Glass fibers chemical composition

The chemical nature of the experimental methacrylate functional silanes on silica was studied by FTIR, and the performance of the silanes in improving the chemical resistance of glass fiber/polyester composites was evaluated. 

Beside the glass fiber hybrid composite, hybrid of EFB and jute fibers was also studied. Two kinds of trilayer hybrid composites were prepared and compared. The composite with EFB as skin material and jute as the core material was compared to the composite with jute as skin material and EFB as the core material. It was reported that all the composites were resistant to various chemicals. Moreover, the tensile properties of the composite having jute as skin and EFB as core material showed higher tensile properties as compared to the other layering pattern. 

Keywords glass fiber (GF), composition, physical properties, chemical resistance, electrical properties, optical properties, glass fiber production, glass fiber reinforced composites. 

Vegetable and animal oils can be made more chemically reactive (eg, by epoxidation), and then cross-linked to form sturdy thermosets. Reinforced with glass fiber the composites have applications in the areas of agricultural equipment and the automotive industry. Plant fiber reinforcement, eg, from jute, hemp, flax, sisal, keraf, wood, straw, or hay, provides a biodegradable option (73). 

Protection against media influence Is required especially for the glass fibers in composites. If coating with thermoplastic film (thermoplastic linings) is technically or economically not feasible, so-called chemical barrier layers are applied, i.e., pure resin layers (fine layers) or layers reinforced with thermoplastic fibers or glass mats, depending on the load experienced and the protection required [7], [8]. 

Pure UP or VE resins exhibit notably better resistance than corresponding glass fiber reinforced composites. This fact has led to the introduction of resinous surface coatings for all glass fiber-reinforced molded parts under medial loads - so-called gel coats. With the intensive utilization of UP and VE resins in corrosive environments, the composition of the protective coating as a chemical protective layer for the structure laminate is described in DIN 18820 [8] part 3. 

The mechanical properties of composites are mainly influenced by the adhesion between matrix and fibers of the composite. As it is known from glass fibers, the adhesion properties could be changed by pretreatments of fibers. So special process, chemical and physical modification methods were developed. Moisture repel-lency, resistance to environmental effects, and, not at least, the mechanical properties are improved by these treatments. Various applications for natural fibers as reinforcement in plastics are encouraged. 

Composite materials are made up of two or more materials that have different properties. These materials are combined (in many cases involving chemical bonding) to produce a new material that has properties superior to either material alone. An example of this type of composite is fiberglass, in which glass fibers are held together by a polymeric resin. 

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