Abstract: Apparatus and methods for constructing a shower pan. The shower pan is constructed from wedge panels having a foam core and facers on major surfaces of the wedge panels. The wedge panels are cut into portions that fit regions of the shower pan area. The wedge panel portions are placed in the regions such that the sloped upper surfaces of the wedge panel portions collectively form a continuous surface that at all locations slopes downward toward the drain of the shower. Pans for a wide variety of shower shapes and sizes can be constructed. The shower pan may be efficiently constructed on-site, often using common tools and techniques.

Abstract: An insulative construction product includes a polyurethane foam core and a mixture of Aerogel and carbon black that is disposed within the polyurethane foam core. The mixture of Aerogel and carbon black includes between 90 and 99 weight percent Aerogel and between 1 and 10 weight percent carbon black. The polyurethane foam core includes between 10 and 90 percent by volume of the of Aerogel and carbon black mixture and the construction product has an R-value of at least 8.0 R/inch.

Abstract: A polyisocyanurate foam insulation product is produced from an isocyanate component and a polyol-containing component including a blowing agent. The polyol-containing component comprises one or more polyols, a fire retardant, and a hydroxyl-containing low-molecular-weight additive effective to increase the R-value per inch of the insulation product as measured at 40° F., as compared with an otherwise-identical formulation lacking the hydroxyl-containing low-molecular-weight additive. The polyisocyanurate foam insulation product may have an R-value per inch of at least 6.0 when measured at 40° F. and may have an R-value per inch of at least 5.5 when measured at 25° F. Suitable hydroxyl-containing low-molecular-weight additives may include triethanolamine, trimethylolpropane, N-methyldiethanolamine, 1,4 butanediol, or another suitable multi-functional alcohol or combination of multi-functional alcohols.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer blend composition comprising linear low density polyethylene, a propylene polymer generally having rubber dispersed therein, and a combination of a propylene copolymer and an ethylene copolymer. In one embodiment, there is provided a polymer blend composition comprising 15 to 75 weight percent of a propylene polymer having from 10-60% crystallinity, 30-50 weight percent of a linear low density polyethylene, and a combination of the propylene copolymer and the ethylene copolymer comprising the remainder of the composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel binder system and its use for bonding textile fabrics as well as products containing such bonded textile fabrics. The materials according to the invention are suitable for manufacturing base interlinings which may be used for manufacturing base interlinings for sarking, roofing and sealing membranes, particularly for manufacturing coated sarking, roofing and sealing membranes.

Abstract: Combustion burners, burner panels, submerged combustion melters including the panels, and methods of using the same are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the burner includes an annular liquid cooled jacket defining a central longitudinal through passage. An inner conduit is positioned substantially concentrically within an outer conduit, the latter positioned in the through passage, each conduit comprising proximal and distal ends, the conduits configured so that the outer and inner conduits are movable axially. The inner conduit forms a primary passage and the outer conduit forms a secondary passage between the outer conduit and the inner conduit. In one embodiment the outer conduit has an exterior surface configured along at least a portion thereof with threads mating with adjacent threads on an inner surface of the annular liquid cooled jacket. Other embodiments including lock and release dogs or bolt arrangements. The burners promote burner life and melter campaign length.

Abstract: A chopped roving thermoplastic composite sheet includes a web or mesh of chopped rovings and a thermoplastic resin that fully saturates the web or mesh of chopped rovings. The web or mesh of chopped rovings is not mechanically bonded and does not include a binder that bonds or adheres the chopped rovings together other than thermoplastic resin. As such, the thermoplastic resin and the web or mesh of chopped rovings are able to flow and conform to a mold or cavity when the chopped roving thermoplastic composite sheet is pressed within the mold or cavity and when the chopped roving thermoplastic composite sheet is heated to above the melting temperature of the thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include a method of making a thermoplastic composite concentrates. The method may include melting a low-viscosity reactive resin to form a molten reactive resin. The method may also include fully impregnating a plurality of continuous fibers with the molten reactive resin in an impregnation device. The method may further include polymerizing the molten reactive resin to form a thermoplastic composite strand. In addition, the method may include chopping the thermoplastic composite strand into a plurality of pellets to form a plurality of thermoplastic composite concentrates.

Abstract: Fiber-containing mats for lead acid batteries are described. The mats may include a plurality of fibers, a binder holding the plurality of fibers together, and one or more additives incorporated into the mat, where the additives may include one or more compounds selected from benzyl benzoate and a glycol ester. Additional fiber-containing mats include a plurality of woven or non-woven fibers and the one or more additives. The fiber-containing mats having the one or more additives may be used in lead-acid batteries that include a positive and negative electrode, a separator, and one or more pasting mats.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

Abstract: A passivating flexible insulation blanket positionable about a pipe includes an insulation core, an enclosing fabric, and a non-consumable passivator. The insulation core is substantially hydrophobic and includes a microporous material. The enclosing fabric fully encapsulates the insulation core to form a capsule or pouch about the insulation core. The non-consumable passivator is non-consumable such that there is no appreciable change to a mass of the non-consumable passivator after an extended time of activation. The non-consumable passivator is deposited into the insulation core and has a composition soluble in water. The non-consumable passivator includes a leachable component that leaches from the insulation core and is capable of neutralizing acidic components. The leachable component is water soluble and is capable of reacting with a surface of the pipe to form a protective coating on the pipe to aid in inhibiting corrosion formation on the surface of the pipe.

Abstract: Submerged combustion burners having improved fuel and oxidant mixing characteristics. Submerged combustion melters including the burners. Methods of using submerged combustion melters to melt glass-forming materials and produce molten glass.

Abstract: Fiber-containing composites are described that contain woven or non-woven fibers, and a cured binder formed from a binder composition that includes (1) a reducing sugar and (2) a crosslinking agent that includes a reaction product of a urea compound and a polycarbonyl compound. Exemplary reaction products for the crosslinking agent may include the reaction product of urea and an ?,?-bicarbonyl compound or an ?,?-bicarbonyl compound. Exemplary fiber-containing composites may include fiberglass insulation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an insulated structure includes a frame comprising a plurality of wall studs coupled together and a plurality of foam boards attached to the frame to form a continuous insulative wall. A plurality of fasteners attaches the foam boards to the frame. Each fastener includes an elongate shaft and a cap. The elongate shaft is configured to penetrate through a foam board and into a wall stud to couple the components together. The cap is configured to be positioned atop a foam board to distribute a load relatively evenly to the foam board. A sealing tape is applied across seams between adjacent foam boards and over the fasteners' caps to seal the wall. A sealing caulk is applied to secondary fasteners and penetrations to seal the wall. In some embodiments, the structure has a fastener density of about 1 fastener per 243 in2 of foam board.

Abstract: A thermoplastic product includes a fabric-based reinforcing sheet and a polymerized thermoplastic material. The fabric-based reinforcing sheet is wound about a mandrel to form a plurality of layers having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds to the mandrel. The fabric-based reinforcing sheet includes a plurality of fiber bundles, which may have a bidirectional orientation or configuration. A polymerized thermoplastic material is disposed within each layer of the fabric-based reinforcing sheet. The polymerized thermoplastic material bonds each layer of the fabric-based reinforcing sheet to an adjacent layer.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced insulation product may include a first layer of fiber reinforced aerogel composite and a second layer of fiber reinforced aerogel composite. The first layer may include entangled fibers, aerogel particles dispersed within the entangled fibers, and a first binder that may form a first binding framework that bonds the entangled fibers and the aerogel particles of the first layer together. The second layer may include entangled fibers, aerogel particles dispersed within the entangled fibers, and a second binder that may form a second binding framework that bonds the entangled fibers and the aerogel particles of the second layer together. The fiber reinforced insulation product may further include a third binder that may form a third binding framework that bonds the first layer and the second layer together. The third binder may be dispersed throughout the first layer and the second layer.

Abstract: Submerged combustion burners having a burner body and a burner tip body connected thereto. The burner body has an external conduit and a first internal conduit substantially concentric therewith. The external conduit and first internal conduit form an annulus for passing a cooling fluid there between. A second internal conduit substantially concentric with the external conduit forms a second annulus between the first and second internal conduits. A burner tip body is connected to the burner body at ends of the external and first internal conduits. The burner tip body includes a generally central flow passage for a combustible mixture, the flow passage defined by an inner wall of the burner tip body. The burner tip body further has an outer wall and a crown connecting the inner and outer walls. The crown includes at least one physical convolution sufficient to increase surface area and fatigue resistance of the crown.