Effect of Vitreous Fluid Temperature on Fiber Diameter and Surface Topography of Glass Wool by Centrifugal-Spinneret-Blow Process

Abstract

In this paper, glass wools were prepared under different vitreous fluid temperature (vary from 1100oC to 1300oC) by centrifugal-spinneret-blow process. The effect of vitreous fluid temperature on fiber diameter and surface topography of glass wool has been studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Vertical Optical Microscope. With the increase of vitreous fluid temperature (T) from 1100oC to 1250oC, the mean fiber diameter decreased from 6.6µm to 3.9µm. When vitreous fluid temperature goes up to 1300oC, the mean fiber diameter increased to 4.1µm, slightly bigger than that of 1250oC. There are many protuberances in the fiber for T=1100oC and 1150oC because the surface tension is very strong at low temperature. The surface topography of fiber becomes smooth when the temperature is higher than 1200oC. The results show that the vitreous fluid temperature has a direct and pronounced effect on fiber diameter and surface topography. The optimum vitreous fluid temperature is about 1250oC.