A neutralization system for controlling the pH of the washwater used to
clean and maintain polyacrylic bound glass forming equipment. The
neutralization system introduces a base solution to a washwater solution
when the pH of the washwater solution contained in a closed loop
washwater recovery system falls below approximately 8.0, thereby
substantially reducing the corrosion rate of the components of the
equipment associated with acidic polyacrylic acid binder and washwater
solution. A closed-loop hoodwall washwater recovery system may also be
introduced in addition to the neutralization system that allows for the
recovery and reuse of polyacrylic acid binder with a minimal amount of
base solution, thereby minimizing degradation of insulation properties of
polyacylic acid bound glass fiber products.