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Composites
Today, innovation in the field of materials requires knowledge of
ceramics, glass, polymers, metals and semi-conductors. By developing
a wide variety of combinations of these materials, greater performance,
which would be inaccessible to each individually, can be achieved.
For many decades, glass fibers have been used to strengthen plastics.
Today, Saint-Gobain continues to innovate in the field of composites
by proposing reinforcing fibers for cements
and glass-polymer composites.
Saint-Gobain Recherche is also working to improve the performance
of abrasive products by controlling the
bond between hard ceramic particles and the polymers which are used
to bind them together.
By depositing very thin films of metal oxides and nitrides on their
surface, glass can become a highly sophisticated optical filter
offering new functions such as reduced reflectivity.
Thin films of organic molecules make water
repellent. One day this will lead to the development of wiper-free
windshields.
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