Glass fibers are filaments of an amorphous silicate drawn from a molten batch, and they are the reinforcement most widely applied in polymer composites by volume. The commercial grades differ mainly in composition: E-glass is the general-purpose electrical grade, while S-glass and R-glass carry more magnesium and aluminium oxide for a higher strength [1]. The fibre is formed by drawing the melt through a bushing, and the surface is coated immediately with a sizing that protects the filaments and provides the bond to the matrix [2]. Because the fibre is isotropic and brittle, the composite strength along the fibre direction follows the rule of mixtures up to the point where the first filaments break [3]. Alkali attack in a cementitious environment destroys the network, so a zirconia-containing grade is chosen where the composite must survive in concrete [4]. The interface with a thermoplastic matrix is usually weaker than with an epoxy, and the difference dominates the off-axis properties [5].
- e-glass
- sizing
- rule of mixtures
- alkali resistance
- filament drawing
- interfacial bond
- reinforcement
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites·Mechanical Engineering·Engineering·Physical Sciences
References
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