Leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements, Owens Corning, has announced the availability of the first-ever chemical resistance guide for glass fibers. The guide provides information to hel…
Leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements, Owens Corning, has announced the availability of the first-ever chemical resistance guide for glass fibers. The guide provides information to help end-users, engineers and fabricators select the optimum glass fiber reinforcements for use in fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP) applications used in corrosive environments. “We talked with specifiers and end-users and realized that the corrosion market was missing an important tool,” said Ashish Diwanji, vice president of Innovation for the Composite Solutions Business. “This guide will help FRP designers balance cost and performance when selecting the best glass fiber to meet their needs.” The Glass Fiber Reinforcement Chemical Resistance Guide“ contains test results, examples of specifications and information about industry standards for glass fiber compositions used in FRP applications. The results were compiled from tests conducted in the laboratory and knowledge gained in the company“s field experience and illustrates the effect of various chemicals on different glass fibers. Examples of writing specifications are provided to ensure accuracy and consistency. The company has also included industry standards for glass fibers used to resist corrosion because selecting the right glass fiber is a key factor in corrosion resistance and can lower the risk of failure. Owens Corning is the world“s leading producer of corrosion-resistant glass fibers including its patented Advantex glass which meets ASTM D578, ISO 2078, and DIN1259-1 standards. Advantex glass has enhanced corrosion-resistant properties and tests indicate it performs well when exposed to corrosive chemicals. There is a proliferation of applications where corrosion-resistant properties are required, such as the new equipment for pollution control, mining, chemical processing, desalination plants and a variety of saltwater marine applications including tidal energy installations. “Owens Corning is in a unique position to present the guide because of our material science competencies in corrosion, glass and surface chemistry,” said Diwanji. “These competencies enabled us to invent most of the glass fiber types used today in FRP.” The Glass Fiber Reinforcement Chemical Resistance Guide can be downloaded from the company“s website at: www.owenscorning.com/composites/aboutAdvantex.asp.