PARIS, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens Corning
(NYSE: OC), a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements
for composite systems and residential and commercial building
materials, today reported results of a new study that shows how the
company's boron-free Advantex® E-CR glass fiber outperforms
standard E-glass reinforcements in stressed laminates in a
corrosive environment.
The study combined corrosion and stress testing and later
examined the composite laminates using SEM (Scanning Electron
Microscopy) and EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) spectroscopy.
Advantex® glass fibers demonstrated superior corrosion resistance
compared to E-glass in composite structures exposed to a solution
of 10 percent sulfuric acid. The study also confirmed previous
findings on the leaching mechanism of Eglass in acidic
environments.
"The outcome of this study provides a compelling reason for
using Advantex® glass fiber reinforcements throughout a composite
structure," says Ashish Diwanji,
vice president of innovation for the Owens Corning Composite
Solutions Business.
"Some application designs require E-CR glass in a corrosion
barrier and allow standard E-glass in the rest of the laminate,"
continues Diwanji. "These results argue for reducing the risk of
laminate failure by using ECR glass throughout the structure."
Diwanji says previous testing examined the impact of corrosive
chemicals on bare glass.
"While those tests were helpful in understanding the performance
of Advantex® glass, our customers also wanted studies comparing
Advantex® glass and standard E-glass fibers in composite laminates.
Stress-corrosion testing was developed to check laminates under
load in a corrosive environment to more closely simulate conditions
an application may encounter in the field. Looking at the results
under advanced optical and X-ray equipment allows us to easily see
the results of the tests."
Diwanji says the study used glass fiber-reinforced composite
rods that were exposed to a 1 percent strain for only 72 hours
and then immersed in a 10 percent sulfuric acid solution under
no load and at room temperature for an extended period of time. At
regular intervals, rods were removed and examined for the effects
of corrosion. After one month, the comparison found substantial
differences between the non-corroded Advantex® glass fibers and
corroded E-glass fibers. With E-glass fibers, studies have noted a
disappearance of boron and reduction in alumina and calcium,
indicating that most of the glass components (except silica) were
leached from the strands. This study confirms those results in a
different way.
While the corrosion resistance of Advantex® glass compared to
E-glass was dramatic at one month, researchers decided to continue
the study to see if new information could be obtained from a longer
exposure.
After a three-month exposure in 10 percent sulfuric acid,
the E-glass samples showed corroded fibers along the entire
perimeter of the composite rod and considerable damage on one side
of the rod. Deformation of the rod occurred as the E-glass
deteriorated. There was also de-bonding and subsequent fracturing,
which was clearly visible in the enlarged images.
"The technique of coupling SEM with EDX answered a number of
questions about the corrosion mechanism not easily answered by
other techniques," added Diwanji.
The patented boron- and fluorine-free Advantex® glass production
process also results in a higher performing fiber and a
significantly smaller environmental footprint compared with
standard E-glass processes.
Other advantages of Advantex® E-CR glass fibers include:
- Qualification as E-CR glass under ASTM D578, ISO 2078 and DIN
1259-01
- Proven technology for fiber production, fabrication and end-use
applications
Advantex® glass reinforcements are increasingly being used to
reduce the risk of catastrophic failure because they provide
excellent corrosion resistance in any liquid or wet environment,
including water and acidic or weakly alkaline solutions.
Fast-growing applications include flue-gas desulphurization
equipment used in coal-fired power plants, underground water and
sewage pipe, desalination plants and a variety of salt water marine
applications including tidal energy installations.
Eric Carlier, innovation and
application development leader, OCV® Reinforcements, will present
results of the study at 10:30 a.m. Thursday,
April 15, at JEC Composites 2010 in Paris, the world's largest trade show for
composite materials.
For more about Advantex® glass fiber reinforcements from the
OCV™ businesses, visit
http://www.owenscorning.com/composites/aboutAdvantex.asp
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning is a leading global producer of glass fiber
reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems and
residential and commercial building materials. A Fortune 500
company for 55 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to
driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming
markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning had
sales of $4.8 billion in 2009 and
about 16,000 employees in 28 countries on five continents. OCV™
Reinforcements, OCV™ Technical Fabrics and OCV™ Non-Woven
Technologies are the three main business units that make up the
Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business. The business delivers a
broad range of reinforcement products that provide lightweight
alternatives to steel, wood and aluminum, thereby reducing weight
and improving energy efficiency. Additional information is
available at www.owenscorning.com.
SOURCE Owens Corning