Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide roofing boards and roofing systems having improved fire resistance properties and methods related to the same. According to one aspect, a roofing system is provided. The roofing system includes roofing panels positioned atop structural support members to form a roof deck. Roofing boards are positioned atop the roof deck and coupled thereto and a roofing membrane is positioned atop the roofing boards and coupled therewith. The roofing boards include a coating of a mineral based material applied to one or more surfaces in an amount between the range of about 0.10 lbs/ft2 and about 0.70 lbs/ft2. The mineral based material coating enables the roofing boards to pass the UL 790 class A tests, such as the burning brand test.

Abstract: A portion of a submerged combustion burner is disposed into a pressure vessel. The portion of the submerged combustion burner has a welded area that has a first microstructure defined by a first number of voids. The vessel is filled with an inert gas, pressurized, and heated. Pressurizing and heating operations are performed for a time and at a temperature and a pressure sufficient to produce a second microstructure in the welded area of the burner. The second microstructure is defined by a second number of voids less than the first number of voids.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include a method of making a thermoplastic composite strand. The method may include melting a reactive thermoplastic 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 resin matrix. In addition, the method may include cooling the thermoplastic resin matrix to form a thermoplastic composite strand.

Abstract: A method of forming a rope material from a loose feed scrap includes a number of operations to mechanically bind the loose feed scrap. The feed scrap is collected. The feed scrap is twisted and compressed, operations that may be performed simultaneously. This twisted and compressed feed scrap, now in the form of a rope material, is then fed into a melter system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide fiber mat facers, ceiling panels, and method of manufacturing the same. A fiber mat facer may include a non-woven web of fibers having a first group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 6 ?m to about 20 ?m and a second group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 0.5 ?m to about 5 ?m. The fiber mat facer may also include a binder to bond together the non-woven web of fibers into the fiber mat. The binder may include a water repellant additive. The binder and/or fiber mat facer may further include an additive that enhances the opacity of the fiber mat facer. The fiber mat facer may also include a paint applied to an outer surface of the facer. The paint may include an additive that enhances the visual appeal of the facer and/or ceiling panel.

Abstract: A method for producing laminate composite materials, as well as the laminate composite materials produced by this method and their use are described. The laminate composite materials are sandwich-like in construction and based on halogenated polymers and comprise a first laminar structure formed from halogenated polymer and a second laminar structure formed from halogenated polymer as well as at least one textile mat structure based on inorganic fibres, which is disposed between the first and the second laminar structure. The textile mat structure based on inorganic fibres comprises regions with high air permeability and regions with low air permeability, through which the two laminar structures formed from halogenated polymer are monolithically bonded together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new binder composition which is particularly suitable for the manufacture of composite materials utilizing such new binder composition in the required nonwoven materials. Composite materials using such new binder composition in their nonwoven part are suitable, in particular, for composites materials for interior construction, for linings, floor coverings, and for the manufacture of furniture and similar products.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for enhancing electron flow within a battery, such as a lead-acid battery. In one embodiment, a battery separator may include a conductive surface or layer upon which electrons may flow. The battery separator may include a fiber mat that includes a plurality of electrically insulative fibers. The battery separator may be positioned between electrodes of the battery to electrically insulate the electrodes. The battery separator may also include a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the fiber mat. The conductive material may contact an electrode of the battery and may have an electrical conductivity that enables electron flow on the surface of the fiber mat.

Abstract: Methods of making fiber-resin compositions are described. The methods may include the providing of a thermoplastic resin to an extruder, where the thermoplastic resin may include at least one reactive moiety capable of forming a covalent bond with a coupling agent on a plurality of reactive fibers. The methods may further include combining the thermoplastic resin with the plurality of reactive fibers also supplied to the extruder. The reactive fibers are sized with the coupling agent that reacts with the thermoplastic resin to form the fiber-resin composition, which may be extruded from the extruder. Methods of making fiber-reinforced composite articles from the fiber-resin composition are also described.

Abstract: Glass-fiber mats for lead-acid batteries are described. The glass-fiber mats may include a plurality of glass fibers held together with a binder. The binder may be made from a binder composition that includes (i) an acid resistant polymer, and (ii) a hydrophilic agent. The hydrophilic agent increases the wettability of the glass-fiber mat such that the glass-fiber mat forms a contact angle with water or aqueous sulfuric acid solution of 70° or less. Also described are methods of making the glass-fiber mats that include applying a binder composition to the glass fibers, and including a hydrophilic agent in the glass fiber mat that increases the wettability of the mat. The hydrophilic agent may be added to the binder composition, applied to the glass-fiber mat, or both.

Abstract: A submerged combustion melter includes a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof defining an internal space. A first portion of the internal space defines a melting zone, and a second portion defines a fining zone immediately downstream of the melting zone. One or more combustion burners in either the floor, roof, the sidewall structure, or any combination of these, are configured to emit the combustion gases from a position under a level of, and positioned to transfer heat to and produce, a turbulent molten mass of glass containing bubbles in the melting zone. The fining zone is devoid of combustion burners or other apparatus or components that would increase turbulence above that in the melting zone. The melter may include a treating zone that stabilizes or destabilizes bubbles and/or foam. Processes of using the melters are a feature of the disclosure.

Abstract: A glass fiber mat comprises glass fibers of a first kind, glass fibers of a second kind and a binding agent. Glass fibers of the first kind in this case are characterized by a mean fiber diameter of under 6 ?m and compliance with the EC Protocol “ECB/TM/27 rev. 7” and glass fibers of the second kind by a mean fiber diameter of over 6 ?m. The ratio between the weight component of glass fibers of the first kind and the weight component of glass fibers of the second kind is between 0.01 and 0.15. And the surface weight of the glass fiber mat is between 25 g/m2 and 80 g/m2. In a CV floor covering comprising a usable layer and a structural layer, the structural layer comprises a glass fiber mat of this kind provided with impregnation.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a hybrid high temperature thermal insulation includes a mix of inorganic granules. The granular mix includes at least 70 weight percent porous inorganic granules in the form of expanded perlite, and at most 30 weight percent second porous inorganic granules other than expanded perlite. The hybrid insulation also includes a binder. In example formulations, the second porous inorganic particles may be made from crushed aerogel, from fumed silica, from precipitated silica, or from other substances. The hybrid insulation may be formed into preferred shapes, for example a board shape or a semi-cylindrical shape configured to fit over a round tube of a predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous insulation product has at least a bi-modal fiber diameter distribution designed to provide the product with selected thermal insulating and physical performance properties that are affected by fiber diameter such as rigidity and recovery properties. The product is made by: forming two or more fiber groupings that each have a selected fiber diameter distribution with a selected mean fiber diameter wherein the selected fiber diameter distributions of the fiber groupings differ from each other. The fibers of the fiber groupings are intermingled and entangled together in selected percentages by weight to form a product with a selected density and thickness that exhibits selected product performance properties based on the properties of the fiber groupings and the relative percentages by weight of the fiber groupings.

Abstract: Methods are described for activating a glass fiber or flake to participate in polymerizing a resin. The methods may include sizing the glass fiber or flake with a sizing composition that includes a solution containing a polymerization initiator, and activating the polymerization initiator by forming a free radical moiety on the polymerization initiator that can initiate the polymerization of the resin. Additional methods of making a glass reinforced composite are described. The methods may include sizing glass fibers or flakes with a sizing composition that includes a solution containing a polymerization initiator, forming a free radical moiety on the polymerization initiator to make activated glass fibers or flakes, and contacting the activated glass fibers or flakes with a polymer resin. The activated glass fibers or flakes initiate the polymerization of the resin around the glass fibers or flakes to form the glass reinforced composite.

Abstract: Methods of making fiber reinforced composite articles are described. The methods may include the step of providing a pre-impregnated fiber-containing thermoplastic material to a mold for the article. The pre-impregnated fiber-containing thermoplastic material may include: (i) a plurality of fibers, and (ii) a first thermoplastic polymer made from a first reactive thermoplastic resin. Reactants of a second reactive thermoplastic resin may be introduced to fill open spaces in the mold that are left by the pre-impregnated fiber-containing thermoplastic material. The second reactive thermoplastic resin may then be polymerized to form a second thermoplastic polymer. The final fiber reinforced composite article includes at least two spatially distinct regions of thermoplastic polymer.

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: Controlling foam in apparatus downstream of a melter by adjustment of alkali oxide content in the melter. One method includes feeding a feedstock into a submerged combustion melter (SCM) apparatus having an internal space containing a flowing or non-flowing molten mass of foamed glass comprising molten glass and bubbles entrained therein, the molten mass having glass foam comprising glass foam bubbles on at least a portion of a top surface of the molten mass. The molten mass from the SCM is routed to a downstream apparatus, stability of the glass foam in the downstream apparatus is observed, and alkali oxide percentage fed to the SCM apparatus is adjusted based on the observation to positively or negatively affect the foam stability. Systems for carrying out the methods, and the products of the methods are also considered novel and inventive.

Abstract: Various arrangements are provided related to thermal energy coordination systems. A thermal energy coordination system may analyze solar irradiance measurements to identify an overgeneration solar energy event. The system may activate a thermal energy storage event to coincide with the overgeneration solar energy event at the plurality of solar panels. The system, which can include many network-enabled smart thermostats, may control air conditioners or other HVAC system within various structures. The system may determine a time to initiate cooling and a temperature to which to cool the structure based upon the received indication of the thermal energy storage event. Cooling may be initiated by the system based on the determined time and the determined temperature in response to the received indication of the thermal energy storage event.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat includes between 10% and 50% by weight of a plurality of first glass fibers having an average diameter of less than 5 ?m and between 50% and 90% by weight of a plurality of second glass fibers having an average diameter of greater than 6 ?m. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes an acid resistant binder that binds the first and second glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat has an average pore size of between 1 and 100 ?m and exhibits an air permeability of below 100 cubic feet per minute per square foot (cfm/ft2) as measured by the Frazier test at 125 Pa according to ASTM Standard Method D737.