Abstract: An apparatus for converting thermoplastic molten material stream into fibers to produce fibers, particularly to produce mineral wool from molten mineral raw material. The device combines a slinger cup wheel with a pair of fiberizing rotors. The rotors have each a concavely rounded peripheral groove. The cup wheel is virtually completely surrounded by the two grooves of the rotors so that there is no random spreading of the molten material as all of discrete, fine streams produced by the cup are attenuated by the rotors. As there is no sudden "bouncing" of the attenuated material, the invention produces an improved uniformity of the diameter of final fibres and substantially reduces the shot content in the final product. The stress to which the machinery is subjected is also limited.

Abstract: Phenolic foams and a method of producing phenolic foam material from phenol-formaldehyde resins having a phenol to formaldehyde mole ratio of between about 1:3 and 1:4.5 are described. These materials are useful for insulation and other uses, particularly in the building trades. They are dimensionally and thermally stable, fire resistant and low in cost.

Abstract: A method of making a foamed, polyester resin comprises mixing a liquid unsaturated polyester composition, with a liquid borohydride blowing agent which is a liquid borohydride complex, a borohydride complex in organic liquid medium or a borohydride salt dispersed in an organic liquid medium, which medium is at least substantially non-reactive with the borohydride salt. The resulting mixture is permitted to foam and gel under the initial influence of the blowing agent. In one embodiment the liquid unsaturated polyester includes a peroxide as a curing agent and an amine promoter is additionally admixed therewith. In this case a foamed, gelled and cured resin results. The borohydride complexes are usefully quaternary amine borohydrides.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium borohydrides of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be the same or different and each is selected from alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl groups and R.sup.4 is selected from alkyl and alkenyl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are not all alkyl or that R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 is not benzyl when the remainder of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are all methyl or ethyl. The new borohydrides are prepared by either mixing a borohydride salt and a quaternary ammonium salt in alkaline aqueous solution and extracting the resulting quaternary amine borohydride with an organic solvent or by reacting finely divided borohydride salt with an organic solution of quaternary ammonium salt. The new compounds are used for foaming polyester resins.

Abstract: A phenol-formaldehyde resol to which urea has been added is mixed with a boric acid-hydroxyl-amide component to provide high temperature resistant binder compositions for use in the manufacture of thermally stable bonded mineral fibre insulation structures.

Abstract: Compositions for producing unsaturated polyester foams comprising sodium borohydride for curing the composition in conjunction with an organic peroxide catalyst, and for producing hydrogen gas as the foaming agent. The compositions which are simple and safe to prepare produce high quality foams.

Abstract: This specification discloses a means for providing a barrier against the passage of fire through that portion of a wall aperture surrounding an electrical conduit, pipe, or the like. This is accomplished by placing a sleeve around that portion of the conduit passing through the wall, which sleeve is the central portion of an envelope which is anchored peripherally to the wall or to a more or less rigid material blocking the aperture through the wall and which sleeve connects to end portions of the envelope, each of which end portions extends to connect with the conduit on an opposite side of the wall. The annular region between the conduit and the surrounding envelope is filled with an intumescent gel. The boot is flexible and capable of some movement to compensate for thermal expansion, vibration or other forces during the life of the installation.

Abstract: An exterior insulation layer secured to an above-grade portion of a building basement is protected by a protective sheathing, preferably of impact resistant PVC or the like. The sheathing reaches about 6"-12" below the ground so that the fill of the wall holds the lower end of the sheet in place. The upper portion of the sheeting is directly or indirectly connected to the wall by nails or the like fasteners disposed at a location spaced inwardly of the plane of the exterior of the protective sheet. The advance is in the extreme simplicity and the resulting low cost of the overall insulation of the wall.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for winding strand material into a package on a mandrel rotated at a progressively decreasing speed, the strand material being guided adjacent the package build by a guide member reciprocated by a cam. The cam speed is repeatedly or continuously increased relative to that of the mandrel to counteract or even eliminate reduction of the helix angle at which the strand material is deposited on the package build.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for producing blowing wool from bonded glass fibre material are disclosed in which the glass fibre material is conveyed and cut into strips. These strips are then transversely cut to produce individual cut pieces of the glass fibre material, which are then delaminated in an air stream to produce a blowing wool.

Abstract: A metal building insulation system facilitates the installation of insulation in the roof and walls of a building from the exterior of the building and employs channel members fitted over outwardly facing flanges on the structural members from the exterior of the building, the channel members having opposed side walls for receiving the structural members therebetween and intermediate walls connecting the side walls. At least one layer of insulating material is retained between successive structural members by means of projections extending outwardly from the side walls of the channel members and inwardly facing flanges on the structural members.

Abstract: A water-dilutable thermo-setting resol is prepared from phenol, formaldehyde, an amide and a sugar type compound. The invention provides advance in the art by allowing replacement of some of the phenol-formaldehyde resin contained in the resol with sugar type compounds.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding a multistrand roving package by guiding a plurality of strands along convergent paths of travel towards a winding mandrel employ a pair of spaced strand guide members in the vicinity of the mandrel. The guide members define a gap for the strands and are reciprocated parallel to the mandrel axis so as to alternately engage and deflect the strands into a side-by-side relationship in the package. The strand guide members each have strand guide edge portions so located that, transversely of the mandrel axis, they are offset towards the mandrel from a linearly disposed relationship to intersect the strand paths at different respective angles corresponding to the differences in direction of the strand paths, thereby to compensate for differences in the strand deflections resulting from the differences in direction of the strand paths and to improve the strand deposition.