B&W Fiberglass News

The early 20^th century saw the advent of commercial-scale glass fiber manufacturing, but the process of melting and stretching glass fibers had been in practice since the time of ancient Egypt. Today, fiberglass yarn is one of the most widely-used textile reinforcements in the world, and the production process is improving every year.

If you’ve ever wondered exactly how glass fiber is produced, read on.

The thermal properties of glass thread are what make it such a special material. Glass fibers are the oldest and most widely-used composite reinforcement in the world, and for good reason. In addition to being both impact-resistant and lightweight, glass fibers offer unparalleled thermal capabilities.

Fiberglass has been considered one of the premiere thermal insulators for decades. Fiberglass itself was developed in the 1930s and within just a few years became widely used for both residential and commercial applications.

At B&W Fiberglass, we’ve been innovating the myriad uses for fiberglass for over 25 years. Our clients run the gamut, from construction to manufacturing, and they’re always looking for new ways to harness the innate capabilities of fiberglass materials.

So, why is fiberglass so ideally suited for insulation?

Exterior insulation and finish systems are integrated composite materials systems that are designed to be insulative and water resistant. Abbreviated as EIFS, these cladding systems have been used in some iteration since the 1960s, although technological advancements have brought them a long way.

Here are five things to know about this innovative, widespread exterior finishing system.

The global textiles industry is always in flux. What’s “high-tech” today becomes standard tomorrow, and every year, new products are introduced that change the scope of manufacturing, production, and more. At B&W Fiberglass, we think it’s important to stay ahead of the curve.

We’re an innovation company first, a glass fiber company second. Here are what we think will be some of the stand-out developments to watch in textiles, both industrial and commercial.

Few industries have gone untouched by the advancement of 3D printing. In the composites space, 3D printing technology has improved the printing process, allowing manufacturers a wider array of customization and applications than ever before.

Because of its versatility and high-performance, composites play an essential role in the home building process. From windows and insulation to roofs and piping, composite materials are reinventing the American home. 

Textile composites aren’t just durable, they can be incredibly aesthetically-pleasing. Thanks to their endless characteristics of flexibility, GFRC and GFRP are two of the most sought-after (and cost effective!) materials used by innovative architects today.

Let’s take a look at four of the most notable buildings that feature textile composites.

Textile composites are changing the face of architecture. Composite materials are lightweight, they’re incredibly strong, and they’re more cost effective than many of the world’s traditional building materials. It’s no wonder they’re driving so much innovation within housing design.

Housing design has remained relatively constant throughout the last few decades. Composite textiles are challenging architects and real estate developers to rethink modern housing from the ground up by incorporating more cutting-edge materials such as GRFC and so-called “skins.” Let’s take a look at three of the most notable ways textile composites are elevating housing design today.

Glass yarn is an incredibly versatile building component. As innovators in the glass yarn sector, B&W Fiberglass is proud to have partnered on hundreds of cutting-edge construction projects to supply and produce glass fiber products that exceed expectations.

Why are woven and non-woven glass yarns so suitable for construction? Here are three applications for this customizable, readily-available technology.