fibreglass - manufacturing process, properties, uses, advantages and disadvantages glass murals types

1. FIBREGLASS

2. INTRODUCTION
• The fibre glass is composed of minute glass rods
• It can be prepared either in form of continuous strands just like silk or in the staple form
just like wool
• The fibres may be randomly arranged, flattened into a sheet (called a chopped strand mat),
or woven into a fabric.
• It is also used to create glass-reinforced plastic and fibre-reinforced polymer, both of which
are essential in multiple industries.
• The plastic matrix may be a thermoset polymer matrix – most often based on thermosetting
polymers such as epoxy, polyester resin, or vinyl ester - or a thermoplastic .

3. MANUFACTURING PROCESS
• The basic raw materials are natural minerals and manufactured chemicals.
• The major ingredients are silica sand, limestone, and soda ash. Silica sand is
used as the glass former, and soda ash and limestone help primarily to lower
the melting temperature
• Waste glass, also called cullet, is also used as a raw material.
• The raw materials must be carefully weighed in exact quantities and
thoroughly mixed together (called batching) before being melted into glass.

4. MANUFACTURING PROCESS
• The batch is prepared and fed into a
furnace for melting.
• The molten glass must be kept at a higher
temperature than other types of glass in
order to be formed into fibre.
• Once the glass becomes molten, it is
transferred to the forming equipment via a
channel located at the end of the furnace.
• The molten glass passes through the
orifices and comes out as fine filament.

5. FORMING INTO FIBRES
• Continuous filament process – multiple strands are caught up on a high-
speed winder, rolled into drums and formed into yarns. A chemical binder is
applied, which helps keep the fibre from breaking during later processing.
• Staple-fibre process – while cooling , jets of air break filaments into lengths
of 8-15 inches. These filaments fall through a spray of lubricant onto a
revolving drum, where they form a thin web. The web is drawn from the
drum and pulled into a continuous strand of loosely assembled fibres. This
strand can be processed into yarn

6. Fibreglass yarns
Glass wool

7. • Chopped fibre process – yarns are chopped into short, uniform lengths. The
chopped fibre is formed into mats to which a binder is added. After curing in an
oven, the mat is rolled up. Various weights and thicknesses give products for
shingles, built-up roofing, or decorative mats.
• Glass wool – cooling involves a downward jet of hot air , marking the fibres fall
randomly onto a conveyor belt , forming a fleecy mass. This can be used for
insulation, or the wool can be sprayed with a binder, compressed into the desired
thickness, and cured in an oven. The heat sets the binder, and the resulting product
may be a rigid or semi-rigid board, or a flexible batt.
FORMING INTO FIBRES

8. Chopped fibre process

9. MANUFACTURING PROCESS –
FIBREGLASS SHEET

13. • When dried , the sheets are given proper shape with a cutter and edges
are smoothened.
• Designed fiberglass sheets are made by adding many other materials such
as bamboo sheet, coloured papers or cloth are used.

14. TYPES OF FIBREGLASS
Classified depending on the raw materials used and their proportions to make
fiberglass
• A-glass: A glass is also called as alkali glass and is resistant to chemicals. Due to the
composition of A glass fibre, it is close to window glass
• C-glass: C-glass offers very good resistance to chemical impact and is also called as
chemical glass.
• E-glass: It is also called as electrical glass and is a very good insulator of electricity.
• S glass: It is also called as structural glass and is known for its mechanical
properties.

15. PROPERTIES
• Mechanical strength: Fiberglass has a specific resistance greater than steel. So, it is used to make
high-performance.
• Electrical characteristics: Fiberglass is a good electrical insulator even at low thickness.
• Incombustibility: Since fiberglass is a mineral material, it is naturally incombustible. It does not
propagate or support a flame. It does not emit smoke or toxic products when exposed to heat.
• Dimensional stability: Fiberglass is not sensitive to variations in temperature.
• Compatibility with organic matrices: Fiberglass can have varying sizes and has the ability to
combine with many synthetic resins and certain mineral matrices like cement.
• Non-rotting: Fiberglass does not rot and remains unaffected by the action of rodents and insects.
• Thermal conductivity: Fiberglass has low thermal conductivity making it highly useful in the building
industry.
• Dielectric permeability: This property of fiberglass makes it suitable for electromagnetic windows.

16. PROPERTIES
• Resistance to corrosive attacks
• Superior shock and wear resistance
• Lightweight
• Simple assembling
• Damage and breakage resistance
• Aesthetical and attractive look
• Mainly for insulation purposes.

17. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
• Lightweight
• Long spans available with a separate structural
frame
• High ratio of strength to weight
• Good moulding ability
• Easily installed, can be cut, patched, sanded
• Non-corrosive, rot-resistant
• Energy efficient
• Low coefficient of thermal expansion, fiberglass
windows and doors provide energy-efficient
solutions that help seal out the elements - even in
extreme hot and cold climate conditions
• Ultraviolet sensitive unless surface is coated or
pigments are in gel coat
• The disadvantages is that it needs to be re-gel
coated about every five years and can result in
airborne fibres which may be an issue to asthma
sufferers.

18. APPLICATIONS

20. Doors , windows and dormers

21. Swimming pool and bath tub

22. • Storage tanks
• Shell structures
• Corrugated roof
and wall panels

23. Skylights , balconies and canopies

24. PRICES
• Fibreglass sheet – Rs 55/sq. ft
• Fibreglass window – Rs 220/sq. ft
• Glass wool – Rs – 150/sq. ft

25. GLASS MURALS

26. INTRODUCTION
• Glass murals are murals made out of glass tiles that are installed within, or added
onto the surface of an existing wall.
• They are also inlaid into floors.
• Mural tiles are painted, glazed, sublimation printed or more traditionally cut or
broken into pieces. Mosaic murals are made by combining small 1/4" to 2" size
pieces of colourful stone, ceramic , or glass tiles which are then laid out to create a
picture. Modern day technology has allowed commercial mosaic mural makers to
use computer programs to separate photographs into colours that are automatically
cut and glued onto sheets of mesh creating precise murals fast and in large
quantities.

27. TYPES
CAST AND SLUMPED GLASS
• Cast glass is glass with textured surface produced by
pouring and pressing molten glass into a mould
• Slumped glass is heated to the temperature at which the
glass softens and begins to deform. It may either bend
along a single curvature or, if heated sufficiently, may
become elastic enough to stretch and curve to follow a
compound curvature
• The unique property lies in the way light interacts with
texture
• It creates a tactile environment and offers the
opportunity to combine colour with texture

28. DIGITAL ART
• Digital art is a visual feature created on a computer in digital
form
• The digital file can be purely computer generated or taken
from another source such as scanned photography or image
drawn using vector graphics software
• Digital art can be transferred by printing onto glass,
interlayers or other films and substrates
• They are permanent
• Images wont fade , peel
• Control over opacity
TYPES

29. SANDBLASTED GLASS
• Glass produced by using
high velocity air to spray a
stream of hard abrasive
particles against one or
both surfaces giving the
area a frosted or etched
appearance
TYPES

30. VIDEO
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3BWstDXj64&t=2s

31. STAINED GLASS
• Glass that has been coloured by adding metallic
salts during its manufacture. The coloured glass
is crafted into stained glass windows in which
small pieces of glass are arranged to form
patterns or pictures, held together (traditionally)
by strips of lead and supported by a rigid
frame. The term stained glass is also applied to
windows in which the colours have been painted
onto the glass and then fused to the glass in a
kiln.
TYPES

32. VIDEO
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQTMMWwlAqI&t=35s

33. FUSED GLASS
Fused glass is created by
melting in a kiln and fusing 2 or
more types and colours of glass
Fused glass gives the option to
create a design that would not
be available with 2d glass
techniques
TYPES

34. VIDEO
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCHd9ZxbtbE&t=55s

35. THANK YOU
ANJALI.S
GANGADHAR
SUNITA