Where and what is glass used in construction

Imagine how much useful material for construction can be made by recycling glass

How to insulate your house? How to make the plaster more durable and stronger than concrete? The answer to these questions is - glass fiber and various products based on it. I'll tell you what fiber is and how this material is used in construction.

All you need to know about the material

Glass fibers and materials made on its basis, has long been used in the construction. Operational and technical characteristics of the material determined by the thickness and density of the fibers.

In accordance with the cross-sectional diameter, are the following types of fibers:

• ultrathin (Diameter less than 1 micron) - used to manufacture the signal transmission means by a distance (fiber optic link);
• superthin (Diameter from 1 to 3 microns) - used to manufacture thermal and noise insulation materials;
• thin (Diameter of 4 to 12 .mu.m) - is used for the production of heat-insulating and waterproofing materials;
• thickened (Diameter 12 to 25 .mu.m) - used to manufacture reinforcing plaster reinforcing mesh and filling for making concrete;
• thick (Diameter of 25 microns or more) - is used for water pipes of large diameter.

The photo shows the operation of the extruder, which divides the molten glass into individual fibers

Fiberglass - this is a product recycling center. In the production as the main raw material used and the cleaned broken glass sand. To provide the required operational properties of material is added to the main raw materials limestone, dolomite, soda and other components.

winding line on the spool of the finished glass

During the production, a mixture of components under high temperatures, melts down to form a thick viscous mass. The molten mass is drawn through an extruder into individual fibers required thickness.

Existing glass fibers in the form of finest yarn is wound into skeins and is used for production of woven or nonwoven webs, fibers and the like scraps

Use in construction

illustrations	Short description
	concrete reinforcement. Filling construction of concrete-reinforced significantly reduces the shrinkage process. Thus, during the recruitment grade strength, concrete does not crack and practically does not decrease in volume.
	reinforcement of plaster. Special fiberglass mesh is attached to the building surface prior to plastering. As a result, after hardening of the plaster, mesh eliminates cracking.
	Thermal insulation and soundproofing. Despite the fact that for the insulation of building objects universally applied mineral wool insulation materials based on glass fibers are still popular and in demand. Glass wool is characterized by low thermal conductivity, excellent damping properties and, thus, the price of material is low.
	waterproofing. Fiberglass has long been used for production of hydrophobic coatings. Fiberglass in combination with epoxy impregnation can be used to isolate pools, roof structures, ceilings, pavings, foundations, etc.
	Production of GRP pipe. For this purpose, fiberglass is wound and layered on a matrix impregnated with an epoxy resin or a similar binder. Polymeric pipe made with the addition of glass fiber, many times stronger than conventional polyethylene pipes. Glass-plastic composite pipe nonflammable, but because they are an excellent option for the construction of communications.

Fiberglass - what it is and how to apply

Fiberglass - a glass that is in the manufacture of concrete is mixed into the solution. Fiber that is added in small amounts to a solution of concrete building material solidifies, hardens, and thus, prevents cracking.

Advantages in comparison fiberglass with metallic reinforcement:

• less weight and, as a consequence, less load on the walls;
• lower priceThat reduces the cost of construction works;
• Resistance to corrosion processes - For comparison, the metal reinforcements in concrete, oxidized and destroyed in the first 15-20 years of age;
• Resistance to chemical attack byThat makes use of the material resource is virtually unlimited.

Instructions adding fiberglass tsementopeschany solution provides proportions 5-10% of the total fiber volume of the finished concrete. fiber kneading is performed in a dry mixture, after which the contents of the mixer shuts water.

Fiberglass - what it is and how to apply

Glass fibers are woven into a mesh that is widely used as a reinforcing material during plastering and painting works.

illustrations	Varieties of fiberglass and use in construction
	Paint(Cell side 5 mm). The reinforcing material is used to enhance finishing topcoat. Thus as a final planarization layer no thicker than 1-2 mm, the thickness of fibers in a glass-is not more than 0.8 mm. The main purpose of the material - the prevention of crack formation on the surface of the alignment layer interior plaster.
	Plaster (cell side 5 mm or more). This grid is used as a reinforcing basis for plastering the outside of the building. For the manufacture of fiber material is used with a density of 90 g / m² or more. Glass fibers are characterized by the absolute resistance to aggressive chemicals. Therefore, the reinforcement layer in the thicker cement plaster for a long time remains intact and if comes into disrepair, it was only due to mechanical loads.

To summarize

Now that you know how and why to use fiberglass. The details can be found by watching the video in this article. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.