Glass wool

Glass wool

Glass wool is a form of fibreglass where very thin strands of glass are arranged into a spongy texture similar to steel wool. Glass wool is used widely as an insulating material.

Manufacturing process

After the fusion of a mixture of natural sand and recycled glass at 1,450 °C, the glass that is produced is converted into fibers. The cohesion and mechanical strength of the product is obtained by the presence of a binder that “cements” the fibers together. Ideally, a drop of bonder is placed at each fiber intersection. This fiber mat is then heated to around 200 °C (to polymerize the resin), and is calendered to give it strength and stability. The final stage involves cutting the wool and packing it in rolls or panels under very high pressure before palletizing the finished product in order to facilitate transport and storage.

Thanks to its intertwined flexible fibers, glass wool offers excellent fire-resistant properties, as a thermal insulation material (for example in loft of wall cavity insulation) and is also widely used as an absorbent material in acoustic treatments such as sound insulation, absorbent ceiling tiles. Its light weight, flexibility and elasticity make it easy to install, which is another essential condition for effective insulation.Glass wool is an excellent heat insulator.It can be woven into a cloth which has the additional properties of being light,strong,water-proof and corrosion free.

tudies of side effects

A 2002 summary by International Agency for Research on Cancer puts insulation glass wool into Category 3 carcinogen, "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans". The summary found "inadequate evidence" of glass wool causing cancer in humans and "limited evidence" of it causing cancer in experimental animals. [ [http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol81/volume81.pdf IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans] , Volume 81: Man-made Vitreous Fibres. Chapter 5. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 2002, 418 pages. ISBN 92 832 1281 9] Two unspecified "large" studies reviewed in the summary showed "increased mortality" (6% in the "US cohort study") from respiratory cancer in workers exposed to glass wool production. The longevity of exposure did not affect mortality. Smoking habits were not factored out. Non-occupational indoor settings were found to contain "much lower" fibres per volume unit.

Unspecified "studies" reviewed by Health Canada have shown that short time exposure to glass wool may cause minor irritation of skin, eyes, nose and throat. According to Health Canada, glass wool exposure does not present health risk to general population. [ [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/prod/vitre_e.html The Safety of Manmade Vitreous Fibres] , Health Canada, December 19, 2006]

ee also

* Fiberglass
* Bronze wool
* Mineral wool

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • glass wool — glass′ wool′ n. chem. spun glass resembling wool, used for insulation, filters, etc • Etymology: 1875–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • glass wool — noun uncount a light material made of glass fibers, used for making INSULATION that protects buildings from cold …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • glass wool — ► NOUN ▪ glass in the form of fine fibres used for packing and insulation …   English terms dictionary

  • glass wool — n. fine fibers of glass intertwined in a woolly mass, used in filters and as insulation …   English World dictionary

  • glass wool — noun glass fibers spun and massed into bundles resembling wool • Hypernyms: ↑insulator, ↑dielectric, ↑nonconductor, ↑filter * * * noun : glass fibers in a mass resembling cotton batting or wool and used especially for thermal insulation and air… …   Useful english dictionary

  • glass wool — stiklo vata statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Vatos pavidalo termoizoliacinė medžiaga, gaminama iš išplaušinto stiklo lydalo. atitikmenys: angl. glass cotton; glass wool rus. стекловата …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • glass wool — noun Date: 1879 glass fibers in a mass resembling wool and being used especially for thermal insulation and air filters …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • glass wool — spun glass similar to wool, used for insulation, filters, etc. [1875 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • glass wool — /glas ˈwʊl/ (say glahs wool) noun glass spun into very fine threads so that it resembles cottonwool; used in filtering corrosive liquids, for insulation, etc …  

  • glass wool — noun An insulating material, made from fiberglass, arranged into a texture similar to wool …   Wiktionary

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