While a number of literature reviews have been published in recent times on the applications of optical fibre sensors in smart structures research, these have mainly focused on the use of conventional glass-based fibres. The availability of inexpensive, rugged, and large-core plastic-based optical fibres has resulted in growing interest amongst researchers in their use as low-cost sensors in a ...

In an editorial entitled 'Fiber carcinogenesis: is asbestos the only hazard?', Stanton (1974) drew attention to the possibility that inhaled fibres other than asbestos, and in particular glass fibres, could be carcinogenic to humans. The hypothesis was based on experiments carried out on rats. Specially-bred experimental animals were subjected to intrapleural application of large numbers of spe...

A number of studies have indicated that the relative toxicity of different fibre types after inhalation is related to their durability within lung tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the relative biopersistence of respirable para-aramid fibrils, chrysotile asbestos and code 100/475 glass fibres in rat lungs. The biopersistence of all three test fibres was measured by quantifying the cha...

Mixed silanes are often used as coupling agents in sizings for glass fibres. A technique has been developed which enables the preferential adsorption of a particular silane onto a model E-glass from a mixed aqueous silane solution to be probed. It is shown that け-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) is preferentially adsorbed over け-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPS) onto model E-glass fibres. H...

Nanocomposites made of non-woven glass fibres with diameters ranging from tens of nanometers up to several micrometers, containing silver nanoparticles, were successfully fabricated by the laser spinning technique. Pellets of a soda-lime silicate glass containing silver nanoparticles with varying concentrations (5 and 10 wt%) were used as a precursor. The process followed to obtain the silver n...

We present two methods for measuring the diameter and length of man-made vitreous fibres based on the automated image analysis of scanning electron microscopy images. The fibres we want to measure are used in materials such as glass wool, which in turn are used for thermal and acoustic insulation. The measurement of the diameters and lengths of these fibres is used by the glass wool industry fo...

Fibre-reinforced polymer(FRP), also Fibre-reinforced plastic, is a composite material made of a polymer matrix reinforced with fibres. The fibres are usually glass, carbon, or aramid, al‐ though other fibres such as paper or wood or asbestos have been sometimes used. The poly‐ mer is usually an epoxy, vinylester or polyester thermosetting plastic, and phenol formaldehyde resins are still in use...