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 humidity.

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)