Glass wool and asbestos are two different materials with significant differences in composition, performance and safety.
| Glass wool | asbestos | |
| Ingredients and manufacturing | It is mainly composed of glass fiber and a small amount of additives. It is a kind of artificial synthetic fiber. It is made by melting glass and pulling it into fiber shape, and then using centrifugal technology to make a cotton-like material. | It is a natural mineral material, the main components of which are magnesium silicate and other components. Asbestos fiber is extracted from natural ores. |
| Thermal insulation performance | Glass wool has finer fibers and better softness, so it performs better in sound absorption and thermal insulation. | |
| Fire resistance | Asbestos has good high temperature resistance and has traditionally been used as a fireproof material. | Glass wool can also reach higher fire resistance standards after special treatment. |
| Corrosion resistance | Glass wool is corrosion-resistant, moisture-proof, non-flammable, and non-toxic. | Although asbestos has a certain degree of corrosion resistance, it contains carcinogenic components and long-term exposure is harmful to the human body. |
| Health risks | Glass wool is non-toxic and harmless and is considered a safe and environmentally friendly insulating material. | Asbestos contains carcinogenic components and long-term exposure may cause diseases such as lung cancer. Therefore, it has been banned in many countries. |
| Environmental protection | Glass wool is more environmentally friendly as it uses a higher proportion of recycled materials in its manufacturing process and is itself largely biodegradable. | |
| Usage scenarios | It is widely used in building insulation, machinery and equipment insulation, railway sound insulation and other fields. | It is now gradually being banned due to its health risks, but may still be found in some older buildings and equipment. |