Production of electrically-conductive glass fibres and applications thereof

摘要

551,166. Cables; resistors. EDWARDS, A. E. (Owens-Corning Fibreglass Corporation). Aug. 8, 1941, No. 10070. [Classes 36 and 37] [Also in Group XXIII] Glass fibres rendered electrically conductive are used as a resistor, and as the outer covering of an insulated cable. The fibres are preferably formed of alkali-free glass to which a small amount of a metal compound, such as lead oxide or copper oxide, has been added. The fibres are heat treated in an atmosphere of hydrogen at about 550‹ C whereby the metal compound in the surface layers is reduced to the metallic state and the fibres become conductive. A conductor 10, Fig. 1, may be covered with a layer 11, of rubber or the like, over which there is applied a sheath or covering 12 of braided glass yarn or woven glass tape which has been rendered conductive. The covering 12 fits tightly over the rubber and holds it under compression. Resistors may be made of conductive fibres formed into a yarn which may be intertwined if desired with non-conductive fibres. Strands 15, Fig. 6, may be embedded in an insulating body 17 and have conductive terminal caps 8, 9 secured to their ends. The body 17 may be constituted by a glass tube or by glass or plastic material moulded directly about and in intimate contact with the fibres 15. Specification 536,236, [Group XXIII], is referred to.