Reinforcement glass fiber

The term “glass fibers” refers both to fibers used as thermal insulation –well known due to their visibility in many everyday applications – and to those used as reinforcements, which are the focus of this article. These reinforcement fibers are less visible in final applications because they are typically combined with organic matrices (plastics) to form what is commonly known as “composites”.

Considering the presentation and adaptation of reinforcement fibers to textile processing methods, French standards have adopted the generic term “textile glass” to distinguish them.

The main application of textile glass fibers is the reinforcement of plastics. However, their range of applications has expanded to other matrices such as cement, gypsum plaster, and bitumen. This article therefore includes additional information on textile glass fibers intended for these new matrices whenever relevant – for example, alkali-resistant glass used to reinforce cement.

After introducing the different families of textile glass fibers and describing their manufacturing process, the article presents the various products and their main applications in composites.

It also covers recent developments in fibers for new composite applications, particularly those related to wind energy. Additionally, it addresses current efforts to decarbonize manufacturing units and to recycle fiber waste within the value chain.

The reader will find in the section references various sections including technical & scientific literature, suppliers and standards.