gathered into a single strand, which is wound onto a spool. Strands can be twisted or plied into yarns, woven into fabrics, or chopped into short pieces and then bonded into mats. Discontinuous fibres are most often made in a rotary process, in which fine streams of glass are flung outward through holes in a spinning dish and are then broken and blown downward by a blast of air or steam. The fibres collect on a moving conveyor and are formed into wools, mats, or boards.

      Fibreglass wool, an excellent sound and thermal insulator, is commonly used in buildings, appliances, and plumbing. Glass filaments and yarns add strength and electrical resistivity to molded plastic products, such as pleasure boat hulls, automobile body parts, and housings for a variety of electronic consumer products. Glass fabrics are used as electrical insulators and as reinforcing belts in automobile tires.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fibreglass — n. Same as {fiberglass}. [mostly British usage] [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fibreglass — UK US /ˈfaɪbəglɑːs/ noun [U] UK (US fiberglass) PRODUCTION ► a strong light material made by twisting together small threads of glass and plastic, used especially for making structures such as cars and boats: »The hull of the ship is made of… …   Financial and business terms

  • fibreglass — (US fiberglass) ► NOUN 1) a reinforced plastic material composed of glass fibres embedded in a resin matrix. 2) a textile fabric made from woven glass filaments …   English terms dictionary

  • fibreglass — [[t]fa͟ɪbə(r)glɑːs, glæs[/t]] (in AM, use fiberglass) 1) N UNCOUNT Fibreglass is plastic strengthened with short, thin threads of glass. 2) N UNCOUNT Fibreglass is a material made from short, thin threads of glass which can be used to stop heat… …   English dictionary

  • fibreglass — fiberglass fiberglass n. a material made of fine glass fibers woven into a fabric like form, and used in applications requiring heat resistance; it is also embedded in resins to make a pliable but strong composite material used as the main… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fibreglass — /ˈfaɪbəglas / (say fuybuhglahs) noun 1. a material consisting of extremely fine filaments of glass which are combined in yarn and woven into fabrics, or are used in masses as an insulator or used embedded in plastic as a construction material for …  

  • fibreglass mat — A layer of chopped but irregular individual fibreglass strands dressed with a chemical to hold them loosely together, which when a resin is applied hardens into a strong material for repairing holes, e.g. in car bodies …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • fibreglass — noun a) silica based glass extruded into fibers that possess a length at least 1000 times greater than their width. b) a composite material made from fine fibres of spun glass held together with resin. (Also called Glass Reinforced Plastic.) …   Wiktionary

  • fibreglass — fi·bre·glass s.m.inv. var. → fiberglass …   Dizionario italiano

  • fibreglass — fi|bre|glass BrE fiberglass AmE [ˈfaıbəgla:s US bərglæs] n [U] a light material made from small glass threads pressed together, used for making sports cars, small boats etc …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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