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Fiberglass?

Introduction.

Fiberglass is a common type of fiber reinforced plastic material, made from extremely fine fibers of glass. The fibers may be woven, arranged randomly or flattened into a sheet. Used as a polymer, it results in many composite materials known a fiber reinforced polymer. Fiberglass was invented in 1938, by Russell Games Slayter of Owens-Corning as a material to be used as insulation.


Glass wool, on the other hand, is a material made from fibers of glass arranged using a binder into a texture similar to wool. Essentially used as an insulating material, the binding process traps many small pockets of air between the glasses. The small air pockets result in high thermal insulation properties used in various field of industrialization. It can be produced as slabs, rolls, sprayable or materials that can be applied onto surfaces.Glass wool was invented by Games Slayter in 1933.

Both glass wool and fiberglass are inorganic insulation materials with varying capabilities.

Insulation.

Fiberglass is a very good and effective electrical insulator this could be despite its use in low thickness. Fiberglass cannot propagate nor can it combust. This incombustible character is reinforced from the mineral material composition. This makes it suitable for industrial and house constructions. Preventing an occurrence of fires, with gas particles enclosed within the mesh of glass fibers. Glass wool provides great insulation as it utilizes physical conductivity of gasses to prevent loss of heat or electric current. It is also characteristically soundproof absorbing stray sounds and cancelling out outside noises.

Development.

Technological advancements have greatly contributed to making glass fiber and glass wool safer materials for use. They have modified fiberglass and glass wool into useful products, with adaptation into different form such as concrete, they have also increased their scope of use. Contrary to the normal hard and rigid fiber, technology has allowed glass fiber to bend thus forging products such as tanks and shielding. They have also been incorporated into standard building requirements for certain buildings, this has provided users with a wider variety of high-quality fiberglass and glass wool. As they are modified, they become more user-friendly reducing side effects and increasing the ease of use by nonprofessional construction workers, this allows for cost saving, better service, and reduced workload. Development and research ease their use in working.

Durability

Fiberglass is non-rotting, which means that it does not decompose. It is not affected by rodents and vermin’s remaining impenetrable even after years of use. Since it is made from glass, very little can affect it. This allows the fiberglass to last for long periods of time, without loss of functionality while still maintaining structural integrity. Fiberglass also has greater resistance than steel, meaning it can be used in high performance and stress situations.

Side effects.

Fiberglass has some demerits, these may vary depending on a person’s exposure and the type of fiber they are exposed to. They can range from eye, skin or respiratory irritation. They may also include but not limited to rashes, stomach irritation and skin eruptions. from animal studies, fragments of glass fiber found embedded in lung tissue were highly predisposing to cancerous growth and research from the international agency for research on cancer recently established the possibility of these glass fibers to contain carcinogens. This also applies to glass wool, where the same fibers have a high probability to cause cancer development in man. The effects can be greatly avoided, by reducing exposure to the fiber glasses. Measures to be taken include vacuuming and ventilation to reduce dust levels, adorning protective gear such as gloves, goggles and long-sleeved clothes. Clothes used in the handling of glass fibers should be separately washed away from all other clothes and the washing machine properly cleaned afterward, to prevent the spreading of glass fibers.

Environmental conservation.

As suggested, recycled glass is a key ingredient in the manufacturing of glass wool insulation. Combined with ingredients, such as soda ash, limestone, and sand, they are mixed and then heated to melting point, before it is spun into long, super-thin threads of glass fiber. After using a binder to attach the glass fibers together and baking them in a large oven, the insulation is sliced up and cooled off, before being packaged. Both products evolve from glass trash and disposables. They save environmental pollutions promoting conservation. This reduces environmental pollution load of glass avoiding injuries dumps and promoting clean waterways and safe dumping grounds. Fiberglass is also used as insulation material for radioactive materials. It allows handling of otherwise harmful materials, this also provides a safe method in the disposal of harmful waste.

Applications.

Fiberglass has been immensely used in construction industrialization and simple household items because of its lightweight, inherent strength, weather-resistant finish, and variety of surface texture. Attributed to its insulation, glass wool has been used in a nuclear reactor. It blocks out great amounts of heat, providing adequate protection to people.

Fiberglass has been used in a magnetic window this is attributed to its dielectric permeability. Glasswool is widely used in the music setup as it provides noise absorbent material and a pressurized environment, enhancing sound quality. It may also be used as insulation for ceilings piping or ducts. Fiberglass can also be used in the making of water tanks, this is owed entirely to the non-absorbent properties attributed to fiberglass. They store water in conducive temperatures, allowing for usage during different seasons.

Conclusion.

With varying few variations, fiberglass and glass wool have had few differences. They have amassed a wide variety of uses beneficial to society since their invention, ranging from their ability to tolerate harsh conditions and remain intact. The form of which they take limits the use of both fiberglass and glass wool. They have both been effective in different ways, with each having unique properties to sort different tasks required and have existed in popularity due to this factor. This thus fully fulfils their intended purpose. The difference would majorly be on the capabilities and uses of both fiberglass and glass wool.

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