Abstract: A faced insulation assembly has a facing sheet with a central field portion that overlays and is bonded to a major surface of the insulation layer. The sheet has two lateral tabs that are joined to the central field portion of the sheet along fold lines. The tabs are folded back to overlay the central field portion of sheet. The fold lines may include score lines or weld lines to help maintain the tabs in the folded position for handling. The tabs have tab strips bonded thereto that may be bonded to the tabs by a pressure sensitive adhesive whereby the tabs may be left in the folded position, unfolded for stapling to framing members, or have the tab strips removed for bonding to framing members either in a folded or an unfolded position.

Abstract: The facing of a faced insulation layer has Z-folded, double-folded, or single-folded lateral tabs extending the length of the facing sheet along or spaced inwardly from lateral edges of the facing sheet. Each lateral tab has multiple segments. One of the segments of each lateral tab has an adhesive thereon that can be exposed and extended beyond one of the lateral edges of the insulation layer for bonding the faced insulation layer to a framing member. Where the blanket is separable into sections, the facing has pairs of separable tabs that separate when the blanket is separated to expose surfaces of the separable tabs with adhesive thereon. The adhesive may be microencapsulated or have microencapsulated constituent(s).

Abstract: Provided is a fiberglass binder composition which comprises a polycarboxy polymer modified with a fatty acid, and a polyol. The binder also preferably includes a catalyst which is an alkali metal salt of a phosphorus-containing organic acid. The resultant binder provides minimal processing difficulties and a fiberglass product which exhibits minimal water absorption.

Abstract: A fiber glass mat containing a novolac resin having an acid solubility of at least about 35 wt. percent is especially useful for bonding to a light weight fibrous or foam web or board, such as a polymer fiber web. A method of making the mat by wet laying a slurry containing the fiber and the novolac resin particles and then further adding an aqueous solution or slurry containing a crosslinking agent for the novolac resin and a laminate containing the fiber glass mat are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for improved sound absorption, including a substrate of porous insulation material and of a first air flow resistance, and a facing material attached to the substrate and of a second air flow resistance, wherein a total system resistance is a combination of the first and second air flow resistances, and wherein the total system resistance and the second air flow resistance are of relatively low values.

Abstract: A new foam coated nonwoven fibrous mat having properties particularly suited for a facer on gypsum wallboard, laminates made therefrom and the method of making the mat is disclosed. The mat preferably contains a major portion of glass fibers and a minor portion of a resinous binder. The foam coating is permeable and reduces fiber dust and abrasion experienced in the past with relatively coarse, relatively inexpensive glass fibers in the mat. Contrary to previous methods, the foam coated fibrous mat is made in-line on a wet mat forming production line by applying a wet foam binder onto a wet, fibrous web followed by drying and curing in-line.

Abstract: A reinforced membrane, particularly well suited for use as a membrane in a single ply roofing membrane system, includes first and second thermoplastic olefin (“TPO”) sheets and a polypropylene reinforcing mesh or scrim intermediate the first and second thermoplastic olefin sheets and bonded to the first and second thermoplastic olefin sheets.

Abstract: At least one longitudinally extending series of cuts and separable connectors is formed in a fibrous insulation blanket with one or more rotating compression-cutting blades and a cooperating anvil to form separable blanket sections in the insulation blanket. The size and configuration of the teeth and notches in the compression-cutting blade, which may be determined through the use of an empirical equation, insure that the insulation blanket has the integrity to be handled and installed as a unit, but can be separated by hand into the blanket sections. The anvil has a moving surface that drives the compression-cutting blade at the velocity blanket is being fed between the cutting blade and the anvil.

Abstract: A chopper for chopping continuous items like fiber, fiber strand, yarn, string, wire, tape or ribbon, etc. which enters the chopper in unwound form at a high linear speed is disclosed having improvements and permit the chopper to tilt to change the angle of discharge of the chopped items(s). Also disclosed is a fast acting roll retainer and a chopper having the fast acting roll retainer that permits a backup roll and a blade roll to be removed and replaced in a faster and lesser damaging manner. Methods of chopping and changing rolls on an apparatus using the disclosed apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling process variables, for a fiberizing assembly including a rotary fiberizing disk in the manufacture of fibers from a high temperature, molten, clear or translucent, thermoplastic, fiberizable material, utilizes an optical sensor assembly. The optical sensor assembly includes a water-cooled optical fiber sensor probe which, in effect, only gathers light emitted from the external sidewall surface of the rotary fiberizing disk. The light is conducted from the probe to an electronic unit that converts the light energy into a temperature value. This temperature value is used to monitor the process and to make any changes in process variables, such as but not limited to heat input to the fiberizing disk, rate of rotation of the fiberizing disk, burner air/fuel ratio, required to produce fibers having desired fiber properties.

Abstract: A pipe insulation assembly includes a length of tubular insulation with a longitudinally extending slit so that the tubular insulation can be passed over and mounted on a length of pipe and a jacket overlaying the outer surface of the tubular insulation. To facilitate the installation of the pipe insulation assembly, a ruler, which is associated with the jacket and, preferably, no longer visible when the pipe insulation is mounted on a pipe, extends for the length of the jacket and is located adjacent the slit in the tubular insulation. The ruler has units of linear measurement marked thereon for measuring the pipe insulation assembly in the direction of the length of the pipe insulation assembly.

Abstract: A spinner disc for fiberizing a molten thermoplastic fiberizable material in a rotary fiberization process includes a base plate, an annular peripheral sidewall, and an upper annular reinforcing flange. The annular peripheral sidewall of the disc has a plurality of annular extending rows of fiberizing holes therein for fiberizing thermoplastic materials by centrifugal force. At least an uppermost row of the annular extending rows of fiberizing holes is interrupted by a plurality of spaced apart generally vertically extending holeless retaining bands for maintaining the upper annular reinforcing flange connected to the annular peripheral sidewall when the annular peripheral sidewall cracks along one of the annular extending rows of fiberizing holes due to the hole wear and enlargement that occurs during service.

Abstract: Provided are glass compositions uniquely applicable for the preparation of ultrafine fibers for filtration and separation applications. The glasses meet all physical and chemical criteria, including that for biodissolution rate. In particular, the glasses exhibit good moisture resistance in combination with excellent biosolubility, allowing for storage of products under humid conditions and degradation at a high rate in the body if inhaled.

Abstract: Spinner discs for use in the fiberization of glass in rotary fiberization processes are made of intermetallic compounds of aluminides of nickel (Ni3Al and NiAl).

Abstract: Provided herewith is a fiberglass binder comprising an aqueous solution of a polycarboxy polymer, a polyol and at least 30 weight percent of a filler material, preferably clay. The clay filler material is generally present in the aqueous solution as a suspension of particles having an average size of 3 &mgr;m or less. The clay filler extended fiberglass binder of the present invention is more cost effective without significantly altering the appearance or function of the binder.

Abstract: Provided is a fiberglass binder composition which comprises a polycarboxy polymer, polyol and a fatty acid. The binder also preferably includes a catalyst which is an alkali metal salt of a phosphorus-containing organic acid. The resultant binder provides minimal processing difficulties and a product which exhibits minimal water absorption.

Abstract: A polymeric fiber liner insulation includes of a resilient, insulation blanket core of randomly oriented entangled fibers with between 60% and 90% by weight of the fibers being standard polymeric fibers and/or flame retardant polymeric fibers and between 10% and 40% by weight of the fibers being polymeric lofting and bonding fibers. The first major surface the liner insulation has a low porosity or air and/or liquid impervious surface layer. The surface layer is formed by melting and consolidating fibers at and adjacent the first major surface of the blanket core or by coating the first major surface of the blanket core with a polymeric coating. The liner insulation exhibits a flame spread/smoke developed index of ≦25/50.

Abstract: Provided are glass compositions uniquely applicable for the preparation of ultrafine fibers for filtration and separation applications. The glasses meet all physical and chemical criteria, including that for biodissolution rate.

Abstract: Provided is a method for reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace, including providing an ultrasonic energy emitted from at least one ultrasonic energy source to a foam present above the surface of a molten material in a glass melting furnace. The ultrasonic energy is effective to reduce or remove at least a part of the foam. Also provided is a system for reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace.

Abstract: A fire resistant resilient insulation assembly, includes: a resilient insulation and a fire resistant polymeric film forming a tubular envelope surrounding the resilient insulation. The fire resistant polymeric film includes: 50 to 80 weight percent high density polymeric material; 5 to 45 weight percent linear low density polymeric material; 5 to 25 weight percent fire retardant concentrate (a halogen and a synergist in a polymeric carrier); 0 to 5 weight percent UV stabilizer; and 0 to 10 weight percent pigment. Preferably, the film is a two layer coextruded film with the outer layer being a predominately linear low density polymer that provides a good finish for printing and a relatively high coefficient of friction to improve the handling of the film during the encapsulation of the blanket. The inner layer is predominately high density polymer that provides the coextruded film with the impact strength and tear resistance required for processing and handling.