Abstract: A vibration damping material which is a composite material comprising an organic polymer as matrix and a flake filler dispersed in the polymer matrix. The orientation of the filler flakes is controlled such that the major surfaces of the individual flakes are at an angle of 0.degree..+-.30.degree. with a predetermined plane. The vibration damping material is used to form a damping layer on a surface of the object of vibration damping. In the case of vibration damping of the extensional type using only the damping layer, the aforementioned plane is parallel to the major surfaces of the damping layer. In the case of providing a constraining layer on the damping layer the aforementioned plane is normal to the major surfaces of the damping layer. The flake filler is usually an inorganic material and may be coated with an organic polymer.

Abstract: In producing silica glass, which may contain additional metal(s) such as Ti or Zr, from a solution of a silicon alkoxide, mixed with alkoxide(s) of the additional metal(s) where necessary, in water and a hydrophilic organic solvent by shaping the solution into a desired form such as a coating film on a substrate, self-supporting film, fiber or lump when the solution exhibits a suitably high viscosity and sufficiently heating the shaped solution, a water-soluble organic polymeric substance is added to the solution as a viscosity adjusting agent to soon increase the viscosity of the solution to the desirable level. Therefore, shaping of the solution can be performed without awaiting the progress of hydrolysis of the alkoxide in the solution, and the glass can be obtained with improved uniformity of its properties. A cellulose ether is preferred as the viscosity adjusting agent, and hydroxypropyl cellulose is particularly preferable.

Abstract: Using a vessel which has a circular discharge port at the bottom and is provided with a nozzle in a coaxial arrangement with the port for ejecting a pressurized gas vertically downwards, a molten inorganic material such as a glass composition is allowed to vertically fall by gravitation as a hollow cylindrical stream. The fiberization of the molten material is accomplished by downwardly injecting a pressurized gas into the hollow of the cylindrical stream and, at the same time, blowing the pressurized gas at the cylindrical stream from a ring nozzle which is placed below the vessel and has downwardly and inwardly inclined orifices in a circumferential arrangement to surround the cylindrical stream.