 
Father of Fiberglas
In 1938, Games Slayter (1896-1964), a scientist with the
Owens-Illinois glass company in Toledo, Ohio, invented a process for
spinning molten glass into fine, thread-like fibers. At the time, Owens-Illinois
was anxious to develop new products to increase sales, which had slowed during the
Great Depression, and to use more of the company’s glass-making capacity.
 During
his time at Owns-Illinois, Slayter noticed how small amounts of molten glass
were stretched into glass fibers when the glass was pulled through openings in a
melting furnace. From this, Slater invented fiberglas, which was first
manufactured by Owens-Corning, where Slayter was up for research. The
material is said to have been originally called "glass wool."
Often called "the Father of Fiberglas," Slayter secured over 100 patents that
impacted industries ranging from agriculture to manufacturing to home
construction.
Fiberglas Goes To War
In 1929, the U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships selected Owens-Corning insulation as the
standard insulation for all horizontal and vertical spaces in all new warship
construction. The war was an opportunity for Fiberglas to perform as an
insulating material. In addition, it was a chance to showcase the capabilities
of Fiberglas reinforcements and yarns. The war also inspired development of
other Fiberglas products such as bonded mat, battery separators, staple wire insulation, and
sewn-blanket and metal-mesh-blanket insulation.
One interesting application of Fiberglas was in the fabric used in parachute
flares. On moonless nights, military aircraft dropped flares ahead of bombing
runs to help crews identify the correct targets. The flares needed small
parachutes to slow their descent. However, the traditional silk parachute
material burned easily. Fiberglas fabric proved more effective because it was
both fire-resistant and light-weight.
By the end of 1939, Owens Corning reported $3.8 million in net sales and
employed over 1,000 people. Since then, the company has grown to $5 billion in
sales and 20,000 employees.
 What's New?
Owens-Corning has recently reinvented Fiberglas insulation at its research lab
in Newark, OH. The new product - MIRAFLEX® Insulation - has exclusive, randomly
twisted fibers that make the insulation cottony soft. It's virtually itch-free,
so handling and installation are much easier than ever before. Compressed when
packaged, it expands when installed, which makes transportation simpler too.
Did
You Know?
- "Fiberglas," spelled with one "S," was first
used as a trademark of Owens-Illinois in January, 1936, on all Owens-Illinois
glass fiber products.
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