Graphite-Mediated Control of Static Electricity on Fiberglass
A fiberglass material contains glass fibers having graphite evenly distributed thereon. The graphite provides a coating that makes the fiberglass material substantially free of static electricity. Suitable graphite content of the fiberglass material is about 0.25 wt % to about 0.50 wt %, or about 0.25 wt % to about 1.0 wt %, or about 0.8 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers. The graphite used may be synthetic material or natural material substantially free of silica. Other components of the fiberglass material may include de-dusting oil.
1 . A fiberglass material, comprising:
glass fibers; and
graphite, substantially free of silica, disposed on the glass fibers to substantially prevent build up of static electricity on the glass fibers.
2 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 , wherein the graphite comprises about 0.25 wt % to about 0.5 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
3 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 , wherein the graphite comprises about 0.25 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
4 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 , wherein the graphite comprises about 0.8 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
5 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 further comprising a de-dusting material disposed on the glass fibers.
6 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 , further comprising silicone disposed on the glass fibers.
7 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 , wherein particle sizes of the graphite range from about 1 micron to about 50 microns.
8 . The fiberglass material of claim 1 , wherein the glass fibers comprise loose-fill fiberglass.
9 . An insulating product made from the fiberglass material of claim 1 .
10 . A method for producing a fiberglass material substantially free of static electricity comprising adding graphite, substantially free of silica, to glass fibers such that the graphite is distributed and attached to the glass fibers.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the graphite comprises a powder having particle sizes of about 1 micron to about 50 microns.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the graphite comprises flakes of about 1 micron to about 50 microns.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the graphite consist essentially of a synthetic material having carbon content of about 99% or more.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the graphite contains no silica.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein adding the graphite comprises adding the graphite at a rate of about 0.25 wt % to about 0.5 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein adding the graphite comprises adding the graphite at a rate of about 0.25 wt % to about 1.0 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein adding the graphite comprises adding the graphite at a rate of about 0.8 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
18 . The method of claim 10 further comprising applying a de-dusting oil on the glass fibers.
19 . The method of claim 10 further comprising
mixing the graphite with a fluid to form a dispersion before adding graphite to the glass fibers;
applying the dispersion to the glass fibers; and
drying the glass fibers so that the graphite is left attached to the glass fibers.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the fluid is water or oil.
21 . The method of claim 19 further comprising applying a de-dusting oil to the glass fibers.
22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein a de-dusting oil is mixed in with the dispersion before applying the dispersion to the glass fibers.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the de-dusting oil is applied to the glass fibers at a rate of about 0.1 wt % to about 2.0 wt % of dry weight of the glass fibers.
24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a dispersant, a thickener, a wetting agent, or a combination thereof is added to the dispersion.