Abstract: A method for assessing the cure status of a fibrous blanket manufactured with mineral fibers and binder is disclosed and comprises a first, qualitative assessment of cure followed by a second quantitative assessment that utilizes one of alternative procedures depending on the outcome of the first, qualitative assessment. For example, a first visual inspection may qualitatively reveal areas or undercure, upon which a second pH test of samples extracted from undercured areas may quantify the degree of undercure. Conversely, if the visual inspection reveals no undercured areas, a different sampling procedure examines different blanket areas for overcure status using a similar pH test.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved cooling of a veil of glass fibers by using a combination of nozzle assemblies. The nozzle assemblies include air caps of differing configurations to control the penetration of the spray into the veil. One suitable spray configuration is a nozzle assembly having punch air cap that creates a narrow exit angle, high velocity flow of droplets to penetrate the veil to cool the fibers at the interior. Another suitable configuration is a nozzle assembly having a flat air cap that creates a wide exit angle, low velocity, dispersed spray pattern to cool the exterior of the veil. Preferably, the flat air cap creates a very fine particle size to increase the cooling efficiency of the spray. By using the cooling ring of the present invention, lower levels of binder to be applied to the fibers and environmental emissions from the plant may be reduced.