Glass fibers having improved durability

A method for fabricating a glass fiber for reinforcing a transparent composite matrix, comprising:

• providing a first glass fiber preform having a first refractive index, a first modulus, and a first durability characteristic;
• coating the first glass fiber preform with a second glass material having a second refractive index, a second modulus and a second durability characteristic to form a glass fiber preform having an initial cross-section with a preform total thickness;
• and
• hot working the glass fiber preform to reduce the initial cross-section to a final cross-section having total thickness, a thickness of the first glass material, and a substantially uniform coating thickness of the second glass material, thereby forming glass fiber;
• forming a plurality of the glass fibers with a polymeric material into a transparent composite structure;
• wherein the second durability characteristic is greater than the first durability characteristic, the first and second durability characteristics being selected from the group consisting of resistance to chemical attack, resistance to acid attack, resistance to fading from exposure to UV radiation and resistance to mechanical abrasion;
• and
• wherein the first refractive index is approximately equal to the second refractive index.