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: Melt formed inorganic fibers are disclosed having the composition:— Al2O3 5-90 mol % K2O 5-90 mol % SiO2 5-90 mol % in which SiO2+Al2O3+K2O>=50 mol %. Fibers of like composition having K2O greater than 12 mol % are also encompassed.

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

Abstract: Melt formed inorganic fibres are disclosed having the compositions: —Al2O3 10.2-55.5 mol % K2O 12-37.1 mol % SiO2 17.7-71.4 mol % B2O3 0.1-10 mol % in which SiO2+Al2O3+K2O>=77.7 mol % and with the total constituents not exceeding 100 mol %. with optionally MgO 0.1-10 mol %.

Abstract: Melt formed inorganic fibres are disclosed having the composition:— Al2O3 5-90 mol % K2O 5-90 mol % SiO2 5-90 mol % in which SiO2+Al2O3+K2O>=50 mol %. Fibres of like composition having K2O greater than 12 mol % are also encompassed.

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 fibers 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, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y or mixtures thereof improves fiber quality and the strength of blankets made from the fibers.

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: A glass fibre formable from a melt by a rotary process and having a diameter less than 5 ?m and comprising in weight percent: SiO2 62 to 75 wt %, alkaline earth metal oxide 13 to 25 wt %, alkali metal oxide 8 to 15 wt %, B2O3 0 to 8 wt %, M2O3 0.5 to 3 wt % in which M is Al, a transition element, a lanthanide or a mixture thereof with these named ingredients comprising greater than or equal to 90 wt % and less than or equal to 100 wt % of the glass composition provides blankets having superior temperature resistance to conventional glass wools, and superior insulating performance (i.e. lower thermal conductivity) than an alkaline earth silicate fibre while being soluble in body.

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 fibers 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, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y or mixtures thereof improves fiber quality and the strength of blankets made from the fibers.

Abstract: A method for insulating an article requiring resistance against repeated exposure to temperatures exceeding 900° C. uses saline soluble, non-metallic, amorphous, inorganic oxide, refractory fibrous materials as thermal insulation. The compositions that can be used for that purpose include vitreous fibers based on SiO2, CaO, MgO, and optionally, A2O3.

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 fibers 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, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y or mixtures thereof improves fiber quality and the strength of blankets made from the fibers.

Abstract: A composite material comprises inorganic-bonded alkaline earth silicate fibers in which any bonding agents or fillers comprise low amounts of aluminum so that the composite material comprises less than 1% by weight aluminum expressed as Al2—O3.

Abstract: A fibre is disclosed having a maximum use temperature of 1200° C. or more which comprises: SiO2>64.25 wt % CaO>18 wt % MgO<17 wt % and in which the amount of MgO in mol % is greater than the amount of CaO in mol %. Such fibers have high solubility and low dustiness.

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, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Y or mixtures thereof improves fibre quality and the strength of blankets made from the fibres.

Abstract: The use of P2O5 and or B2O3 as a component to improve the refractoriness of inorganic fibres comprising SiO 2, and CaO and/or MgO is described. The inorganic fibres have a composition such that SiO 2+P2O5 (58+(if MgO 10, 0.5×(MgO10) else 0)) 2.4 wt. %.

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: Inorganic fibers are disclosed, vacuum preforms of which have a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1260.degree. C. for 24 hours. The fibers have a composition comprising SrO, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and sufficient fiber forming additive to allow fiber formation but not so much as to increase shrinkage beyond 3.5%. A preferred range of fibers has a shrinkage of 3.5% or less when exposed to 1500.degree. C. for 24 hours and may comprise (in weight percent): SrO 53.2%-57.6%, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 30.4-40.1%, SiO.sub.2 5.06-10.1%.

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: Refractory fibres are disclosed for which 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 fibres comprise CaO, SiO.sub.2, SrO, and optionally ZrO.sub.2 any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total. To achieve the shrinkage performance stated 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 26 mol %. Preferred fibres comprise:--CaO less than 33.8 mol %, SiO.sub.2 more than 62.1 mol %, and more preferably comprise:--CaO 12.9 to 31.9 mol %, SrO 2.6 to 15.5 mol %, SiO.sub.2 63.2 to 71.3 mol %, ZrO.sub.2 0 to 5.4 mol %.