Glass wool
Description
Finely spun glass fibers sold commercially as a white fluffy mass or a loose blanket. Glass wool was patented in the US in 1933 by a method made by Games Slayter at the Owens-Illinois Glass co The fibers are approximately one-thousandths of an inch in diameter (1 mil) and are held in a foam-like mesh that traps tiny air pockets. This results in lightweight material with very high thermal insulation. Glass wool is used for filtration, thermal insulation and as a decorative media. It is resistant to mold growth, even at high humidities.
Synonyms and Related Terms
laine de verre (Fr.); glaswol (Ned.); lã de vidro (Port.); fiberglass; fibreglass; rock wool; mineral wool; batt insulation
Risks
- Fine, friable glass fibers can cause skin, eye, throat and lung irritation.
- Potential carcinogens.
- CD Fine Chemicals: SDS
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Insoluble in all solvents except hydrofluoric acid.
- Density = 2.55 g/ml
- Refractive index = 1.531
- Glass transition temperature = 551 C
Resources and Citations
- Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996
- Wikipedia: Glass wool (Accessed Mar. 20, 2006 and Oct 2023)