Processing technique and uniformity affecting tensile strength and hydrophobicity properties of glass wool felt

Glass wool felt (GWF) made from glass wool and phenolic resin adhesive is prospected to have a promising future in sound insulation of aircraft. In this paper, the GWF was fabricated by centrifugal-spinneret-blow (CSB), and there were two different methods to guide the glass wool, which were free float type (FFT) and guided swing cylinder (GSC), with GSC being designed as uniform processes. The tensile strength and hydrophobicity properties of GWF from these two methods were compared. The experimental results suggested that tensile strength and hydrophobicity properties of GWF by GSC were greater, with non-uniformity being 5 %. The tensile strength, breaking length and elastic deformation of GWF were obtained during the GWF manufactured by GSC with fibers being in 2-D distribution, and the phase difference of the swing cylinders being π/2+2kπ. The maximum static contact angle and minimum water repellency of GWF produced by GSC were 141 ° and 15 g, while for FFT they were 100 ° and 26.92 g, respectively. The uniformity of GWF’s smooth surface was accompanied by excellent hydrophobicity.