Glass fiber has higher temperature resistance than organic fiber, non combustion, corrosion resistance, good heat insulation and sound insulation (especially glass wool), high tensile strength and good electrical insulation (such as alkali free glass fiber). However, it is brittle and has poor wear resistance. Glass fiber is mainly used as electrical insulation material, industrial filter material, anti-corrosion, moisture-proof, heat insulation, sound insulation and shock absorption material. It can also be used as reinforcing material to manufacture reinforced plastics or reinforced rubber, reinforced gypsum and reinforced cement. The flexibility can be improved by coating glass fiber with organic materials, which can be used to make packaging cloth, window screen, wall cloth, covering cloth, protective clothing, electricity insulation and sound insulation materials.

Glass is generally regarded as a hard and fragile object and is not suitable for structural materials. However, if it is drawn into silk, its strength will be greatly increased and it has softness. Therefore, it can finally become an excellent structural material after it is given shape with resin. The strength of glass fiber increases with the decrease of its diameter. As a reinforcing material, glass fiber has the following characteristics. These characteristics make the use of glass fiber far more extensive than other kinds of fibers, and the development speed is far ahead. Its characteristics are listed as follows:

(1) High tensile strength and small elongation (3%).

(2) High elastic coefficient and good rigidity.

(3) It has large elongation within the elastic limit and high tensile strength, so it absorbs large impact energy.

(4) It is an inorganic fiber with non flammability and good chemical resistance.

(5) Low water absorption.

(6) Good dimensional stability and heat resistance.

(7) Good processability, can be made into strands, bundles, felt, weaving and other products in different forms.

(8) Transparent through light.

(9) The development of surface treatment agent with good adhesion to resin has been completed.

(10) The price is cheap