Mineral fiber

Mineral fibers are inorganic fibers . They can be of natural or artificial origin. The latter are often obtained from silicate melts and are abbreviated as KMF , for artificial mineral fibers .

Often up to 10% binders (mostly synthetic resins ) and lubricants ( oils ) are added to the fibers during production , which make the fibers spinnable , water-repellent and easy to grip.

Classification

The fibers can be distinguished based on their crystalline structure:

• glassy (amorphous) fibers
  • Fibers made of glass ( glass fiber ) or quartz
  • Mineral wool from stone , glass or slag from smelting
  • Silica fibers after dry spinning of soda waterglass and treatment of the soda waterglass fibers with aqueous acid or salt solutions containing hydrogen ions to convert the sodium silicate into silica

• crystalline fibers
  • fibrous single crystals, so-called whiskers
  • polycrystalline fibers ( ceramic fiber )

application

Mineral fibers interwoven in order refractory materials to produce.

With organic and mineral binders, mineral fibers are processed into mineral wool in order to produce flexible mats or solid panels that are used as insulation for sound and heat insulation or for fire protection .

Silica fibers are used to reinforce brake pads .

Glass fibers are also used as a homogeneous strand, e.g. B. as an optical fiber .

Loose mineral fibers are used to reinforce the matrix of fiber composite materials such as plasterboard , plasterboard, and fiber cement products.

Health risk

Mineral fibers (e.g. from mineral wool) that were manufactured before 2006 can have a carcinogenic effect if inhaled, depending on their bio-stability and lung penetration . Fibers with a diameter of less than 1 to 3 μm are respirable. When handling them, some "Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances" (TRGS) must be observed. The TRGS 900 sets air limit values ​​at the workplace .

In contrast to asbestos fibers , which also split longitudinally, the carcinogenicity has so far only been proven in animal experiments. As early as 1995, manufacturers committed themselves to producing mineral fibers of the "new generation" and to providing them with RAL quality marks that no longer pose a cancer risk. From June 2000 the critical fiber sizes were banned by the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances (GefStoffO).

See also

• Textile fiber
• Fiber dust

Web links

• Artificial mineral fibers (UmweltWissen - Bavarian State Office for the Environment; PDF file; 595 kB)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} 508 - Artificial Mineral Fibers (KMF) , BayLfU 2004 - 3/8, Bavarian State Office for Environmental Protection, as of March 2004
2. ↑ Artificial mineral fibers UmweltWissen - Bavarian State Office for the Environment; PDF file; 595 kB
3. ↑ TRGS 519 "Asbestos - demolition, renovation or maintenance work"
4. ↑ TRGS 521 "Demolition, renovation and maintenance work with old mineral wool"
5. ↑ TRGS 558 "Activities with high temperature wool"