Effect of Reheating on the Strength of Glass Fibers

Abstract

The glass fibers of the composition, Si02 67, B203 12, BaO 2, I{2O 9, Na2O 9. 5, Al203 0.5 % (in weight) were reheated at the difl'erent temperatures between the room temperature and the softening temperature of the glass, and then were subjected to the etching with hydrofluoric acid. The tensile strengths were determined with the reheated fibers before and after the etching. It was found that, although the tensile strength of fibers decreases on reheating, it regains its original value if its thin surface layer is removed by etching with hydrofluoric acid.