REACTIVITY OF GLASS-FIBERS UNDER SIMULATE D BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS - GENESIS AND DISSOLUTION OF THE OUTER HYDRATED LAYER

Textile glass fibres are corroded by a physiological saline solution a t 37-degrees-C either with or without refilling of the reactor. A resi dual Si- and Al-rich layer (Al/Si = 0.2) is identified on the surface of the corroded fibres. Its thickness may be theoretically calculated from the degree of reaction progress. The proposed model should explai n the persistence of a residue when dissolution proceeds without renew al of the solution.