Abstract: Flexible coated bundles of fibers are provided that are both encapsulated and impregnated with a coating of one or more independently partially crosslinkable polyurethane. The fibers in the bundle can have a first chemical treatment or size and the bundle of these fibers is treated to have the coating of the polyurethane. The coating impregnates the bundle so that a majority of the fibers have a substantial portion of their surfaces covered with the coating. The independently partially crosslinkable polyurethane is selected from polyurethane polymers that are solvent-soluble, dispersible or emulsifiable that produce a thermoplastic elastomeric film. The partial crosslinkability is from one or more of the following types of crosslinking: self-crosslinkable, internally crosslinkable and/or in-situ crosslinkable. Additional components other than external crosslinking agents can also be present in the coating composition.

Abstract: A process for coating a non-conductive substrate, such as glass, ceramic or plastic, which comprises applying to the surface of the substrate a coating of a silylated polyamine-noble metal (SPNM) complex and then optionally bringing the coated substrate so obtained into contact with a solution containing a metal salt, such as a salt of nickel, cobalt or copper, to obtain plating of metal from the latter solution onto the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced thermoplastic parts having good surface characteristics are produced by a process involving: preheating fiber reinforced composite to achieve at least a flowable viscosity of the polymer, and (2) molding under controlled rheological conditions. The preheating is conducted on composites that are predominantly amorphous thermoplastic polymers, copolymers, polyblends or alloys reinforced with continuous glass fiber strand reinforcing mat. The amount of the mat present in the laminate is less than around 40 weight percent of the composite. The temperature of preheating is at least greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer and less than the degradation temperature of the polymer to expand the composite.

Abstract: An aqueous, resinous solution of a curable, polymeric reaction product, the cured polymeric flame resistant coating and methods for producing them are provided. The solution is formed by direct reaction or prepolymer reaction and chain extension reaction of a methylol and/or hydroxyl-containing quaternary phosphonium compound, divalent nitrogen-containing compound and a heteroatom-containing compound. A nitrogen-containing compound has at least 2 active hydrogen and/or methylol radicals. The direct or prepolymer reaction has present a tertiary amine.

Abstract: Fast controlled wettability of glass fibers in a polymeric matrix is achieved by controlling the amount of unsaturation in the components of the chemical treatment present on the glass fibers. Glass fibers treated with an aqueous chemical treating composition having a polar thermoplastic film forming polymer, coupling agent and lubricant have these components with an amount of aliphatic unsaturation of less than 1.5 double bonds per mole of polymer or compound and a ratio of aliphatic unsaturation to aromatic unsaturation of not greater than 0.1. For the polar thermoplastic film forming polymer, the viscosity of the polymer is less than 10,000 centipoise and the aliphatic unsaturation can be controlled by limiting the amount of unsaturation on the monomer and also controlling the amount of solvent used in emulsifying the polymer in water. Also the components of the aqueous chemical treating composition have limited amounts of any component which is chain extension inducing or condensation reaction inducing.

Abstract: Improved flame retardant coatings are produced from curable chemical mixtures having at least one phosphorus-containing film former which has hydroxyl and/or methylol functionalities, and at least one nucleophilic organo silane. The silane is capable of undergoing nucleophilic reaction with hydroxyl radical displacement and/or capable of Michael's addition type of reaction via a nucleophilic phosphine compound. Additionally, the curable chemical mixture can involve an interaction polymeric product of the phosphorus-containing film former and nucleophilic organo silane. Also solvents such as water, curing agents, fillers and/or extenders may be present in the mixture.

Abstract: Strands of chemically treated glass fibers of the present invention result in fiber reinforced polar thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers having good strength properties. The chemically treated glass fibers are treated with the an aqueous chemical treating composition having an epoxy polyurethane copolymer or a polyepoxide resin with blocked polyisocyanate functionality, and at least one or more organo coupling agents. The epoxy polyurethane copolymer or epoxy with polyisocyanate functionality can be chain extended with organic polyols. The blocked polyisocyanates can be either partially or fully blocked. Also the aqueous chemical treating composition can have one or more cationic and/or nonionic fiber lubricants, epoxy polyvinly acetate copolymer in conjunction with an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or an epoxy polymer and mixtures of the fiber lubricant with the polymeric materials.

Abstract: A fluid separation device in the form of a cartridge is shown in which there is provided a fluid inlet to the cartridge, a distribution tube to feed fluid from the center of the cartridge outwardly across alternate layers of permeable membranes and glass fibers, rovings and strands and wherein the fibers are porous, hollow, or porous and hollow. The fibers are oriented parallel to each other and sealed at one end of the cartridge and open at the other end when hollow fibers are used. A vessel for housing the cartridge is also shown.

Abstract: A novel mat composite is shown in which a plurality of glass fibers, strands or rovings are carried on a fluid permeable sheet with two generally parallel ribbons of mastic on each side of the sheet inboard of the edges affixing the fibers, strands or rovings to the sheet and maintaining the fibers, strands and rovings generally parallel to each other.

Abstract: Strands of chemically treated glass fibers of the present invention result in fiber reinforced polar thermosetting and thermoplastic polymers having good strength properties. The chemically treated glass fibers are treated with the an aqueous chemical treating composition having an epoxy polyurethane copolymer or a polyepoxide resin with blocked polyisocyanate functionality, and at least one or more organo coupling agents. The epoxy polyurethane copolymer or epoxy with polyisocyanate functionality can be chain extended with organic polyols. The blocked polyisocyanates can be either partially or fully blocked. Also the aqueous chemical treating composition can have one or more cationic and/or nonionic fiber lubricants, epoxy polyvinyl acetate copolymer in conjunction with an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or an epoxy polymer and mixtures of the fiber lubricant with the polymeric materials.

Abstract: Glass fiber strands are produced which have a reduced tendency for strand to strand adhesion and good dispersibility or wettability in uncured polymeric materials for the production of glass fiber reinforced plastics. The glass fibers have a dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition. The aqueous chemical treating composition has a film forming polymeric system, gamma methacryloxy alkyltrialkoxy silane and a glass fiber lubricant in an effective lubricating amount. The film forming polymeric system has an epoxy-containing polymer or copolymer, a non-tacky film forming polymer, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone of which are aqueous soluble, dispersible or emulsifiable.

Abstract: An aqueous sizing composition, method of preparing same and sized glass fibers are provided that enables the production of sized glass fibers having improved filamentization. Improvements of the present invention emanate from the use of an interaction product of an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer and an amino organo silane coupling agent in an aqueous sizing composition that also contains a predominant amount of a cross-linkable film former. The aqueous sizing composition has one or more cross-linkable film formers, one or more organo silane coupling agents and about 2 to about 12 weight percent of an interaction product of an unhydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed amino organo silane coupling agent and an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer. The epoxy copolymer has about 2 to about 12 parts of monomer with epoxy functionality per 100 parts of copolymer. Also the epoxy copolymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from -10.degree. C. to about 70.degree. C.

Abstract: Treated glass fiber strands with improved processing characteristics such as payout and reduced fuzz and fly in forms such as continuous glass fiber strands, chopped glass fiber strands or mats of continuous glass fiber strands, chopped glass fiber strands or mixtures thereof are useful in reinforcing thermoplastic polymers. The treated glass fiber strands have on the glass fibers comprising the glass fiber strand an aqueous treating composition or a dried residue thereof. The aqueous treating composition has a vinyl-containing coupling agent in an amount of at least 0.05 weight percent of the aqueous composition, an epoxidized thermoplastic polymer or copolymer having about 1 to about 12 parts of epoxy to about 100 parts of the copolymer, an organo-reactable silane coupling agent in an unhydrolyzed and/or partially hydrolyzed condition or an interaction product of the epoxidized polymer or copolymer and organo-reactable silane coupling agent, and a glass fiber lubricant.

Abstract: An aqueous sizing composition, method of preparing same and sized glass fibers are provided that enables the production of sized glass fibers having improved filamentization. When these sized glass fibers are used for reinforcing polymeric materials the polymeric materials have good filamentization resulting in reinforced polymeric materials having good mechanical properties such as tensile strength and compaction without detrimentally affecting fuzz, fly or static properties of the strands. The sizing composition and method of producing same and sized glass fiber strand and reinforced polymeric materials and other improvements of the present invention eminate from the use of an interaction product of an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer and an amino organo silane coupling agent in an aqueous sizing composition that also contains a predominant amount of a cross-linkable film former.

Abstract: Sized glass fibers are provided that enables the production of sized glass fibers having improved filamentization. When these sized glass fibers are used for reinforcing polymeric materials the reinforced polymeric materials having good mechanical properties such as tensile strength and compaction without fuzz, fly or static properties of the strands. The reinforced polymeric materials and other improvements of the present invention eminate from the use of an interaction product of an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer and an amino organo silane coupling agent in an aqueous sizing composition that also contains a predominant amount of a cross-linkable film former. The aqueous sizing composition has one or more cross-linkable film formers, one or more organo silane coupling agents and about 2 to about 12 weight percent of an interaction product of an unhydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed amino organo silane coupling agent and an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a more stable emulsion of a polyester resin having carboxyl functionality and an amino-functional silane coupling agent that is incorporated into a sizing composition for treating glass fibers. The method involves reacting the polyester resin having carboxyl functionality with the amino-functional silane at ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure then diluting the reaction product of the polyester resin and silane to obtain a more stable emulsion. The emulsion is then incorporated into a sizing composition by the addition of typical sizing additives to produce a more stable sizing composition.

Abstract: A sizing composition and method of preparing sized glass fiber strand is provided to produce sized glass fiber strand that has reduced tackiness. The sizing composition has a low molecular weight liquid polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer or hydroxy or carboxy derivatives of said copolymers, epoxy resins, polyester resins, or polyurethane resins that are free radically curable; and a free radical precurser selected from the group consisting of peroxides, hydroperoxides in an amount in the range of about 0.2 to 5 parts per hundred parts of liquid polymer in said sizing composition; or the said liquid polymer that can be treated with radiation to produce an equivalent amount of free radicals.

Abstract: A sizing composition for use in a process of producing sized glass fiber strands that can be used in reinforcing polymers is provided. Also provided are the sized glass fiber strands, glass fiber reinforced polymers and processes for producing these materials. The sizing composition comprises one or more organo silane coupling agents, a major amount of the solids of the aqueous sizing composition is an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer where there are three to about twelve parts of epoxy per 100 parts of the other comonomer and one or more nonionic, cationic or anionic lubricants. The sizing composition can also have one or more compatibilizing agents such as a polyvinyl-acetate-ethylene copolymer unsaturated polyester resins, polyvinylacetate homopolymer, epoxy polymers and epoxy polyester copolymers. The comonomers for the epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer are vinyl acetate, acrylates, polyurethane condensate monomer, polyester condensate monomer, and polyamide condensate monomer.

Abstract: An aqueous sizing composition, method of preparing same and sized glass fibers are provided that enables the production of sized glass fibers having improved filamentization. The aqueous sizing composition has one or more cross-linkable film formers, one or more organo silane coupling agents and about 2 to about 12 weight percent of an interaction product of an unhydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed amino organo silane coupling agent and an epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer. The epoxy copolymer has about 2 to about 12 parts of monomer with epoxy functionality per 100 parts of copolymer. Also the epoxy copolymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from -10.degree. C. to about 70.degree. C. The unhydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed amino silane coupling agent is contacted with the epoxidized copolymer, where the copolymer has a percent solids in the range of about 15 to about 60 weight percent.

Abstract: An aqueous sizing composition, glass fiber strands having the dried residue of the aqueous sizing composition and processes for producing these articles are provided that enable the production of glass fiber reinforced polymeric materials having improved properties. In addition, improvements are obtained in the processability of using glass fiber roving in the production of sheet molding compound, bulk molding compound and thick molding compound. The sizing composition, sized glass fiber strands, processes, reinforced polymeric materials and improvements of this invention emanate from the use of epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymers in aqueous sizing compositions that are substantially insoluble in the matrix polymer. The aqueous sizing composition has one or more cross-linkable film formers, one or more organosilane coupling agents and about 3 to about 12 weight percent of the aqueous sizing composition of the epoxidized polar thermoplastic copolymer.