The Difference between Carbon Fiber and Glass Fiber

CARBON FIBER VS. Glass FIBER

A Comparison Between the two Materials

Which material is superior?

WHAT IS CARBON FIBER

Source: https://infogr.am/carbon-fiber-vs-fiberglass

Carbon fiber is composed of carbon atoms bonded together to form a long chain. It is basically very thin strands of carbon; even thinner than human hair. The strands can be twisted together, like yarn. The yarns can be woven together, like cloth. These cloths and yarns can be molded and bonded together into any shape desired. This bond is formed by using heat and pressure, combining the fiber with a plastic or a polymer. Carbon fiber is five times as strong as steel, two times as stiff, yet weighs about two-thirds less. Carbon fiber has slowly made its way into multiple industries, replacing metal in certain applications.

Applications

Baseball Bats, Golf Clubs, Air Plane Body panels, Concrete Structures, Car Panels, any situation where metal can be replaced by carbon fiber.

WHAT IS FIBERGLASS

Fiber glass is composed of melted glass that has been extruded though bushings; this produces a string like material. This string is then woven into yarn and the yarn into cloth. Like carbon fiber, this cloth can be molded and bonded into any shape desired but fiberglass takes far less heat and pressure to accomplish this bond. Fiberglass is similar to carbon fiber in strength and weight but is slightly more flexible than carbon fiber.

Applications

s Car Panels, Air Plane Body Panels, Boats, Piping, Storage Tanks, House Building, Helmets, Insulation 

HOW DO THESE TWO MATERIALS COMPARE

Both carbon fiber and fiberglass are similar in many ways, but also have their extreme differences. Both materials can be interchanged in certain aspects of industry depending on the circumstances.

Strength and Modulus

 Carbon fiber is slightly stronger than fiberglass and can replace metals in certain applications. Fiberglass, on the other hand might not have a have a higher tensile strength but has a dramatically lower tensile modulus. This allows it bend and take more strain without breaking. Though each material has an overall measurement of strength and modulus, this can vary with the ratio and material each composite material is made of.

Price and Market

Carbon fiber started its early years in the aerospace industry. As engineers stated toying with its many applications it made its way from the sporting goods industry, to the civil engineering industry, finally ending in the automotive and commercial industries. Carbon fibers uses can be endless and are always expanding and developing. The demand for carbon fiber has grown and will continue to grow over the next few years.

The fiber glass market has also been growing, even with the introduction of carbon fiber. Fiber glass not only explores the same industries as carbon fiber; it goes further into different markets and applications. The price of fiber glass is also dramatically cheaper than carbon fiber. The price of carbon fiber prevents it from taking over the composite material industry.

CONCLUSION

Both materials have their pros and cons but overall the superior material fiber glass. Based on ones definition of strength, fiberglass would be considered the stronger material due to its nature to flex to avoid breaking. Also the price of fiberglass makes it superior to carbon fiber in certain aspects. In much of the commercial consumer market carbon fiber has been favored; this has resulted to extreme raises in the prices in products that involve carbon fiber. Fiber glass has proven itself to be superior in the industrial industry, where profit is based upon the least amount of money spent. Fiber glass is also not as aesthetically to the eye as carbon fiber; this is possibly why each material has taken the turns they have in each of the industries.

Source: https://infogr.am/carbon-fiber-vs-fiberglass

What is Fiberglass Mesh?

Fiberglass mesh is, on the basis of C-glass or E-glass woven fiberglass fabric, treated with acrylic, PVC or other special designed chemicals. 

Fiberglass mesh, as an idea engineering material for building industry, has the characteristics of high strength, good cohesiveness, conformity and fixed shape. The main applications of fiberglass mesh are as follows:

- External Insulation and Finish System (EIFS)

- External and internal plaster reinforcement

- Lightweight construction board reinforcement

- Mosaic Carrier and Marble slab reinforcement

- GRC reinforcement

- Asphalt and other insulator reinforcement

9 Properties of Fiberglass Cloths

Fiberglass cloths or fabrics are made of fiberglass yarn by weaving in different processes. They are an ideal material for fireproofing, heat insulation and industrial insulation and base fabric of composite materials for the following properties.

1. CHEMICAL RESISTANCE

Like glass itself, fiberglass cloths will not rot, mildew or deteriorate. They highly resist most chemicals.

2. DIMENSIONAL STABILITY

Fiberglass cloths will not stretch or shrink. Nominal elongation break is 3-4%. The maximum elongation for “E” glass at break is 4.8% with a 100% elastic recovery when stressed close to its point of rupture.
3. HIGH TENSILE STRENGTH

Fiberglass yarn has a high strength-to-weight ratio. Fiberglass yarn is twice as strong as steel wire with the same diameter.
4. GOOD THERMAL PROPERTIES

Fiberglass cloths have a low coefficient of thermal expansion and relatively high thermal conductivity. Glass cloths will distribute heat more rapidly than organic fibers.
5. HIGH THERMAL ENDURANCE

Fiberglass cannot burn and is basically unaffected by curing temperatures used in industrial processing. Fiberglass will retain approximately 50 percent of its strength at 700°F (371°C) and as much as 25 percent at 900°F (482°C); with a softening point of 1555°F (846°C) and a melting point of 2075° F (1121 °C).
6. LOW MOISTURE ABSORPTION

Fiberglass yarn has extremely low moisture absorption, and don’t change physically or chemically when exposed to water.
7. ELECTRICAL INSULATION

High dielectrical strength and relatively low dielectrical constants make fiberglass cloths outstanding for electrical insulation purposes.
8. PRODUCT VERSATILITY

The wide range of filaments, fiberglass yarns, yarn sizes, weave types and finishes make fiberglass cloths available for a broad range of industrial end uses.
9. COST-EFFECTIVENESS

Fiberglass cloths offer cost advantages compared to other synthetic and natural fiber cloths.

How To Use A Fire Blanket Rightly?

Fire blanket is fiberglass woven fabric, which is soft, insulated and resistant to high temperature, can effectively cover and isolate all kinds of fire source including electric fire to put out fire and prevent the spread of fire. In comparison with using fire extinguisher to reach the same effect of fire extinguishment for small fire in family kitchen, using fire blanket is more convenient and simpler, and will not bring secondary pollution during fire extinguishment. The followed are the tips to use a fire blanket rightly.

Type A: For an object in flames

1. Remove the fire blanket by pulling down sharply on the tabs hanging from the bottom of the package.

2. Open blanket fully ensuring the blanket protects your hands, place gently over flames completely to seal fire from air.

3. Turn off power or gas supply and leave the blanket covered until cool.

4. Call the fire department if necessary.

Type B: For a person in flames

1. Remove the fire blanket by pulling down sharply on the tabs hanging from the bottom of the package.

2. Open blanket fully ensuring the blanket protects your hands, wrap around the person to seal fire from air.

3. Seek medical assistance.

Fire Damage and Prevention

In social life, fire is one of disasters that threaten public security and endanger people’s lives and properties. As the saying goes, “Fire and water have no mercy”, “Thief steals half, fire burns all”. Nowadays, fire is a common catastrophic problem confronted by people in countries all over the world, which causes many severe damages to the lives and properties of human society.

With the development of social productivity and increase of social fortune, the general trend of fire loss rising and damage scope extending is objective law. According to the information from UN “World Fire Statistics Center”, the loss caused by fire doubles within 7 years in USA, 16 years in Japan and 12 years in China. The fire happens over 10,000 cases everyday all over the world and causes hundreds of people’s death. In the past few years, there were about 40,000 cases of fire, over 2,000 people dead and 3,000-4,000 people hurt in China every year. The direct property loss caused by fire was over 1 billion Yuan every year, especially the extremely serious fire causing death of dozens or hundreds of people happened from time to time, which caused great loss to country and people’s lives and properties. The severe facts prove that fire is one of the disasters occurred high frequently and one of the disasters with maximal space-time span.

Fire Blankets supplied by Notchtex are woven with insulated and heat-resistant fiberglass, suitable for extinguishment of small fire in family, containment of flame in public places and personal prevention in urgent evacuation.

Fire blankets are soft, insulated and resistant to high temperature, and can effectively cover and isolate all kinds of fire source including electric fire to put out fire and prevent the spread of fire. In comparison with using fire extinguisher to reach the same effect of fire extinguishment for small fire in family kitchen, using fire blanket is more convenient and simpler, and will not bring secondary pollution during fire extinguishment.

What is Fiberglass Fabric

Fiberglass fabric or cloth, with C and E Glass, is woven in various configurations from five basic weave patterns, called plain, leno, satin, twill and basket. Fiberglass cloth is a strong and durable woven textile used mainly for industrial applications. Its unique valuable properties makes it ideal for many industrial uses, such as for the interiors of circuit boards, conveyor belts and vehicles. Light-weight cloths also provide a smooth finish and are ideal for producing a waterproof layer over wood or other surfaces, such as is needed in boat repair and other marine applications.

Perhaps the most notable quality of fiberglass cloth itself is its high tolerance of extreme heat. It not only dissipates radiant heat with remarkable efficiency, but some types of cloth can withstand temperatures of up to 1648 degrees C for as long as a minute. Another notable attribute of fiberglass fabric is its high tensile strength. At a much lower weight and cost, it has a greater tensile strength than steel wire of similar diameter. Fiberglass fabric has excellent dimensional stability as well, meaning that fiberglass fabric stretches only very minimally under stress- usually about 3 percent or less. Like glass itself, fiberglass is highly resistant to most harsh industrial chemicals.

Meanwhile, fiberglass fabric can be combined with coatings on the surface to meet specific requirements for extensive applications such as thermal insulation, fire resistance, welding protection etc.

Oddly enough, despite its resilience and resistance to almost every possible type of industrial hazard, it is important that fiberglass cloth be rolled onto a tube for shipment, and not folded, regardless of how large or small the order may be. Folding it for shipment can damage the cloth where it is creased. If this one precaution is followed, the structural integrity of the fabric will be preserved to provide strength or protection in whatever context it is needed for.