Fiberglass consists of very fine threads of glass, sometimes combined with other materials, loosely bunched together in woolly masses. Flexible and strong, fiberglass resists burning, and will not decay, stretch or fade. It is also an excellent insulator, as the minute spaces between the fibers trap air, preventing the flow of heat. Such properties make it desirable for weaving into cloth for curtains and tablecloths, for combining with plastics for automobiles, boat bodies and fishing rods, and for packing into woolly bulk form for air filters as well as insulation.

The ancient Egyptians used glass fibers, incorporating them into vases and containers as decorative trim by winding the glass around a core of glazed clay. But fiberglass manufacture on a large scale did not take place until the twentieth century. The first modern technique for making fiberglass was patented in 1836 by Dubus-Bonnel of France, who wove hot glass...