Abstract: Glass fiber strands are produced which have a reduced tendency for strand to strand adhesion and good dispersibility or wettability in uncured polymeric materials for the production of glass fiber reinforced plastics. The glass fibers have a dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition. The aqueous chemical treating composition has a film forming polymeric system, gamma methacryloxy alkyltrialkoxy silane and a glass fiber lubricant in an effective lubricating amount. The film forming polymeric system has an epoxy-containing polymer or copolymer, a non-tacky film forming polymer, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone of which are aqueous soluble, dispersible or emulsifiable.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a more stable emulsion of a polyester resin having carboxyl functionality and an amino-functional silane coupling agent that is incorporated into a sizing composition for treating glass fibers. The method involves reacting the polyester resin having carboxyl functionality with the amino-functional silane at ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure then diluting the reaction product of the polyester resin and silane to obtain a more stable emulsion. The emulsion is then incorporated into a sizing composition by the addition of typical sizing additives to produce a more stable sizing composition.

Abstract: Glass fiber sizing compositions and methods of making same and glass fibers containing dried residue of the sizing composition are provided that yield improved efficiencies, reduced migration, reduction in drying conditions, reduced cleaning time and improved housekeeping. The sizing composition, method and glass fiber strand involves the use of a high solids sizing composition having a water solubilized, condensation, cross-linkable, unsaturated polyester resin having free carboxyl groups either pendant or terminal or pendant and terminal and an amino-containing silane and an amount of water to yield a sizing composition having an amount of total solids in the range of about 18 to about 40 weight percent. In addition, other additives can be included in the sizing composition such as additional polyester resins, additional coupling agents, thermoplastic polymers, anti-static agents, film-former modifiers, wetting agents, stabilizers and lubricants.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for forming chopped glass fiber strands is disclosed. The improvement comprises a vibratory conveyor under a drying apparatus for said glass fiber strands which is insulated such that cold spots do not develop on the tray adjacent the glass fiber strands. Preferably, the tray is formed of two sections, one inside the other, having an airspace therebetween along their lengths and having a spacer between the lips of the sections.