company news about Fireproofing, Insulation, and Corrosion Resistance - How Fiberglass Cloth Becomes an Industrial Versatile?

A piece of cloth for the industrial revolution

  Chemical plant explosion scene, firefighters wearing fire suits rushed into the fire, the flames of the exposed cable but not short-circuit, pipe cracks by a piece of silver fabric emergency sealing - these miracles behind the scenes are fiberglass cloth.

Part I: the "golden bell" in the fire - fire performance analysis

1. Scientific principle: molecular code under high temperature

- Non-combustible nature: Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) melting point of up to 1700 ℃, the fibre cloth still maintains structural integrity at 500 ℃.
- Surface coating technology: ceramicised coating expands in case of fire, forming a dense heat insulation layer.

2. Industrial fire-fighting practice

- Firefighting protection:

• Fire suit lining: Nomex® blended glass fibre cloth withstands 1000℃ for 30 seconds, extending escape time by 6 times.
• Fire shutter: 3 layers of glass fibre fabric + flame retardant adhesive, passed GB 8624 Class A certification.
- High temperature equipment protection:
• Steel furnace heat shield: 2mm thickness glass fibre cloth reduces heat dissipation by 70%.

Part II: The Great Wall of Insulation of Electric Current - Insulation Breakthroughs

1. Insulation mechanism: electron "labyrinth trap".

- Amorphous structure: disordered molecular arrangement blocks the electron migration path, volume resistivity >10¹⁴Ω-cm.
- Hydrophobic treatment: silane coating against moisture, no degradation of insulation at 90% humidity.

2. Guardian of electricity and electronics

- Protection against high voltage electricity:
• Insulating tapes: glass fibre cloth based with a voltage resistance of 35kV/mm (conventional PVC tapes are only 18kV/mm), used in extra high voltage substations.
• Motor groove wedge: replacing epoxy board, temperature resistance increased from 130℃ to 180℃.
- Precision electronics:
• Circuit board substrate: FR-4 glass fibre cloth copper-clad boards account for 80% of the global PCB market.

Part III: Corrosion nemesis - the ultimate defense of chemical inertia

1. Anti-corrosion code: glass “indifference”

- Chemical stability: SiO₂ does not react with acids, alkalis and salts (except hydrofluoric acid), resistant to pH 1-14 environment.
- Resin synergy: epoxy resin impregnation, seawater corrosion resistance life of more than 50 years (compared to steel 15 years).

2. Industrial anti-corrosion battlefield

- Chemical equipment:
• Pipe winding layer: glass fiber cloth + vinyl ester resin, resistant to 98% sulfuric acid corrosion.
• Tank lining: alternative to titanium alloy, cost reduced by 70%.
- Marine Engineering:
• Desalination membrane support layer: glass fiber cloth resistant to chloride ion corrosion, service life upgraded to 25 years.

Part IV: The Price of Versatility - Challenges and the Future

1. Current Pain Points

- Recycling challenges: difficult to separate after resin compounding, global recycling rate <10%.
- Flexibility limitation: easy to be brittle after repeated bending.

2. Future evolution direction

- Intelligent functionalisation:
• Temperature-sensitive colour change coating: Germany Crestron developed a glass fibre cloth that turns red in case of heat, warning of equipment overheating. o Self-healing resin: the damaged area will turn red when it is broken.
• Self-repairing resin: automatic polymerisation and repair of damage (MIT lab stage).
- Green revolution:
• Bio-based resin: EcoPaXX®+ glass fibre cloth by DSM, Netherlands, 50% reduction in carbon footprint.
• Low Carbon Manufacturing: 30% reduction in energy consumption with China Jushi's electric melting kiln technology.

Conclusion: the "invisible weavers" of industrial civilisation

  "From the heat shields of the Mars rovers to the circuit boards of your home router, fibreglass fabrics are silently weaving the safety net of human industrial civilisation."