Fiberglass Science and Technology | 2021
Surface Chemistry and Adsorption on Glass Fibers
Abstract
This chapter reviews issues associated with the surface chemistry and reactivity of glass fibers. Of particular interest here are the general-purpose industrial fibers, used for reinforcement and insulation, and relationships between glass composition and the subsequent surface and interface characteristics of the resulting fiber. To be sure, there are many drivers that influence the composition of such fibers including the melting and fiberization processes, cost, and environmental effects. But for the end user, the resulting fiber strength, corrosion resistance, and interfacial compatibility with sizing, binders and structural polymers are of most concern. A better understanding of the evolution of the glass fiber surface chemistry in the manufacturing process is needed for improved control in secondary processing and enhanced performance in the final product. Here, we first review fundamental factors that control the reactivity of the fiber surface relative to the glass composition and the fiberization process. With a focus on boron oxide effects in both alkali-free boroaluminosilicate (E-Glass model) and sodium-boroaluminosilicate (insulation glass model), the effects of surface composition on surface atomic structure and reactivity are described. The methods that are most suitable for surface analysis of glass fibers are also described, including new approaches such as near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) and inverse gas chromatography-temperature programmed desorption (IGC-TPD). The model glasses noted above are then used to exemplify the use of these methods for understanding the role of glass composition in surface reactivity, to present the challenges and limitations of glass fiber surface analyses, and to provide a platform for continued work in this important area of glass science.