Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an acid-catalyzed reaction product of an aldehyde or ketone with a multihydric alcohol. When heated, the composition forms polyacetal or polyketal that undergoes curing to form a water-insoluble resin binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment, maleic anhydride initially serves as a catalyst and subsequently enters into a cross-linking reaction during curing to form a poly(ester-acetal). Also, in a preferred embodiment, the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product can be a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

Abstract: Provided is a cellulosic composite comprised of cellulosic material and a binder. The binder comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form a curable binder composition. The composition when mixed with cellulosic material and cured forms a cellulosic composite.

Abstract: Coupling-initiator compounds are described that include a silicon-containing coupling moiety and at least one polymerization initiator moiety. The coupling moiety may be linked to the at least one polymerization initiator moiety by at least one linking moiety. The coupling moiety is capable of coupling the compound to a substrate, while the one or more polymerization initiator moieties are capable of initiating a polymerization of a monomer under polymerization conditions. The coupling-initiator compounds may be included in fiber reinforced polymer composites, where the compounds are coupled to the fibers in the composites and participate in the polymerization of the surrounding polymer.

Abstract: Provided is a cellulosic composite comprised of cellulosic material and a binder. The binder comprises an aldehyde or ketone and amine salt of an inorganic acid. The composition when mixed with cellulosic material and cured forms a cellulosic composite.

Abstract: Compositions for binding organic or inorganic fibers are described. The compositions may include an aqueous solution having a pH of about 4.5 or more. The aqueous solution may include a polycarboxy polymer that is about 10%, by wt., to 100%, by wt., of a butenedioic acid or butenedioic anhydride; and a polyol. The compositions can maintain a pH of about 5 or more after being cured into a thermoset plastic with the fibers. Processes for preparing a binder composition for organic or inorganic fibers are also described. The processes may include providing an aqueous solution of polycarboxylic acid polymers, where the polymers comprise about 10%, by wt., to 100%, by wt., of a butenedioic acid or butenedioic anhydride; adding a polyol to the aqueous solution; and maintaining the pH of the aqueous solution at about 5 or more.

Abstract: Improved binder technology for use with fibrous materials is provided whereby the adjoining fibers of a fibrous material are bound in the absence of a phenol-formaldehyde reaction product. A curable binder composition is provided which comprises a water-soluble Michael adduct crosslinking agent having reactive hydroxyl end groups and a polycarboxylic acid capable of undergoing an esterification reaction. The binding composition is coated on a fibrous material and is heated to achieve crosslinking of hydroxyl end groups of the Michael adduct and carboxylic acid groups of the polycarboxylic acid via an esterification reaction to form a cured water-resistant binder in association with the fibrous material wherein adjoining fibers are bound at cross-over points.

Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an acid-catalyzed reaction product of an aldehyde or ketone with a multihydric alcohol. When heated, the composition forms polyacetal or polyketal that undergoes curing to form a water-insoluble resin binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment, maleic anhydride initially serves as a catalyst and subsequently enters into a cross-linking reaction during curing to form a poly(ester-acetal). Also, in a preferred embodiment, the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product can be a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an acid-catalyzed reaction product of an aldehyde or ketone with a multihydric alcohol. When heated, the composition forms polyacetal or polyketal that undergoes curing to form a water-insoluble resin binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment, maleic anhydride initially serves as a catalyst and subsequently enters into a cross-linking reaction during curing to form a poly(ester-acetal). Also, in a preferred embodiment, the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product can be a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an acid-catalyzed reaction product of an aldehyde or ketone with a multihydric alcohol. When heated, the composition forms polyacetal or polyketal that undergoes curing to form a water-insoluble resin binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment, maleic anhydride initially serves as a catalyst and subsequently enters into a cross-linking reaction during curing to form a poly(ester-acetal). Also, in a preferred embodiment, the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product can be a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an addition product of an amine and a reactant to form an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the composition when applied to fiberglass provides a sufficient blackness required in facer products.

Abstract: Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. Such curable composition comprises the reaction product of an aldehyde or ketone and an amine salt of an inorganic acid. The composition when applied to spunbond polyester continuous filaments is cured to form a water-insoluble polymer binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.

Abstract: Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. The curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when used as a binder in the mat is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.

Abstract: A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an aldehyde or ketone and an amine salt of an inorganic acid. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the composition when applied to fiberglass provides a sufficient blackness required in facer products.

Abstract: A process for securely binding the adjoining fibers of a fibrous material in the absence of the use of phenol-formaldehyde reaction product is provided. A curable binding composition comprising an intermediate reaction product capable of undergoing free-radical polymerization as well as an esterification crosslinking reaction is provided. The intermediate reaction product is formed by the reaction of (i) at least one anhydride having at least one unsaturated double bond capable of undergoing free-radical polymerization, and (ii) at least one polyol crosslinker. When applied to a fibrous material, the binding composition comprising the intermediate reaction product is cured in the presence of a free-radical initiator and a polyol crosslinker wherein the double bonds present in the intermediate reaction product undergo free-radical polymerization and hydroxyl and carboxylic acid end groups undergo crosslinking to form a cured binder.

Abstract: Processes are described for binding a fibrous material. The processes may include applying to a surface of the fibrous material an aqueous binding composition to form a coated fibrous material. The binding composition may include: (a) a water-soluble polyamic acid, and (b) an organic crosslinking agent capable of undergoing a covalent crosslinking reaction with the water-soluble polyamic acid when heated. The water-soluble polyamic acid may be formed by the reaction of: a (i) a polycarboxylic acid or polyanhydride having a molecular weight of at least 150 g/mol, and (ii) ammonia or an amine compound. The processes may further include heating the coated fibrous material to crosslink the water-soluble polyamic acid with the organic crosslinking agent to form a cured binder. One or more adjoining fibers of the fibrous material may be bound to each other at cross over points by the cured binder.

Abstract: A process for securely binding the adjoining fibers of a fibrous material in the absence of the use of a phenol-formaldehyde reaction product is provided. A curable binding composition comprising a water-soluble intermediate reaction product having hydroxyl and carboxylic acid end groups that is capable of undergoing an esterification crosslinking reaction is provided. The intermediate reaction product is formed by the reaction of (i) a polyanhydride, and (ii) certain polyol crosslinkers other than an alkanolamine. Such crosslinkers have been found to yield a bound product that displays improved color (i.e., lighter color). Particularly preferred crosslinkers are triethylene glycol and tripropylene glycol. When applied to a fibrous material, the intermediate reaction product is reacted with crosslinking to form a cured reaction product. In a preferred embodiment the securely bound fibrous product is building insulation of good color that well resists water.

Abstract: One-part binder compositions are described that may include a protein and a crosslinking combination. The crosslinking combination may include at least a first crosslinking compound and a second crosslinking compound. The first and second crosslinking compounds are individually crosslinkable with each other and with the protein. Examples of the protein include soy protein. Fiber products and methods of making the fiber products are also described. The fiber products may include organic fibers, inorganic fibers, or both, in a cured thermoset binder based on solutions of the one-part binder compositions.

Abstract: Composite materials that have at least one substrate layer, and at least one fibrous mat are described. The fibrous mat may include fibers in a cured binder made from a binder composition that includes a carbohydrate and an amino-amide. The amino-amide may be formed from a reaction of an amine and an acid anhydride. In addition, methods of making a composite material are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a first substrate layer and contacting the first substrate layer with a fibrous mat comprising fibers in a partially cured, “B”-stage binder made from a binder composition that includes a carbohydrate and an amino-amide. The amino-amide may be formed from a reaction of an amine and an acid anhydride. The fibrous mat in contact with the first substrate layer may be cured to make a fully-cured binder composite.

Abstract: Provided is a cellulosic composite comprised of cellulosic material and a binder. The binder comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form a curable binder composition. The composition when mixed with cellulosic material and cured forms a cellulosic composite.

Abstract: Provided are nonwoven polymeric fiber webs using an improved curable composition. Such curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to the polymeric fibers is cured to form a water-insoluble polymer binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermo-dimensional stability.