Abstract: A method for producing asphalt fibers includes supplying molten asphalt to a rotating asphalt spinner, centrifuging asphalt fibers from the asphalt spinner, and collecting the asphalt fibers. The molten asphalt is supplied to the asphalt spinner at a temperature within the range of from about 270.degree. to about 500.degree. F. Also disclosed is a method for integrating asphalt with reinforcement fibers including the steps of establishing a downwardly moving veil of reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, and centrifuging asphalt fibers from a rotating asphalt spinner positioned within the veil of reinforcement fibers to integrate the asphalt with the reinforcement fibers. A method for making an asphalt roofing shingle includes the steps of assembling together a mat of asphalt fibers with a mat of reinforcement fibers, coating the assembled mats to form an asphalt coated sheet, applying granules to the asphalt coated sheet, and cutting the asphalt coated sheet into roofing shingles.

Abstract: Asphalt/polymer fibers include, by weight, 30% to 85% polymeric material and 15% to 70% asphaltic material, where the polymeric material has a melt flow index of no more than about 35 grams/10 minutes. Preferably, the combination of polymeric material and asphaltic material has a melt flow index of from 80 grams/10 minutes to 800 grams/10 minutes. The asphaltic material is preferably asphalt having a softening point of from 82.degree. C. to 177.degree. C. The polymeric material is preferably a polymer selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyesters, ethylene copolymers, acrylates, methacrylates, and mixtures of these polymers. The organic fibers of asphalt/polymer may be intermingled with mineral reinforcing fibers and formed into products such as mats.

Abstract: An angled roofing shingle for a roof ridge line is made from an organic, resinous material and a filler material. The shingle has a first elongated portion and a separable, second elongated portion. These two portions each have a longitudinal edge provided with a mating edge surface and are joined together at an angle less than 180 degrees so that the shingle can cover and conform to the ridge line. Means are included for moving the first and second elongated portions relative to each other to change the angle of the shingle to accommodate a variety of angles of ridge lines.

Abstract: A high solubility size composition is provided which may be applied to glass fibers useful for reinforcing polymeric materials. The size composition includes: a first film former comprising a polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane derived from a saturated, non-crosslinkable polyester; a second film former comprising at least one ingredient selected from i) a vinyl acetate glycidyl methacrylate copolymer and ii) a mixture of a vinyl acetate glycidyl methacrylate copolymer and a vinyl acetate homopolymer; a silane coupling agent; and water. Using glass fibers coated with the high solubility size composition allows the advantageous production of low-pigmented or non-pigmented molded parts having enhanced surface appearance and color uniformity.

Abstract: A bushing assembly is provided which is adapted to be positioned beneath a forehearth (30) to receive a stream of molten glass flowing from the forehearth (30). The assembly comprises a glass receiving block (76), a bushing (50) and at least one cooling element (82). The receiving block (76) is positioned adjacent to the forehearth (30) to receive the stream of molten glass flowing from the forehearth (30). The receiving block (76) has an orifice (72) through which the molten glass passes. The bushing (50) receives the stream of molten glass from the glass receiving block and supplies a plurality streams of molten glass to be drawn into continuous glass fibers. The at least one cooling element (82) extends into the stream of molten glass and transfers energy in the form of heat away from the molten glass.

Abstract: The silicon or silica substrates described have a modified surface of a new type occupied by the alcohol fraction of an orthoester. The alcohol fraction may be saturated or unsaturated. The surface of the substrate is modified by being treated with an orthoester, the water being eliminated from the surface by hydrolysis and then replaced by the resulting alcohol or silylether. Besides many other compounds, new orthoesters having the formula R.sup.1 C?OCH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CO--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 !.sub.3, in which R.sup.1 stands for hydrogen or for a clearable organic residue, R stands for (CH.sub.2).sub.n, in which n stands for an integer between 1 and 18, and new orthoesters having the formula (I), are particularly appropriate. In the formula (I), R.sup.1 stands for hydrogen or an organic residue, R.sup.3 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R.sup.4 stands for hydrogen, an alkyl group or an alkyl group or a phenyl group.

Abstract: A composite having enhanced flame retardant behavior includes a polymer and glass fibers coated with fumed silica. The composite can be based on a wide variety of polymers such as polybutylene and polyethylene terephthalates, polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes and nylons. The glass fibers are also preferably coated with fibrillar polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a fibrous insulation batt having a length and a width is disclosed. The batt has first and second sections, where each section is approximately one half the length of the batt. The apparatus comprises a lower conveyor for conveying folded batts in a first direction, and an upper conveyor which is positioned above the lower conveyor and move in the first direction to define a folded batt exit path. The apparatus further comprises a folding member for folding the insulation batt, where the folding member is adapted to contact the batt across its width. The folding member is mounted for movement to initially push the batt in a second direction, and then subsequently push the batt in the first direction, thereby pushing the batt along the folded batt exit path. The movement of the folding member folds the batt so that the first section of the folded batt is generally parallel to and contacting the second section.

Abstract: In a method for making bicomponent polymer fibers, first and second molten polymers are supplied to a rotating spinner having an orificed peripheral wall. The molten polymers are centrifuged through the orifices as molten bicomponent polymer streams. The streams are cooled to make bicomponent polymer fibers.

Abstract: This invention is a strand of silicate glass fibers with a carbon skin or sheath around each glass fiber of the strand. The invention uses hydrocarbon pyrolysis with silicate fiber glass manufacturing to produce fibers using conventional melt-bushing technology. The formation of a carbon skin or sheath on the silicate glass fibers offers numerous advantages. For example, pyrolyzing hydrocarbons is endothermic. Heat is removed in the process and fibers are cooled faster. This helps to achieve higher throughput.

Abstract: A sizing composition for glass is provided. The sizing composition comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer emulsion, a polyvinyl acetate copolymer latex, and a vinyl acrylic copolymer emulsion.

Abstract: A facer sheet is provided which is adapted to receive a prefoam mixture during a structural laminate forming process. The facer sheet comprises a first predominantly glass fiber mat having first and second outer surfaces and a polymeric material applied to the first outer surface of the mat. The polymeric material acts as a substantially impervious barrier to the liquid prefoam mixture received at the second outer surface of the mat during the structural laminate forming process.

Abstract: A facer sheet is provided which is adapted to receive a prefoam mixture during a structural laminate forming process. The racer sheet comprises a first predominantly glass fiber mat having first and second outer surfaces and a polymeric material applied to the first outer surface of the mat. The polymeric material acts as a substantially impervious barrier to the liquid prefoam mixture received at the second outer surface of the mat during the structural laminate forming process.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a dewar and a refrigerator/liquefier which meets the variable demands of a superconducting magnet within the dewar. The system is sized to meet average loads over a defined duty cycle, and is variably operable to meed demands. In the preferred embodiment, a first supply of fluid circulates through a "condenser" element positioned in a dewar ullage to liquefy a separate supply of fluid in the dewar, and to refrigerate a pulsed cryogenic load therein, such as a superconducting magnet. A portion of the first supply of fluid may be diverted to refrigerate a second pulsed cryogenic load, such as magnet current leads permanently connected to the magnet. The dewar includes a cold gas vapor storage chamber separate from the dewar ullage, and the chamber is preferably located within the inner core of a solenoid superconducting magnet for compact and thermally efficient design. Responsive, independent adjustment of refrigeration to pulsed cryogenic loads is made possible.

Abstract: A method for fiberizing organic material includes rotating a spinner having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall that extends upwardly from the bottom wall and terminates in an upper end, wherein the spinner has a cavity defined by the bottom wall, the peripheral wall and a plane extending through the upper end of the peripheral wall generally parallel to the bottom wall. The method further includes creating turbulence within the spinner cavity, supplying molten organic material to a delivery tube wherein the delivery tube terminates at a point located outside of the spinner cavity, discharging molten organic material from the delivery tube with enough momentum to overcome the turbulence and reach a predetermined location in the spinner cavity, and centrifuging fibers from the molten organic material.

Abstract: An ink contains a petroleum-derived asphalt, a colorant, and a carrier for the asphalt and colorant. The asphalt has a softening point from 105.degree. C. to 155.degree. C. and a saturates content not greater than 32% by weight. Preferably at least 50% by weight of the carrier is a material selected from aliphatic oils, aliphatic solvents, and mixtures thereof. A method of making the ink includes granulating the asphalt to a particle size not greater than 2.38 mm (8 mesh), dissolving the asphalt in the carrier, and adding a colorant to the carrier.

Abstract: A rotary fiberizer includes a spinner for centrifuging fibers from molten material along a path generally coplanar with the spinner, and a pair of opposed annular blowers positioned on opposite sides of the path of the centrifuged fibers, with the blowers having an interior face which is oriented toward the path of the centrifuged fibers, and the blowers having an exterior face which is oriented away from the path of the centrifuged fibers. An induced air conduit associated with each of the blowers is adapted to supply air to the path of centrifuged fibers, and the exterior faces of the blowers contain blower openings to discharge attenuation gasses into the induced air conduits to attenuate the centrifuged fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) is provided for producing continuous glass filaments (30). The apparatus (10) comprises a bushing (20) for supplying streams of molten glass and a drawing device (40) adapted to draw the streams into continuous glass filaments (30). A cooling device (50) is also provided and is located adjacent to the bushing (20) for drawing in heated air from a filament forming area beneath the bushing such that heat is convectively transferred away from the filament forming area.

Abstract: A woven fabric of warp yarn and fill yarn uses a strand of individual filaments for the fill yarn, where the strand has a primary cross-sectional shape and periodic flat spots with a flat cross-sectional shape which is more elongated than the primary cross-sectional shape, where the effect of the flat spots is differentiated fill yarn in the woven fabric.

Abstract: An irregularly shaped glass fiber is provided which enjoys improved resiliency, and openness in pack structures. Wool packs and other wool portions having such irregularly shaped fibers may be processed directly through needling to form a non-woven material without intervening steps such as carding or blending of fibers which accompany conventional glass fiber processing operations. In a further aspect of the invention, a non-woven material including irregularly shaped fibers in a generally continuous wool tow is produced by "unwinding" a fiberglass wool pack collected by a direct forming method. Product applications include simplified, lower cost processing, and new uses of the irregularly shaped fibers produced by rotary fiberization in filtration elements, sorbants, gaskets, packings, shingles, composite structural elements, furnishings, textiles, yarns, and blown-in insulation systems.