The importance of FIBERGLAS∗ fabric finishing and finish selection

FIBERGLAS* yarns are manufactured by melting glass at high temperature (2400°F-2800°F) in specially made bushings of furnaces equipped with very small holes in the bottom. As the molten glass runs through these holes, the fibers are pulled at a very high rate of speed to reduce the diameter to the desired size. As the fibers are being pulled out of the bushing a binder is applied to them which serves to hold the individual filaments as an integral part of the strand. This binder is a very critical part of the operation because it enables the individual yarn to be unwound, plied, and twisted into various other combination yarns before weaving into cloth. The binder serves two purposes: first, it maintains strand integrity and, second, it protects the fibers from physical breakage during candling and weaving.