Fiberglass

Fiberglass, (also called fibreglass and glass fibre), is material made from extremely fine fibers of glass. It is used as a reinforcing agent for many polymer products; the resulting composite material, properly known as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), is called "fiberglass" in popular usage.

Bundle of Fibre glass

The types of fiberglass most commonly used are mainly E-glass (alumino-borosilicate glass with less than 1 wt% alkali oxides, maily used for glass-reinforced plastics), A-glass (alkali-lime glass with little or no boron oxide). C-glass (alkali-lime glass with high boron oxide content, Dglass (borosilicate glass), R-glass (alumino silicate glass without MgO and CaO with high mechanical requirements), and S-glass (alumino silicate glass without CaO but with high MgO content with high tensile strength).

Properties

By trapping air within them, blocks of glass fiber make good thermal insulation, with a thermal conductivity of the order of 0.05 W/(mK). The freshest, thinnest fibers are the strongest because the thinner fibers are more ductile. Humidity is an important factor in the tensile strength. Moisture is easily adsorbed, and can worsen microscopic cracks and surface defects.

In contrast to carbon fiber, glass can undergo more elongation before it breaks. The viscosity of the molten glass is very important for manufacturing success. During drawing (pulling of the glass to reduce fiber circumference), the viscosity should be relatively low. If it is too high, the fiber will break during drawing. However, if it is too low, the glass will form droplets rather than drawing out into fiber.

Glass-reinforced plastic Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) is a composite material or fiber-reinforced plastic made of a plastic reinforced by fine glass fibers. Uses of regular fiberglass include mats, thermal insulation, electrical insulation, reinforcement of various materials, tent poles, sound absorption, heatand corrosion-resistant fabrics, high-strength fabrics, pole vault poles, arrows, bows and crossbows, translucent roofing panels, automobile bodies and boat hulls.

Mineral wool

Mineral wool, also known as mineral fibres or man-made mineral fibres are fibres made from natural or synthetic minerals or metal oxides. The latter term is generally used to refer solely to synthetic materials including fibreglass, ceramic fibres and rock or stone wool. Industrial applications of mineral wool include thermal insulation, filtration, soundproofing, and germination of seedlings.

Manufacture Stone wool is a furnace product of molten rock at a temperature of about 1600 C, through which a stream of air or steam is blown. More advanced production techniques are based on spinning molten rock on high speed spinning wheels somewhat like the process used to prepare cotton candy. The final product is a mass of fine, intertwined fibers with a typical diameter of 6 to 10 micrometers. Mineral wool may contain a binder, often food grade starch, and an oil to reduce dusting.

Usage Though the individual fibres conduct heat very well, when pressed into rolls and sheets their ability to partition air makes them excellent heat insulators and sound absorbers. Though not immune to the effects of a sufficiently hot fire, the fire resistance of fibreglass, stone wool and ceramic fibres makes them common building materials when passive fire protection is required.

Mineral wools are unattractive to rodents but will provide a structure for bacterial growth if allowed to become wet. Other uses are in filler in compounds for gaskets, brake pads, in plastics in the automotive industry and as a filtering medium.

Safety of material Precautions need to be taken when handling a fibre product as it can be absorbed into the body by inhalation. It can also irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Prolonged exposure could lead to long term effects.

Common insulation applications in an apartment building.

Fibre-reinforced plastic

Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) (also fibrereinforced polymer) are composite materials made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibers are usually fiberglass, carbon, or aramid, while the polymer is usually an epoxy, vinylester or polyester thermosetting plastic. FRPs are commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction industries.

Fiber reinforced plastics are a category of composite plastics that specifically use fibrous materials to mechanically enhance the strength and elasticity of plastics. The original plastic material without fiber reinforcement is known as the matrix. The matrix is a tough but relatively weak plastic that is reinforced by stronger stiffer reinforcing filaments or fibers.

The extent that strength and elasticity are enhanced in a fiber reinforced plastic depends on the mechanical properties of both the fiber and matrix, their volume relative to one another, and the fiber length and orientation within the matrix. Reinforcement of the matrix occurs by definition when the FRP material exhibits increased strength or elasticity relative to the strength and elasticity of the matrix alone.

Process description FRP involves two distinct processes, the first is the process whereby the fibrous material is manufactured and formed, the second is the process whereby fibrous materials are bonded with the matrix during the molding process.

Wet layup Fiber reinforcing fabric is placed in an open mould and then saturated with a wet [resin] by pouring it over the fabric and working it into the fabric and mould. The mould is then left so that the resin will cure, usually at room temperature, though heat is sometimes used to ensure a proper curing process. Glass fibers are most commonly used for this process, the results are widely known as fiberglass, and is used to make common products like skis, canoes, and surf boards.

Advantages and limitations FRP allows the alignment the glass fibers of thermoplastics to suite specific design programs. Specifying the orientation of reinforcing fibers can increase the strength and resistance to deformation of the polymer. Glass reinforced polymers are strongest and most resistive to deforming forces when the polymers fibers are parallel to the force being exerted, and are weakest when the fibers are perpendicular. Thus this ability is at once both an advantage or a limitation depending on the context of use.

Failure modes Structural failure can occur in FRP materials when: Tensile forces stretch the matrix more than the fibers, causing the material to shear at the interface between matrix and fibers. Tensile forces near the end of the fibers exceed the tolerances of the matrix, separating the fibers from the matrix. Tensile forces can also exceed the tolerances of the fibers causing the fibers themselves to fracture leading to material failure.

Design considerations FRP is used in designs that require a measure of strength or modulus of elasticity that non-reinforced plastics and other material choices are either ill suited for mechanically or economically. This means that the primary design consideration for using FRP is to ensure that the material is used economically and in a manner that takes advantage of its structural enhancements specifically. This is however not always the case, the orientation of fibers also creates a material weakness perpendicular to the fibers.

Gypsum
Gypsum Gypsum is a very soft mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO42H2O

Uses of Gypsum Gypsum Board primarily used as a finish for walls and ceilings; known in construction slang as Drywall Plaster ingredient. A component of Portland cement used to prevent flash setting of concrete A Binder in Fast-Dry tennis court clay. Plaster of Paris (surgical splints; casting moulds; modeling).

Plaster of Paris

The term plaster can refer to plaster of Paris, lime plaster, or cement plaster. Plaster of Paris is a type of building material based on calcium sulphate hydrate, nominally CaSO4H2O. It is created by heating gypsum to about 150 C.

2 CaSO42H2O 2 CaSO40.5H2O + 3 H2O (released as steam).

Large gypsum deposit at Montmartre in Paris is the source of the name. When the dry plaster powder is mixed with water, it re-forms into gypsum. Plaster is used as a building material similar to mortar or cement. Like those materials plaster starts as a dry powder that is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after drying, and can be easily manipulated with metal tools or even sandpaper. These characteristics make plaster suitable for a finishing, rather than a load-bearing material.

Because Plaster of Paris sets quickly, "retardants" were used to slow setting time enough to allow workers to mix large working quantities of lime putty plaster. Use in architecture Plaster may also be used to create complex detailing for use in room interiors.

These are also often used to simulate wood or stone detailing found in more substantial buildings.