Masonry Magazine January 1975 Page. 43
Research Under Way into Fiber Glass
As Cement Reinforcement Material
Frank Davis, market development manager of PPG's Fiber Glass Division, flexes a cement panel reinforced with fiber glass. These thin, high-strength, fireproof panels under development at PPG promise new markets for fiber glass in construction and other applications.
Potential new uses of fiber glass as a reinforcing material for cement building products are under development at PPG Industries, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Buoyed by the explosive growth of reinforced tub shower units, construction industry use of fiber glass plastic reinforcements has more than doubled in the past five years. In the next three years, the industry expects the total output of such reinforcements to grow by another 50 per cent to a total of 91 million pounds.
One area receiving considerable attention from PPG Industries, a major fiber glass manufacturer, is the utilization of this material to reinforce cement and other inorganic materials for the building industry. "This is truly one of the most exciting new product areas to emerge in recent years," commented John E. Brownell, Jr., sales & marketing vice president of PPG's Fiber Glass Division in Shelby, N.C.
This new market is identified by the acronym GRC (glass reinforced cement). While the concept is not new, PPG's approach is different. Instead of using alkali-resistant fiber to reinforce the material, PPG is concentrating on the development of low-alkali cement systems which permit the use of standard E glass at less than half the cost of alkali resistant glass fibers.
masonry
• January, 1975
There are a number of advantages with GRC composites: improved bending, tensile and flexural strength; high fire resistance, and low cost. All ingredients are based on readily available inorganic minerals such as limestone, silica and sand.
The first product to be commercialized in this area is fiber glass reinforced surface bonding cement. By adding fiber glass to a mortar-like mixture and spreading it on both sides of a cement block wall that is laid up dry after the first course, the result is a relatively inexpensive wall that is actually stronger than conventional mortar-joint construction, according to recent tests by the U.S.. Agriculture Department.
"This type of mortar mix is expected to add millions of potential pounds to the construction market demand," Brownell said. "We believe that a variation of this product also will find acceptance in the underground coal mine market for use as a fire-proofing and sealant on walls, ceilings and stoppings. Advantages here include low cost and the fact that the (Continued on page 52)
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