Abstract: Insulating materials consisting of artificial mineral fibers are impregnated with water insoluble additives, e.g. dust binders and/or water repellant finishing agents in that they are wetted with an emulsion of the water insoluble additive in an aqueous solution of a cellulose ether. Impregnation takes place easily and is effective and resistant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus treating waste comprising introducing a glass or mineral fiber substrate (7) contaminated with organic materials into a chamber (1) of a furnace by means of a conveyor belt (4), subjecting it to a gas consisting of a neutral gas and between 0 and 10% by volume of oxygen, heated to a temperature below the melting temperature of the waste substrate in order to pyrolyze the organic materials, and recovering the waste substrate. This apparatus has particular application to the recovery of the vitreous material forming the waste substrate, in order to recycle it for use in a glass melting furnace.

Abstract: Discontinuous fibers are manufactured from a thermoplastic material having an elevated melting point by feeding molten thermoplastic material into a centrifugal chamber. The chamber includes a plurality of orifices through which the molten thermoplastic material is forced, thereby forming molten thermoplastic jets. Hot streams of gas are directed at these jets to convert the jets into thermoplastic fibers. Sizing agents including an emulsion or suspension in water, or an aqueous solution of active substances is sprayed onto the fibers. These sizing agents comprise no more than three active substances including a lubricating agent and an antistatic agent.

Abstract: For melting an inorganic fiber which is mixed with an organic substance, the inorganic fiber material and organic substance are heated in a furnace to a temperature sufficient for the organic material to combust, and sufficient oxygen enriched gas to fed to the furnace that the combustion of the organic substance produces sufficient heat to melt the inorganic material. The oxygen enriched gas is preferably oxygen enriched air having an oxygen content of at least 40% by volume. It should be fed in sufficient quantity to heat material having an adiabatic temperature of at least 850.degree. C., and preferably 1200.degree. C. which permits the melted inorganic material to freely flow out of the furnace. The oxygen enriched gas is preferably fed to a location adjacent a boundary layer between the melted material and unmelted material on the top thereof.

Abstract: For melting an inorganic fiber which is mixed with an organic substance, the inorganic fiber material and organic substance are heated in a furnace to a temperature sufficient for the organic material to combust, and sufficient oxygen enriched gas is fed to the furnace that the combustion of the organic substance produces sufficient heat to melt the inorganic material. The oxygen enriched gas is preferably oxygen enriched air having an oxygen content of at least 40% by volume. It should be fed in sufficient quantity to heat material having an adiabatic temperature of at least 850.degree. C., and preferably 1200.degree. C. which permits the melted inorganic material to freely flow out of the furnace. The oxygen enriched gas is preferably fed to a location adjacent a boundary layer between the melted material and unmelted material on the top thereof.

Abstract: Fibers are drawn out by maintaining a temperature gradient between the interior and exterior walls of the peripheral band of a centrifuge. The peripheral band is made from a material having a thermal conductivity below 20 Wm.sup.-1 C.sup.-1 at 1000.degree. C. Application to the drawing out of fibers from glasses having a working range less than 100.degree. C. wide.

Abstract: For measuring the flow rate of a thin stream of molten materials such as that of glass, the diameter of the thin stream is measured, as is the velocity. The velocity is measured on the basis of the measurement of the time separating the successive appearance of an emission sequence emitted at first and second points on the path of the molten material. A correlation is then established between the sequences and the time interval corresponding to the passage of the same irregularities at the two selected points identified by this correlation.

Abstract: For producing mineral fiber mats, the flock emanating from the waste to be recycled is stored and classified according to density. Furthermore, the reintroduced quantities are precisely measured and the flock is caused to burst open. Thus it is possible to reintroduce substantially larger quantities without altering either the appearance or the characteristics of the product obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating waste comprising introducing a glass or mineral fiber substrate (7) contaminated with organic materials into the chamber (1) of a furnace by means of a conveyor belt (4), subjecting it to a gas consisting of a neutral gas and between 0 and 10% by volume of oxygen, heated to a temperature below the melting temperature of the waste substrate in order to pyrolyze the organic materials, and recovering the waste substrate. This method has particular application to the recovery of the vitreous material forming the waste substrate, in order to recycle it for use in a glass melting furnace.

Abstract: A method for the formation of mineral fibers in which the material to be fibered is poured in the molten state onto the peripheral surface of the first of a series of centrifuging wheels rotating at high speed in order to be fibered there by centrifugal force. The fibers formed by the various centrifuging wheels are entrained in streams of gas emitted in the immediate vicinity of the said wheels in a direction essentially parallel with the axes of rotation of the wheels. At least one of these streams of gas is emitted at a temperature of between 250.degree. and 900.degree. C. and preferably between 300.degree. and 600.degree. C., and even more preferably around 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for fibring mineral wool by free centrifugation. An auxiliary gas current is generated at a distance from the centrifuging wheels in substantially the same direction as a main gas current which is emitted in the immediate proximity of the centrifuging wheels. This auxiliary gas current is obtained by passing air between the centrifuging wheels and/or through use of a supplementary blower ring. The invention applies particularly to the production of rock wool.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate for out-of-ground cultivation by using a substrate consisting of mineral fibers. The substrate according to the invention is of limited dimensions and is used for the cultivation phase corresponding to the development of seedlings. This substrate, being of generally parallelepipedic shape, exhibits on its lower face added feet or pedestals that project therefrom and isolate the substrate from the ground on which its rests. The substrate according to the invention makes it possible to improve cultivation conditions.

Abstract: Glass compositions useful for forming fibers which are readily able to be degraded in a physiological medium such as that found in a human body. Advantageous compositions formed according to the present invention comprise the following components, set forth in percent by weight:SiO.sub.2 : 57 to 70%Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 0 to 5%CaO: 5 to 10%MgO: 0 to 5%Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O: 13 to 18%B.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 2 to 12%F: 0 to 1.5%P.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: A substrate for out-of-ground cultivation is made of a felt of mineral fibers obtained by continuous longitudinal compression, at a rate between 1.5 and 15, of a sheet of mineral fibers in which the fibers are arranged in layers or strata parallel to the upper and lower faces of this sheet. The compression takes place before the heat treatment of the sheet for setting the binder.

Abstract: Pollution removal is carried out using particles of felt made of hydrophobic mineral fibers, in which the felts used, which have been preliminarily compressed for storage and transport and after an unbinding operation, undergo pneumatic transport sufficiently forceful to allow them to regain their original density, said pneumatic transport being used simultaneously to spread the particles on the surface of the water to be treated.

Abstract: Fibres, particularly glass or rock wool fibres coated with a modified polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer and suitable for use as a base material to produce a surface coating on a backing by a simultaneous spraying of the coated fibres mixed with water and a cross-linking agent. A method of producing the fibres to make them suitable to be sprayed in the manner described is also provided.

Abstract: A thermal marking device for surfaces of binder-containing webs of mineral wool includes, mounted on a raisable and lowerable mounting frame, a roller which has on its periphery electrically heatable marking elements. The marking elements carry image panels, the marking sections of which take the form of letters, symbols, pictorial represenations etc. and project at least 5 mm beyond the surface of the image panel. Furthermore, the envelope curve of the surface of the marking sections corresponds substantially to the outer surface of an annular cylinder, the axis of which coincides with the axis with the axis of the roller. Furthermore, the marking device is equipped with heating elements, the heating output from which can be locally and variously adjusted. As a result, it is possible to produce homogeneous marked patterns by a suitably reduced or increased supply of energy at locations having need for heat output while creating non-homogeneous decomposition patterns.

Abstract: The invention relates to the reception of fibers under fibering machines to obtain a mat of mineral wool. It proposes assigning to each fibering machine its own collecting zone, the surfaces of the collecting zones increasing in the direction of the increase of base weight. The invention also proposes a device characterized by the presence of two reception drums for three fibering machines.

Abstract: For melting an inorganic fiber which is mixed with an organic substance, the inorganic fiber material and organic substance are heated in a furnace to a temperature sufficient for the organic material to combust, and sufficient oxygen enriched gas is fed to the furnace that the combustion of the organic substance produces sufficient heat to melt the inorganic material. The oxygen enriched gas is preferably oxygen enriched air having an oxygen content of at least 40% by volume. It should be fed in sufficient quantity to heat material having an adiabatic temperature of at least 850.degree. C., and preferably 1200.degree. C. which permits the melted inorganic material to freely flow out of the furnace. The oxygen enriched gas is preferably fed to a location adjacent a boundary layer between the melted material and unmelted material on the top thereof.

Abstract: A substrate of limited dimensions consisting of mineral fibers for out-of-ground cultivation is used for the cultivation phase corresponding to the development of seedlings. This substrate, of general parallelepipedic shape, exhibits small surface protuberances on its lower face which separate it from the ground on which it rests. The protuberances can be feet disposed on the lower face of the substrate, or edges formed by providing the substrate with a concave lower face. The substrate according to the invention makes it possible to improve out-of-ground cultivation conditions.