Glass fiber (also called fiberglass) is an inorganic non-metallic material with many superior performance. Its raw materials are pyrophyllite, quartz sand, limestone and other natural inorganic non-metallic ores. Through high temperature melting, wire drawing, winding and other several processes, glass fiber has been produced. Fiberglass can be divided into two categories: one is fiberglass textile, the other is fiberglass mat. Fiberglass cloth, tapes, ropes, coated fiberglass fabrics and high silica cloth are all textiles woven from glass fiber yarn. They have excellent properties of high strength, high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, sound absorption and good electric insulation. Many kinds of fiberglass textiles are mainly used in the industrial insulation areas. Fiberglass woven roving is also a kind of textile which is the material for making fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP). Fiberglass mat is a non woven felt. Non woven products refers to the products made of glass fiber by non woven methods such as mechanical, chemical or thermal methods to make the products like fiberglass chopped strand mat, continuous glass fiber mat. Fiberglass mat is mainly used to make various kinds of FRP products which have light weight, high strength and long service life.   

Fiberglass is widely used in the construction area as the thermal insulation, heat and cold insulation, acoustic insulation, waterproof insulation products. Glass wool, glass mesh and fiberglass tissue are all the excellent building materials. Fiberglass reinforced cement is also a kind of building material. FRP can be made into many building materials such as fiberglass doors, windows, swimming pools, sanitary wares and so on.      

In the application of electronic and electrical fields, glass fiber is capable of being used as insulating impregnated products, glass fiber reinforced plastic laminate products, glass fiber molding plastics, mica products, electromagnetic wires, electric motor shell, electric and electronic parts.   E glass cloth (also called alkali free glass cloth) contains less than 1% alkali metal oxide and is an excellent electric insulation material. E glass cloth 7628 is very thin and capable of being used as the material for printed circuit board. In the electronic and electrical industries, its market prospect is very considerable.

Fiberglass is used in the automobile industry in order to reduce its weigh, save energy, protect environment and improve the comfort and safety of the automobile. It is capable of being used in the automobile shells and other parts, plastic mini cars, bus body shells, doors, floors, bottom beam, bumper, instrument screen, minivan, fire tank truck, refrigerator truck, etc.    

In the airline and aerospace field, materials with light weight, high strength, impact resistance and flame retardant are required. Since the fiberglass material can meet these special requirements, its products are the first to be chosen. Fiberglass materials can be used for making aircraft radome, civil and military aircraft wings, rockets and spacecraft materials, interior floors, doors, seats, auxiliary fuel tanks and aircraft engine parts.  

Because of good corrosion resistance, excellent enhancement effect, thermal insulation, aging resistance, good flame retardant and many other advantages, glass fiber products are widely used in the chemical anti-corrosion and reinforcing industry. The applications of the fiberglass materials used in the chemical industry are chemical tanks, storage tanks, anticorrosion pipelines, corrosion resistant valves, chemical reactors, anticorrosion pumps as well as sewage and waste water treatment equipments and accessories. 

Due to the shortage of energy resources, glass fiber reinforced materials are now researched in the wind energy area. The wind turbine blade type is very large, so it needs a kind of material with light weight and high strength. The glass fiber composite material can meet these requirements, so it is suitable for making the large wind turbine blade. 

Fiberglass is also used in sports equipment, mechanical and medical industry.

Fiberglass was invented by Owens Corning Company in the United States in 1938. It was first used in the military industry for tank parts, aircraft cabins, weapon casings, body armor and so on. It was later used for civilian purpose. After more than 80 years of development, the global glass fiber industry has developed to more than 3000 varieties of products. Fiberglass reinforced plastic products are now used every where. Recently, people are researching glass fiber used in wind energy area due to shortage of energy resources. Since the glass fiber was invented, its global output has been increasing nearly every year. However in 2020, the global output of the glass fiber dropped due to Covid-19. We have experienced three years of epidemic. Now the world epidemic is about to end and every thing is waiting to be done. Fiberglass is a good substitute for metal and wood. We need a lot of man-made materials to build our world after epidemic and fiberglass is one of the materials which can provide this solution. We are still optimistic about this market.