Abstract: A fiberglass reinforced composite is provided with improved physical properties. The fiberglass reinforced composite incorporates core-shell rubber nanoparticles within the resinous binder of the composite and/or within a sizing composition coated directly onto the individual glass fibers.

Abstract: A roof covering includes a roofing mat formed from fibers of a fiber material. The fibers are coated with a sizing. The roof covering also includes a coating material that coats the mat. The coating material is based on an organic material. The sizing includes a sulfur-containing material that bonds to the fiber material. The sulfur-containing material has sulfur groups that form cross-links with the organic material. In another embodiment, the coating material contains sulfur added to the organic material. The sizing includes a bonding material that bonds to the fiber material and that bonds to the sulfur. The sulfur forms cross-links with the organic material.

Abstract: A sizing composition for reinforcement fibers that includes one or more film forming agents, a silane coupling agent package, and at least one lubricant surfactant is provided. Optional components such as rheology modifiers, fillers, biocides, and pH modifiers may also be included. Preferred film forming polymers are amide-based polymers. Additionally, the sizing composition is free of polyvinyl alcohol. The absence of polyvinyl alcohol in the size composition reduces or eliminates the production of precipitates from white water in wet-laid processes. The size composition is applied to reinforcement fibers and formed into chopped strand, wet-laid mats that can be used for a variety of purposes, including roofing products. Chopped strand mats formed from fibers sized with the inventive sizing composition maintains or improves the dry tear and tensile strengths compared to chopped strand mats made from fibers sized with a commercial sizing composition that does not contain polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A roof covering includes a roofing mat formed from fibers of a fiber material. The fibers are coated with a sizing. The roof covering also includes a coating material that coats the mat. The coating material is based on an organic material. The sizing includes a sulfur-containing material that bonds to the fiber material. The sulfur-containing material has sulfur groups that form cross-links with the organic material. In another embodiment, the coating material contains sulfur added to the organic material. The sizing includes a bonding material that bonds to the fiber material and that bonds to the sulfur. The sulfur forms cross-links with the organic material.

Abstract: A sizing composition including one or more primary lubricants, at least one secondary lubricant, and at least one coupling agent is provided. The primary lubricant is a fatty amide lubricant that is the condensation product of a saturated fatty acid having at least 16 carbon atoms and a polyamine. Additionally, the primary lubricant acts both as a lubricant and as a cationic surfactant in the size composition when it is neutralized with a weak acid to assist in dispersing the fibers in a gypsum slurry. The secondary lubricant is polyamide or a polyvinyl amine, and acts as a film forming agent in the fiberizing process to protect the glass fibers from interfilament abrasion. The sizing composition provides improved fiber feeding, fiber flow, and fiber dispersion in a gypsum matrix or slurry. The weight ratio by dry solids of primary to secondary lubricant in the size composition is at least 5:1.

Abstract: A sizing composition for reinforcement fibers that includes one or more film forming agents, a silane coupling agent package, and at least one lubricant surfactant is provided. Optional components such as rheology modifiers, fillers, biocides, and pH modifiers may also be included. Preferred film forming polymers are amide-based polymers. Additionally, the sizing composition is free of polyvinyl alcohol. The absence of polyvinyl alcohol in the size composition reduces or eliminates the production of precipitates from white water in wet-laid processes. The size composition is applied to reinforcement fibers and formed into chopped strand, wet-laid mats that can be used for a variety of purposes, including roofing products. Chopped strand mats formed from fibers sized with the inventive sizing composition maintains or improves the dry tear and tensile strengths compared to chopped strand mats made from fibers sized with a commercial sizing composition that does not contain polyvinyl alcohol.