Abstract: A needled blanket is provided comprising melt-formed inorganic fibres having an overall composition in weight percent SiO2: 47 to 65% Al2O3: 35 to 53% the blanket having a shot content, of shot >45 µm, of less than 51 wt%, a specific surface area (BET) > 0.25 m2.g-1. also disclosed are fibres for producing such blankets, and self-supporting products made from such fibres.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming melt-formed fibres and melt-formed biosoluble fibers are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a spinning head comprising one or more rotors; a plurality of nozzles or slots disposed around at least part of the one or more rotors; a conveyor; and a barrier between the spinning head and the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming melt-formed fibres and melt-formed biosoluble fibers are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a spinning head comprising one or more rotors; a plurality of nozzles or slots disposed around at least part of the one or more rotors; a conveyor; and a barrier between the spinning head and the conveyor.

Abstract: A needled blanket is provided comprising melt-formed inorganic fibres having an overall composition in weight percent SiO2: 47 to 65%; AI2O3: 35 to 53%; the blanket having • a shot content, of shot >45 ?m, of less than 51 wt %, • a specific surface area [BET)>0.25 m2·g?1. also disclosed are fibres for producing such blankets, and self-supporting products made from such fibres.

Abstract: A fibre mat, for example a monolith support mat or end cone insulator, the mat comprising inorganic fibres having a pressure retained value at 10 minutes at 900° C. of greater than 20 kPa; and preferably a binder. The inorganic fibres comprise X and Y and K2O, the sum of which is greater than 95 wt. % wherein X is the sum of SiO2 and ZrO2 and Y is the sum of Al2O3 and La2O3, wherein ZrO2 and La2O3 is each present in up to 10 wt. % of the total weight of the inorganic fibres.

Abstract: A fibre mat, for example a monolith support mat or end cone insulator, the mat comprising inorganic fibres having a pressure retained value at 10 minutes at 900° C. of greater than 20 kPa; and preferably a binder. The inorganic fibres comprise X and Y and K2O, the sum of which is greater than 95 wt. % wherein X is the sum of SiO2 and ZrO2 and Y is the sum of Al2O3 and La2O3, wherein ZrO2 and La2O3 is each present in up to 10 wt. % of the total weight of the inorganic fibres.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming melt-formed fibres comprises: • a source of molten material; • a spinning head comprising one or more rotors; • a plurality of nozzles or slots disposed around at least part of the one or more rotors, configured to supply a stream of gas; • a conveyor; and • a barrier (4) between the spinning head and the conveyor (6), an upper edge of the barrier lying below a horizontal line (22) lying in a first vertical plane (17) including axis of rotation (16) of at least one rotor of the one or more rotors and intersecting the intersection of the axis of rotation with a second vertical plane (18) orthogonal to the first vertical plane and including a vertical line (20) through said region, the included angle between the horizontal line (22) and a line (21) in the first vertical plane joining the upper edge of the barrier and the intersection of the horizontal line and axis of rotation being in the range of 40°-85°. Method of making melt-formed fibres using the apparatus.

Abstract: Inorganic fibers having the composition: 10?Al2O3?50 mol %; 2?K2O?40 mol %; 30?SiO2?70 mol %; and in which SiO2+Al2O3+K2O>=80 mol % can be protected against surface crystallization of kalsilite by: including an amount of a nucleation promoting component effective to promote bulk crystallization in the glass; and/or providing on at least part of their surface, potassium scavenging materials.

Abstract: Inorganic fibres having the composition: 10?Al2O3?50 mol %; 2?K2O?40 mol %; 30?SiO2?70 mol %; and in which SiO2+Al2O3+K2O>=80 mol % can be protected against surface crystallisation of kalsilite by: including an amount of a nucleation promoting component effective to promote bulk crystallisation in the glass; and/or providing on at least part of their surface, potassium scavenging materials.

Abstract: A method of making refractory alkaline earth silicate fibres from a melt, including the use as an intended component of alkali metal to improve the mechanical properties of the fibre in comparison with a fibre free of alkali metal.

Abstract: Thermal insulation is provided for use in applications requiring continuous resistance to temperatures of 1260° C. without reaction with alumino-silicate firebricks, the insulation comprises fibres having a composition in wt % 65%<SiO2<86% MgO<10% 14%<CaO<28% Al2O3<2% ZrO2<3% B2O3<5% P2O5<5% 72%<SiO2+ZrO2+B2O3+5*P2O5 95%<SiO2+CaO+MgO+Al2O3+ZrO2+B2O3+P2O5 Addition of elements selected from the group Sc, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y or mixtures thereof improves fibre quality and the strength of blankets made from the fibres.

Abstract: Disclosed is use of a vitreous inorganic fiber in the knowledge that it has a composition meeting the criterion that the calculated sum of the free energies of hydration of the compounds that would or could be present at equilibrium (on the basis of knowledge, informed belief or reasonable assumption) is more negative than ?10 kcal/100 grams of composition. Such compositions are saline soluble.

Abstract: A saline soluble fiber is disclosed that is highly refractory. A vacuum cast perform of the fiber has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fiber may comprise CaO, SiO.sub.2, MgO, optionally ZrO.sub.2, optionally less than 0.75 mol % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total, and in which the SiO.sub.2 excess (defined as the amount of SiO.sub.2 calculated as remaining after the above named constituents are crystallized as silicates) exceeds 21.8 mol %, with the proviso that, if the amount of CaO is greater than the sum of the amount of MgO and twice the amount of ZrO.sub.2 the calculated ratio of diopside to wollastonite does not lie in the range 0.1 to 5.22. Such fibers are usable at elevated temperatures where refractoriness is of importance and their solubility in saline solution may make the fibers safer than non-soluble fibers.

Abstract: A saline soluble fiber is disclosed that is highly refractory. A vacuum cast preform of the fiber has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fiber may comprise CaO, SiO.sub.2, MgO, optionally ZrO.sub.2, optionally less than 0.75 mol % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total, and in which the SiO.sub.2 excess (defined as the amount of SiO.sub.2 calculated as remaining after the above named constituents are crystallized as silicates) exceeds 21.8 mol %, with the proviso that, if the amount of CaO is greater than the sum of the amount of MgO and twice the amount of ZrO.sub.2 the calculated ratio of diopside to wollastonite does not lie in the range 0.1 to 5.22. Such fibers are usable at elevated temperatures where refractoriness is of importance and their solubility in saline solution may make the fibers safer than non-soluble fibers.

Abstract: A saline soluble fibre is disclosed that is highly refractory. A vacuum cast preform of the fibre has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fibre may comprise CaO, SiO.sub.2, MgO optionally ZrO.sub.2, optionally less than 0.75 mol % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total, and in which the SiO.sub.2, excess (defined as the amount of SiO.sub.2 calculated as remaining after the above named constituents are crystallised as silicates) exceeds 21.8 mol %, with the proviso that, if the amount of CaO is greater than the sum of the amount of MgO and twice the amount of ZrO.sub.2 the calculated ratio of diopside to wollastonite does not lie in the range 1.8 to 5.25. Such fibres are usable at elevated temperatures where refractoriness is of importance and their solubility in saline solution may make the fibres safer than non-soluble fibres.