Glass Fibre Properties and Performance
topic
E-glass properties: tensile strength 3.4-3.8 GPa (340-380 kg/mm²), Young's modulus 72-76 GPa, elongation 4.5-4.9%, density 2.54-2.60 g/cm³, diameter 3-24 μm. S-glass: strength 4.3-4.8 GPa, modulus 85-90 GPa. Common features: excellent chemical resistance (except strong alkalis and hydrofluoric acid), thermal stability to 600-800°C, electrical insulation (10¹⁴-10¹⁵ Ω·cm), zero moisture absorption, and brittle fracture behavior.
Role
High specific strength (strength/density ratio competitive with steel at 20% weight), low cost ($2-4/kg E-glass, $8-15/kg S-glass), and excellent processability drive glass fibre dominance in composites despite brittleness and abrasiveness.