Inverse gas chromatography has been used to measure the surface adsorption of alkane probes on cleaned silicoaluminate glass fibres. The thermodynamic variables (enthalpy, Delta H-A degrees; entropy, Delta S-A degrees; free energy, Delta G(A) degrees) and the dispersive component of the surface free energy (gamma(S)(D) ) have been evaluated by the measurement of specific retention volumes of the alkanes on the silicoaluminate glass fibres. The effectiveness of the acetone extraction procedure and the thermal treatment for the cleaning of the samples was also evaluated. The London (dispersive) component of the surface free energy has been used as a measurement of surface, contamination by comparing the results for the washed samples and thermal treated samples.