Development of a Pyrolysis - ATR Infrared Spectrum Library for Commercial Sizes and Finishes Used on Glass Fibers for Reinforced Plastics

摘要

A previously developed technique of pyrolysis Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) infrared for 'fingerprint' identification of some glass-fiber surface treatments was extended and expanded to form the nucleus of a spectrum library of all commercially available sizes and finishes used on fibrous glass materials for the reinforced plastics industry. The technique applied in this process is dependent on the organic treatment pyrolysis products being condensed on a multiple internal reflection plate for subsequent recording of an ATR infrared spectrum. While this method of 'fingerprint' identification provided excellent reproducible spectra of organic film formers, it was found that most functional silanes, which are widely used to finish fiberglass products, produce only noncondensable vapors at room temperature. It was this characteristic which precluded the development of a spectrum library for all commercially available surface treatments on glass fibers. Attempts at solvent extraction and pyrolysis gas chromatographic techniques also failed to provide qualitative identification of the functional silane-treated glass cloths studied. (Author)