Abstract: A mineral wool article including a mineral wool layer, at least a region of which extends from at least one surface of the mineral wool layer into the mineral wool layer to an impregnation depth t. The region of the mineral wool layer includes individual fibers and is impregnated with an impregnating substance which adheres to the fibers and encloses the fibers without sealing gaps defined between the fibers so as to permit the surface of the mineral wool layer to retain an open surface structure. The gaps between the fibers in the region include bridge formations of the impregnating substance, which bridge formations are configured to permit air to penetrate through the mineral wool layer without essentially being impeded and to trap solid particles and thereby prevent emergence of the particles from the surface of the mineral wool layer. The impregnating substance provides the article with a soft and warm touch.

Abstract: In order to be able to consolidate mineral fibers without binder, such as in particular glass wool into a needle-felt by needle-punching, an agent as a needling aid which comprises a thixotropizing additive having a relatively low flow viscosity during needling and thus allows to effectively support the needling process, is added to the mineral fibers. At rest, this thixotropizing additive however has an extremely high viscosity, whereby the needle-punched felt obtains good strength. In particular, for needling rock wool, suppler textile fibers are moreover added which contribute to improved mutual interlocking of the fibers, in particular in the case of mineral fibers such as basalt fibers, which can only with difficulty be interlocked by needling.

Abstract: A product made of bound mineral wool for the cultivation of plants, in which a reversibly water adsorbing agent insoluble in water is bound to the mineral wool, serves for the extensive grassing of soilless grounds, in particular the grassing of roofs. It contains, as a reversibly water adsorbing agent, in particular pyrogen silicic acid. Preferably, the product is available in the form of a felt or the form of a plate with a density of more than 50 kg/m.sup.3, particularly more than 70 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: A molded casting from mineral wool, obtained notably through vacuum casting, displaying specific properties resulting from the addition of solid particles and in which mineral fibers are stabilized by a binder is disclosed. The solid particles are incrusted among the mineral fibers in the form of islets and have a particle measurement on the average below or equal to 4 microns.

Abstract: By combining two measures, namely by using rock wool fibers with a particularly low fiber thickness, and by adding an avivage agent with an unusually high viscosity, it is possible to needle a rock wool felt, without adding any other fibers, to produce a needle felt with high strength and good bendability. If the needle felt is subsequently relaxed with heat treatment, and the avivage agent is also expelled during this treatment, the needle felt is then available as a pure rock wool needle felt, free of any organic additives.

Abstract: A thermal insulating flexible ceramic based on a microporous oxide aerogel obtained from flame hydrolysis, especially a silica aerogel with elastically bending or limply bending inorganic fibers and possibly additional additive substances, such as opacifiers, has a portion by weight between about 10 and 30% of the flexible ceramic in the form of fibers with a length of more than 10 mm with a comparatively high bulk density of about 200 to 250 kg/m.sup.3, especially of about 350 kg/m.sup.3. Although no binder such as e.g. phenol resin is contained therein, said flexible ceramic in the case of a given high content of long fibers, has a high bending strength, but at the same time it is very resistant to breakage in the case even of multiple bendings around relatively small bending radii.

Abstract: A heat-insulating body such as a heat-insulating slab is made whose insulating and heat-absorbing material includes a fine powder, in particular a silica aerogel which is pressed to form the body. To carry out the pressing operation a sack-like sheath is required but between the sheath and the insulating material a separating agent is provided which results in the fact that the surface of the insulating material does not intimately engage with the sheath which is for example of glass fibre fabric, the sheath being movable with respect to the insulating material after the pressing operation. Apart from the fact that the sheath can be removed for any cases where it would be a cause of disturbance, additionally the insulating body provides improved bending properties and even when made with a high pressing rate has a homogeneous structure.

Abstract: A thermal insulating body or shape is made up of highly dispersed insulating material together with mineral fiber wool and of opacifier together with a binder for curing. The binder, which is evenly distributed in a first-stage mix with a dispersant, is present in a finely dispersed condition in the insulating material, the corners and edges of the insulating material being able to undergo cross-linking with the binder by heat processing.

Abstract: In a process for making a thermal insulating body from highly insulating material, opacifier, reinforcing fiber mix and, if desired a binder, the materials are mixed together. The opacifier and/or the reinforcing fiber mix being mixed with a dispersant for forming a first-stage mix, which is then nextly mixed with the rest of the materials. The material is then compacted.