Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-10-16 Origin: Site
Introduction
Since the beginning of the 20th century, human beings have been continuously deepening their research on materials science, and the discovery and application of new materials have greatly promoted the progress and development of society. Among them, glass fiber, as an important non-metallic mineral material, has occupied an indispensable position in many industries in the past century with its unique performance advantages and wide range of applications. Glass fiber was invented and commercially produced by Owens-Illinois in the United States in the 1930s. This invention marked the beginning of the modern glass fiber industry. Subsequently, during the Second World War, due to the surge in military demand, glass fiber developed rapidly. After the war, with the continuous improvement and perfection of the production process, glass fiber gradually entered the civilian market. In the 1960s, with the advancement of technology, people began to try to cut long fibers into short fibers of a certain length in a specific way, the so-called "chopped strands". This form of glass fiber not only retains the excellent properties of the original long fibers, but is also favored by the market because of its ease of transportation and storage.
The concept of glass fiber chopped strands
Fiberglass is an important inorganic non-metallic material. It plays an important role in industrial production and daily life with its excellent performance and wide application.
Fiberglass composition
Fiberglass is mainly made of silicate-based glass. Common ingredients include silicon dioxide (SiO₂), calcium oxide (CaO), magnesium oxide (MgO), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and other small amounts of additives and additives. These ingredients are mixed in a certain proportion and formed into glass with specific properties through high-temperature melting, cooling and solidification. According to different application requirements, glass fiber can be divided into several types:
E glass fiber: It is the most commonly used type. The main components are silicon dioxide, calcium oxide and aluminum oxide. It is widely used in the electronic and electrical industry due to its good electrical insulation properties.
C glass fiber: It contains a higher proportion of calcium oxide, so it has better chemical corrosion resistance.
S glass fiber: It contains a higher proportion of aluminum oxide and is mainly used in high-strength composite materials.
AR glass fiber: A certain amount of zinc oxide is added to enhance alkali resistance and is widely used in cement-based composite materials.
How to make chopped strands
Wire drawing: The raw materials are first melted and then drawn through a nozzle into continuous glass fibers.
Bundling: multiple monofilaments are gathered into a bundle to form a continuous fiber bundle with a certain diameter.
Oiling: Coating a layer of oil on the fiber surface to improve the softness and dispersion of the fiber.
Cutting: Using specialized equipment to cut a continuous fiber bundle into chopped strands of the desired length. Depending on the application requirements, the length of chopped strands can range from a few millimeters to tens of millimeters.
Characteristics of different chopped strands
Standard length chopped strands: The general length is between 3mm and 50mm, suitable for the reinforcement of various composite materials, such as SMC (sheet molding compound), BMC chopped strands(bulk molding compound), etc. It has good dispersion and reinforcing effect, and can significantly improve the mechanical properties of the matrix material. Used in automotive parts, building materials, etc.
Ultra-fine chopped strands: usually less than 3mm in length, mainly used to improve the microstructure of materials. It can maintain good enhancement effect without affecting the surface finish of the material. Commonly used in high-end electronic products, precision instrument components, etc.
Specially treated chopped strands: Special surface treatment, such as coating or graft modification, to adapt to specific application environments. It improves the compatibility and bonding strength with the base material and enhances the overall performance of the material. Used in high-performance composite materials, special engineering plastics, etc.
Characteristics of glass fiber chopped strands
Physical properties
Density: The density of glass fiber is usually between 2.3 and 2.8 g/cm³, which makes it a lightweight and high-strength material. Lightweight properties are particularly important for reducing the weight of finished products and improving fuel efficiency, especially in the automotive industry and aviation manufacturing.
Strength and modulus: Glass fibers have high tensile strength (about 3,000 MPa) and elastic modulus (about 70 GPa), which means that they can withstand large external forces without deformation. Although chopped strands are slightly lower in strength than continuous fibers, they can still provide sufficient reinforcement due to their uniform distribution.
Coefficient of thermal expansion: Glass fiber has a low coefficient of thermal expansion of about 5×10^-6/℃, which means that the material's dimensions change less when the temperature changes, which is very beneficial for applications that need to work in extreme temperatures.
Heat resistance: Glass fiber can withstand high temperatures and can usually maintain its structural integrity above 200℃, making it an ideal choice for making high-temperature resistant composite materials.
Water absorption: Although glass fiber has a certain degree of hydrophilicity, its water absorption rate is low, generally not exceeding 0.1%, which helps to maintain the material's stable performance in a humid environment.
Chemical stability
Acid and alkali erosion resistance: Glass fiber has good resistance to most acid and alkali solutions, unless it is exposed to strong acid and alkali conditions for a long time. This property enables glass fiber to be used in a variety of chemical environments, such as container linings in sewage treatment facilities or chemical plants.
Solvent resistance: Glass fiber is not easily corroded by most organic solvents and can maintain its original mechanical properties even under solvent immersion conditions, which is crucial for making products that need to contact chemicals.
Anti-UV aging: Although direct exposure to ultraviolet rays may cause aging of the glass fiber surface, in most cases, surface treatment or the addition of UV inhibitors can effectively extend its service life.
Application
Composite Materials
Automobile manufacturing industry: In the automobile manufacturing industry, glass fiber chopped strands for brake pads are used to produce lightweight, high-strength parts, such as body panels, hoods, bumpers, etc. By using glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), vehicles can be significantly lighter, improve fuel efficiency, and enhance crash safety.
Building materials: In the field of building materials, glass fiber chopped strands are often used to produce reinforced concrete, waterproof materials, thermal insulation materials, etc. Not only do these materials have good mechanical properties, they are also resistant to harsh weather conditions, extending the life of the building.
Ship manufacturing: Ship manufacturing also requires a large amount of composite materials to reduce the weight of the hull and increase the sailing speed. Composite materials formed by combining glass fiber chopped strands with resin can be used to manufacture ship hulls, decks and other components to improve the durability and economy of ships.
Electronic and electrical industry
Circuit board substrate: FR-4 board made of glass fiber chopped strands and epoxy resin is one of the most commonly used printed circuit board (PCB) substrates. This material not only has good electrical insulation properties, but also remains stable in high temperature environments, making it suitable for manufacturing high-performance electronic equipment.
Insulating material: In power equipment such as high-voltage cables and transformers, ar glass fiber chopped strands, as part of the insulating material, can effectively prevent current leakage and ensure the safe operation of the equipment.
Electromagnetic shielding material: Glass fiber chopped strands can also be blended with metal fibers to make composite materials with electromagnetic shielding functions, which are used to reduce electromagnetic interference and protect sensitive electronic components from external signals.
Daily necessities industry
Household appliances： housingsHousehold appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators are often made of glass fiber reinforced plastics, which not only increases the firmness of the product but also gives it a better appearance and texture.
Sports equipment：Sports equipment such as skis and bicycle frames also use a lot of glass fiber chopped strands as reinforcement materials. These materials are not only light, but also have excellent impact resistance, which improves the safety and comfort of athletes.
Furniture manufacturing：In the field of furniture manufacturing, glass fiber chopped strands are also used to reinforce plastics or wood to produce more stable and durable furniture products such as chairs and tables.
Emerging fields
Biomedicine In recent years, researchers have begun to explore the use of chopped glass fibers in the biomedical field, such as as part of tissue engineering scaffold materials to repair damaged tissues and organs. In addition, chopped glass fibers can also be used to make medical supplies such as medical protective clothing.
Environmentally friendly materials The increase in environmental awareness has prompted people to look for more environmentally friendly material alternatives. Chopped glass fibers play an important role in the research and development of environmentally friendly materials due to their recyclable properties. For example, using discarded chopped glass fibers to make new composite materials saves resources and reduces waste generation.
Aerospace In the aerospace field, there are extremely high requirements for the weight and strength of materials. Chopped glass fibers have obvious advantages in manufacturing parts for aircraft, satellites and other aircraft due to their light weight and high strength.
Conclusion
As a multifunctional material, glass fiber chopped strands have shown unique charm and broad application prospects in many industries. With its light weight, high strength, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and easy processing, glass fiber chopped strands have shown great potential in composite materials, electronics, daily necessities, and even emerging fields. With the continuous innovation and development of technology, the application field of glass fiber chopped strands continues to expand, bringing more possibilities for industrial production and social development.
As a high-quality glass fiber manufacturer, Yu Niu Fiberglass has always been committed to providing high-quality products and services and promoting technological progress in the industry. In the production process of glass fiber chopped strands, Yu Niu Fiberglass focuses on technological innovation and strictly controls product quality to ensure that each chopped strand can meet the high standards of customers. By continuously optimizing production processes and developing new products, Yu Niu Fiberglass can provide customers with diversified solutions to meet the needs of different application fields.
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