Textile fiberglass
Textile fiberglass comes in several types (A, C, E-CR, D, E, R, or S) and forms (rovings, yarns, chopped strands, milled fibers, or woven and mat textiles). Most (90-95%) textile fiberglass products are E-glass (aka electronic glass). Originally aimed at electrical applications, E-glass is now primarily used to reinforce thermoset and thermoplastic polymer composite structures, known as fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).
In the textile industry, E-glass used for printed circuit boards and aerospace applications must contain 5-10% boric oxide (B2O3). E-glass for general reinforcement purposes can vary from 0-10% B2O3. Low-dielectric textile glass fibers, used in high-frequency electronics applications, have a higher B2O3 content than E-glass, reducing the dielectric constant.
With a diameter of a few microns and coated in silane (an inorganic compound) to improve compatibility with matrix material, continuous strand textile glass fibers provide a powerful reinforcement for applications including boats, wind turbine blades, pipes, and lightweight composite structural components in cars, trucks, trains, and aircraft.