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 about 8.5, thereby substantially
reducing the corrosion rate of the components of the equipment associated
with acidic polyacrylic acid binder, maleic acid cobinder or maleic
anhydride cobinder 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 and maleic acid cobinder or maleic anhydride
cobinder with a minimal amount of base solution, thereby minimizing
degradation of insulation properties of polyacylic acid bound glass fiber
products.