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Frequently asked questions
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Are Saint-Gobain Vetrotex plants ISO 14001 registered ?
Yes. Saint-Gobain Vetrotex is ISO 9001 everywhere and is now becoming ISO 14001 certified in its plants all over the world. Five plants in Italy, France, Netherlands, India, and Thailand are now registered.

Are Saint-Gobain Vetrotex manufacturing conditions environmentally-friendly?
Yes. Saint-Gobain Vetrotex has developed pollution control systems to meet and exceed local environmental regulations in its production facilities all over the world.

Are glass strands recyclable?
Yes. The filament diameters of our reinforcement products are so small that they break quite often, resulting in glass waste, which is impossible to recycle as it is. But Saint-Gobain Vetrotex attempts to find reuse or recycling solutions elsewhere, for instance in Europe with our Revetex subsidiary.

Are composites recyclable?
Yes. It is possible to recycle thermoplastic compounds reinforced with glass similar to recycling pure thermoplastic compounds. For thermoset composites, Saint-Gobain Vetrotex, in partnership with other companies (SMC and resin producers, molding companies, automotive industries), has been involved in research and development of new recycling methods.

Does continuous filament reinforcement present a health risk?
No. It is a non-breathable filament (it does not go into the far part of the lungs) because its diameter is over 3µm, its length is over 5µm, and the ratio of length to diameter is over 5 (or 3 depending on the area).

Are breathable glass products generated by breaking or machining of composites or reinforcement products?
No. The breaking of filaments and filament bundles occurs perpendicular to their length. It has been found in very special high mechanical machining that small amounts of "shards" with an apparent diameter less than 3µm, a length over 5µm and a strand-like ratio of length to diameter over 5 can be found. Risk assessment based on the levels found in these special cases concluded that the quantities were acceptable.

Are there risks with the size ingredients?
No. The size is generally less than 1% of the quantity of glass used. In Saint-Gobain Vetrotex, we do our best to check each of the size components in regard to its risk of sensitization, and select ingredients based on its absence of carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic risk.

Are continuous glass filaments compatible with foodstuffs (FDA or EC regulations) or potable water?
For years, composites have been considered a very safe material. As far as we are aware of the situation, no problem has been encountered with correctly made composites with continuous filament glass reinforcement.

Are there Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for Saint-Gobain Vetrotex products?
Yes. A general MSDS is available for each type of Saint-Gobain Vetrotex product giving all pertinent information on the risks and the best way of using the product.



MSDS
A general MSDS is available for each type of Saint-Gobain Vetrotex product giving all pertinent information on the risks and the best way of using the product.

US versions:

(80K)
 E glass

(90K)
 TWINTEX® glass



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