Abstract: A process and an apparatus for refining molten glass by introducing, a stream of unrefined molten glass into a controlled environment distributing the stream of molten glass over a flow surface, and collecting the stream of molten glass from a downstream end of the flow surface to form a body of molten glass having a free surface exposed to the controlled environment. The controlled environment, may have a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure, such that introducing the stream of molten glass into the controlled environment causes gaseous inclusions in the stream of molten glass to rise to a surface thereof and escape.

Abstract: A coating fluid for forming an oxide coating, having a good thermal stability and superior coating-forming properties is provided, which fluid comprises a reaction product obtained by subjecting (A) an alkoxysilane or aryloxysilane expressed by the formula RmSi(OR).sub.4-m wherein R is 1-4C alkyl or aryl and m is 0 to 2 and (B) a metal alkoxide or aryloxide compound expressed by the formula M(OR').sub.n wherein M is Mg, B, P, Zr, Y, Ti or Ba, R' is 1-4C alkyl or aryl and n is a valence of the metal atom to hydrolysis and condensation using a catalyst in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: Chemically treated fibers of glass, carbon or polyamide have a treatment incorporating a copolymer or terpolymer with (vinylpyrrolidone-acrylate or acrylic moieties. In addition the treatment can have at least one film forming polymer, at least one organic/inorganic coupling agent, at least one fiber lubricant and water all in effective amounts to perform their stated functions. In one aspect of the invention the fibers are glass fibers which have a chemical treatment which is a dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition comprising at least one epoxy polymer, emulsion or dispersion in a predominant amount on a nonaqueous basis of the dried components amount of the aqueous chemical treating composition, at least one amino organofunctional silane coupling agent in an effective coupling agent amount, at least one cationic fiber lubricant in an effective lubricating amount and water. In this aspect the ratio of the epoxy to copolymer should be less than around 60 to 1.

Abstract: An aqueous chemical treating composition for glass fibers results in improved processing of the treated fibers in a bulking operation. The size has a starch-oil size with an imine-containing alkyl alkoxy silane. More particular, the size has one starch, one nonionic oil-type lubricant, one wax, one emulsifier for the oil, a nonionic wetting agent and a cationic lubricant and glycerine and the imine-containing silane and water where the silane is present in an amount of 0.1 to 10 weight percent of the solids.

Abstract: An optical fiber package (20) is provided by winding a plurality of convolutions in a plurality of layers on a bobbin. To each layer is applied an adhesive material (45) which in a preferred embodiment is a mixture comprising a reactive silicone copolymer resin, a solvent system which includes an aromatic constituent, a catalyst and a wetting agent. The mixture has a modulus behavior which is relatively stable with respect to time throughout a relatively wide operating temperature. Inasmuch as the solvent system and the method of application of the mixture are effective to control the rate of precipitation and the rate of cure of the silicone constituent, the surface roughness of the convolutions is controlled. After the desired number of convolutions have been wound, the package is subjected to a heat treatment which relieves stresses in the wound fiber and which completes the cure of the adhesive material.

Abstract: A method for impregnating a strand of filaments during the strand manufacture with thermoplastic or thermoset polymer powder particles is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a strand of filaments, keeping the filaments separate, impregnating the filaments with an aqueous slurry containing the powder particles, and drying the filaments to remove the water and produce a strand impregnated with powder particles. The powder particles are present on the strand in an amount of between about 5 to 50 weight percent based on the weight of the impregnated strand. Glass fibers coated with the slurry according to the process of this invention are suitable for impregnation with thermoplastic powders.

Abstract: A process for the production of a glass or other mineral fibre composition in which glass or other mineral fibre is melted, the molten glass or mineral is forced through a plurality of openings to produce fibres, the hot fibres are sprayed with a water disperion of a binder and the fibres are dried at an elevated temperature, the binder comprising a gelatinized starch sulphamate product and a hydrophobic agent such as a silicone. The gelatinized starch sulphamate may be preformed by reacting a starch with a sulphamate salt or may be formed in situ by spraying onto the hot fibres a water dispersion of pregelatinized starch and a sulphamate salt. In this latter case part of the pregelatinized starch may be replaced by native starch.

Abstract: A method of preventing the interaction of cationic softeners coated upon the surfaces of glass fibers with anionic polymers contained in aqueous baths used in forming the glass fibers into mats which comprises treating the fiber with at least 3 parts per million, of a water-soluble anionic vinyl polymer having a molecular weight range of from 500-50,000.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the rapid on-line coating of optical fibers with two-package polymer coating systems utilizing conventional liquid fiber coaters is described. The A and B parts of the two-package coating system are continuously combined and mixed together to form a polymerizable coating liquid as the fiber is drawn. This polymerizable coating liquid is continuously delivered to the liquid coater at a rate corresponding to the rate at which it is applied to the fiber, suitable control of the delivery rate being achieved via the use of a feedback signal to the coating liquid delivery system from, e.g., the fiber coater.

Abstract: High-strength magnesium aluminosilicate glass fibers coated with the dried residue of a dilute aqueous sizing composition containing emulsified epoxy resin or emulsified epoxy resin solution, both 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and at least one lubricant, are compatible as reinforcing elements with unsaturated polyester, vinylester and epoxy resin matrixes.

Abstract: A silicone-based composite coating system for a glass optical fiber, the system comprising a silicone polymer undercoating component and a silicone-polyimide block copolymer overcoating component, is provided. The coating system can be applied entirely on-line, improves the handling characteristics of the fibers over conventional silicone-coated fibers, offers an excellent combination of optical and elastic properties, and does not compromise the high-temperature operating characteristics of silicone-based coating systems.

Abstract: A continuous, monofilamentous, alkali-resistant glass fiber especially useful in cementitious products is conveniently prepared from a glass-forming composition comprising a magnesium silicate such as talc and a calcium carbonate such as limestone. Either the fiber itself or a strand comprising a plurality of the fiber is advantageously coated with an alkali-resistant polymer such as butadiene-styrene to provide additional alkali resistance.

Abstract: Chemically treated glass fiber reinforcement for thermosetting polymers having a moisture reduced residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition consisting essentially of a vinyl acetate-organosilane copolymer, a vinyl silane coupling agent, an amino-organo silane coupling agent, at least one cationic lubricant, polyoxyethylene, an antistatic agent, an aqueous dispersible or emulsifiable wax with a surfactant and water.

Abstract: More flexible bundles of high modulus, low elongation fibers are produced by the impregnated bundles and process of the present invention. The flexible bundle of fibers comprise a plurality of fibers having a first treatment of a moisture-reduced residue of an aqueous chemical composition and a second treatment of a moisture-reduced, partially cured impregnant of an aqueous chemical coating composition. The individual fibers in the impregnated bundle were first treated with an aqueous sizing composition having at least a fiber protectorant and optionally an antistatic agent and/or coupling agent. The impregnating composition has one or more water soluble, dispersible or emulsifiable elastomeric polymers that are essentially free of hydrocarbon diene and chlorine functionalities, and one or more crosslinking materials that are water soluble, emulsifiable or dispersible, and water.

Abstract: More flexible bundles of high modulus, low elongation fibers are provided by the impregnated bundles of the present invention. The flexible bundle of fibers comprise a plurality of fibers having a first treatment of a moisture-reduced residue of an aqueous chemical composition and a second treatment of a moisture-reduced, partially-cured impregnant of an aqueous chemical coating composition. The individual fibers in the impregnated bundle were first treated with an aqueous sizing composition having at least a fiber protectorant and optionally an antistatic agent and/or coupling agent. The impregnating composition has one or more elastomeric curable polyurethanes that are water soluble, emulsifiable or dispersible and one or more crosslinking materials that are water soluble, emulsifiable or dispersible and water. Optionally, there may be present one or more emulsifiable or dispersible lubricants, plasticizers, polymeric materials, and flame retardants.

Abstract: Chemically treated glass fibers having good processability are useful in producing fiber reinforced polymeric matrices, wherein the glass fibers have good wettability and are not detrimental to the weatherability of the fiber reinforced polymeric matrices. The chemically treated fibers have the dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition having at least a bisphenol A polyester film forming polymer compatible with and soluble in the matrix polymer, acryloxy-containing or methacryloxy-containing organo coupling agent in an effective coupling agent amount, cationic fiberous lubricant in an effective lubricating amount, with an antistatic agent that is a cationic organic quaternary ammonium salt having alkoxy moieties, and water in an amount to give a total solids for the aqueous chemical treating composition in the range of about 1 to about 30 weight percent. The aqueous chemical treating composition is essentially free of inorganic antistatic agents.

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: Glass fibers are prepared with a chemical treatment resulting in chemically treated glass fibers having utility in reinforcing thermoplastic polymers such as polyolefins. The chemically treated glass fibers have a dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition having one or more amino organo coupling agents, an aqueous emulsion of an acid or anhydride modified polyolefin having one or more surfactants, wherein the polyolefin is neutralized with an organic or inorganic base with a basicity less than the basicity of the amino moiety of the coupling agent, a binder stabilizer, one or more film forming polymers, and water. The aqueous chemical treating composition is essentially free of cationic lubricants that are amidated fatty acids and polyvinyl acetate homopolymer.

Abstract: Treated glass fibers having adequate protection for gathering into strands and when chopped being more dispersible in aqueous media. The treated glass fibers have a coating of an aqueous treating composition, wherein the solids have a cationic surfactant having one or more primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine moieties and one or more water dispersible, poly(oxyethylene-oxyalkylene) copolymer having an oxide ratio of about 78 to about 22 to about 99 to about 1 and an average molecular weight of at least 15,000, and one or more polar functional coupling agents. Optionally, the solids may also have one or more starches that are insoluble or only incompletely soluble in cold water. Glass fibers treated with the aqueous treating compositions and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fiber strands having lengths of about 1/16 of an inch (1.58 mm) to about 3 inches (76.2 mm), have good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without addition of dispersing agents.

Abstract: Strands of starch-oil chemically treated glass fibers can have improved performance in high humidity environments. Such strands have a sole starch, film-former modifier which is a poly(oxypropylene) organic alcohol. Starch-oil sizings for treating glass fibers having polyethylene glycol are converted to improved starch-oil sizing compositions by substituting the poly(oxypropylene) organic alcohol for the polyethylene glycol. The strands of chemically treated glass fibers with improved high humidity performance are also made more lubricious by having a moisture-reduced residue of the starch-oil aqueous chemical treating composition with the poly(oxypropylene) organic alcohol. The more lubricious characteristic is effected by having present a starch mixture of a high amylose cationic starch and a highly crosslinked starch of approximately 50 percent amylose and wax in an amount less than the starch mixture but more than the oil and a cationic lubricant wetting agent and bacteriocide or fungicide.

Abstract: Coated capillary tubes useful for performing free electrophoretic separation techniques are prepared by reacting the interior wall of the tube with a bifunctional compound having a first functional group capable of covalently attaching to the wall and a second functional group capable of being polymerized. After such covalent attachment, free monomer is reacted with the second functional group, resulting in the formation of a monomolecular polymeric layer covalently attached to the interior wall of the capillary tube. This polymeric layer inhibits electroendosmosis and adsorption of the substances to be separated onto the interior of the tube, providing for improved separation.

Abstract: Coated fabrics produced with more flexible bundles of filaments -are possible with the flexible bundle of filaments of the present -invention. The flexible bundle of filaments comprise a plurality of -sized filaments having the moisture-reduced partially cured coating and -impregnant of an aqueous chemical coating composition. The composition -has a vinyl-containing interpolymer with one or more comonomers and a -self-crosslinking polymeric material and water. Optionally, there may be -present one or more aqueous emulsifiable or dispersible waxes, aqueous -dispersible or emulsifiable plasticizers and/or one or more aqueous -dispersible or emulsifiable diene-containing elastomers. The -diene-containing elastomer is always present when the comonomer of the -ethylene-containing interpolymer tends to decrease the noncrystallinity -of the interpolymer or increase the glass transition temperature of the -interpolymer.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel silicone-coated, quartz glass-made optical fiber which is very advantageous in the high efficiency of the coating process as well as in the improved workability in the connecting works of the fiber terminals for extension of the communication lines by virtue of the excellent peelability of the coating layer from the surface of the quartz glass fiber even by mere drawing the coated fiber between fingers. The coating layer is formed of a radiation- or UV-cured silicone composition comprising (A-a) an organopolysiloxane having aliphatic unsaturation, e.g. vinyl, and/or (A-b) an organopolysiloxane having mercaptoalkyl groups, e.g. 3-mercaptopropyl groups, and (B) a curing accelerator.

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: Treated glass fibers having adequate protection for gathering into strands and when chopped being more dispersible in aqueous media. The treated glass fibers have a coating of an aqueous treating composition having nonionic surfactant and a cationic quaternary ammonium salt surfactant and one or more organo polar functional coupling agents. In addition, the aqueous treating composition can also have one or more water dispersible, emulsifiable or soluble polyols. Glass fibers treated with the aqueous treating compositions and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fiber strands having a length of 1/16 of an inch to about 3 inches, and having good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without addition of dispersing agents. Nonwoven, sheet-like mat produced from aqueous dispersions having the chopped treated glass fibers, where an amount of water is removed usually by vacuum, suction or thermal means and where polymeric binders, commonly referred to as wet strength binders, are applied and the mat is cured.

Abstract: Chemically treated glass fibers in the form of continuous bundles of glass fibers and chopped bundles of glass fibers are provided that have good handleability and thermal aging characteristics in reinforcing thermoplastic polymers. The chemically treated glass fibers have a dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition. The aqueous chemical treating composition has two aqueous soluble, dispersible, or emulsifiable film forming polymers which can be either epoxy polymers and polyurethane polymers or epoxy polyurethane copolymers and polyurethane polymers and an amino alkyl functional silane coupling agent and at least a second silane coupling agent which can be a lubricant modified amine organo functional silane coupling agent, a polyamino organo functional silane coupling agent, an epoxy organo functional silane coupling agent or a vinyl organo functional silane coupling agent and a reaction product process aid.

Abstract: Optical communications fibers made by coating with an addition curable composition made from an alkenyl containing organopolysiloxane, a methylhydrogenpolysiloxane, a platinum-type catalyst, and an alkynyl compound provide reduced hydrogen gas generation on quartz fiber and has less transmission loss when the platinum-type catalyst is present in amounts greater than 20 ppm platinum-type metal, the SiH to aliphatically unsaturated is from 0.75/1.00 to 1.05/1.00, and the weight ratio of total alkynyl groups to platinum-type metal is 1.0/1.0 to 15.0/1.00.

Abstract: Treated glass fibers having adequate protection for gathering into strands and when chopped being more dispersible in aqueous media. The treated glass fibers having a coating of an aqueous treating composition, wherein the solids have a cationic surfactant having one or more primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine moieties and one or more water dispersible, poly(oxyethylene-oxyalkylene) copolymer having an oxide ratio of about 78 to about 22 to about 99 to about 1 and an average molecular weight of at least 15,000, and one or more polar functional coupling agents. Optionally, the solids may also have one or more starches that are insoluble or only incompletely soluble in cold water. Glass fibers treated with the aqueous treating compositions and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fiber strands having lengths of about 1/16 of an inch (1.58 mm) to about 3 inches (76.2 mm), have good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without addition of dispersing agents.

Abstract: A hot melt, non-aqueous glass size composition consists of an ethylene-ethylacrylate copolymer, a micro-crystalline wax, a phenolic-modified terpene resin and a silane.

Abstract: Preforms for drawing into glass fibers are relatively quickly produced by extruding filaments or tapes from polysiloxanes and/or heteropolysiloxanes and curing such filaments. A cylindrical wound body is produced from such cured filaments by winding such filaments onto an arbor. The wound body is converted, by heating in an oxidizing atmosphere, into an oxide body comprised of SiO.sub.2 and, under certain conditions, containing doping amounts of select heteroelements present in the heteropolysiloxane. After removal of the arbor, a gas stream containing chlorine gas is flushed at a temperature of about 1000.degree. to 12000.degree. C. through the oxide body to remove any traces of water and the dry oxide body is sintered into glass at a temperature of about 1200.degree. 1500.degree. C. The tubular preform thereby attained is collapsed and a glass fiber is drawn therefrom. This process is particularly suitable for the fabrication of gradient optical fibers.

Abstract: A glass size composition comprising a trimellitic anhydride anhydride-containing unsaturated polyester imparts to glass fibers superior reinforcing characteristics when used to reinforce sheet molding compounds.

Abstract: Glass fibers coated with a size composition comprising gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and an alkoxysilane are disclosed. When a glass fiber size composition of this invention is employed on glass fibers incorporated into plastics reinforced by the incorporation of the fibers, the resulting product exhibits improved strength properties.

Abstract: Optical fibers are coated with a radiation-curable liquid, polyethylenically unsaturated coating composition consisting essentially of an organic polysiloxane having from 2 to 6 reactive side chains each of which carry a functional group providing one reactive site which has been reached to provide a single radiation-curable monoethylenically unsaturated side chain. There are about one such side chain for every 500 to 5,000 units of molecular weight. This provides a prime coating which has a modulus of elasticity at room temperature and at -60.degree. C. below 3000.

Abstract: A method for producing an elongated optical fiber element is disclosed. The method envolves preparing two optical fiber elements by removing their outer coating layers to expose bare glass fiber portions. The glass fiber portions are melt-joint together. A material which is chemically compatible with the removed outered layer is then molded about the joined bare glass portions. A thermoplastic resin is then extruded continuously over the molded material in order to form a single elongated optical fiber element. The bonding method produces a structure which can withstand bending stress exerted on the coated optical fiber and prevent the concentration of any stress in the bonded area.

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: The invention relates to a new process for the shatterproof coating of glass surfaces by coating the surfaces with a coating composition based on a two-component system reacting fully to form a polyurethane, the glass surfaces to be coated being coated before application of the coating composition with a physically drying priming lacquer containing a silane adhesion promoter and a catalyst which accelerates hardening of the coating composition and, as binder, a polyurethane polyurea which has a linear molecular structure and which is soluble in lacquer solvents.

Abstract: An aqueous sizing composition having a cationic lubricant, amide compound, and cationic silicone polymer aqueous emulsion which is used to produce wet chopped sized glass fiber strands or which also has a film former to produce continuous glass fiber strands. The moisture content of the wet chopped glass fiber strands is controlled to within about 9 to about 20 weight percent. The sized wet chopped glass fiber strands have good flowability and when used to produce non-woven glass fiber strand mat, produces mat with good flexibility and tensile strength.

Abstract: An aqueous treating composition is provided for glass fibers to produce treated glass fiber strands for use in manufacturing cord of glass fibers for reinforcing elastomeric materials, wherein the glass fibers have a more continuous film of the residue of the aqueous treating composition, and improved wettability.The aqueous treating composition is a non-starch-containing treating composition having one or more water dispersible, high molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyols, one or more silane coupling agents and one or more cationic lubricants.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical fiber is described, wherein a fiber that has been drawn from a glass preform is coaed with a resin composition curable with heat, ultraviolet rays, or electron beams, and then cured, wherein before the drawn fiber contacts another solid object, the fiber is cooled by being passed through a cooling means filled with a non-reactive liquid material which is the same as said resin composition except that it is free from any compound that catalyzes curing of the resin, selected from among a curing agent, a cross-linking agent, curing catalyst, curing accelerator, sensitizing agent and a reactive diluent, and then the fiber is coated and with said resin composition and cured.

Abstract: Sizing compositions having polyurethane latex, cationic silane having unsaturation and polyamino silane are provided. The compositions are used to treat glass fibers to produce sized glass fibers having improved physical properties such as integrity. The sized glass fibers when used with molding compounds yields molded articles with improved physical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength and articles with impact strength.

Abstract: Glass fibers are treated with an aqueous treating composition having a lubricant and either a mixture of heat stable organic peroxide, vinyl-containing coupling agent and nonionic surfactant and optionally a film former such as polyvinylacetate or carboxylated compatible polymer film former like carboxylated polypropylene and an amino coupling agent. Other materials such as softeners, pigments and the like may be added to the aqueous treating composition. The treated glass fiber strands are used in the form of continuous glass strands or chopped strands or a mixture thereof to prepare glass fiber strand mat for use in reinforcing thermoplastic polymers. Thermoplastic polymers reinforced with mats made of the treated glass fiber strands of the present invention have improved stamping properties.

Abstract: In a process for preparing optical fibers, an optical fiber preform is heated and softened to be drawn at a high speed into an optical fiber. The optical fiber is passed through a plastic pipe of a thermoplastic resin. As the optical fiber is passed through the plastic pipe, the lower part of the plastic pipe is gradually inserted into a heating unit to be uniformly heated. The heated plastic pipe is softened and is coated over the optical fiber.

Abstract: Polytetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon resin dispersion-containing coatings for glass fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, the polytetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon resin dispersion-containing composition also comprises a lubricant and is suitable for use as a padding composition for glass fiber fabric. In another embodiment, the polytetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon resin dispersion-containing composition also comprises a film-forming polymer, a thixotropic gelling agent, a silane coupling agent and, optionally, a lubricant and is suitable for use as a size composition for glass fibers.

Abstract: A product obtained by mixing a vinyl-containing poly- diorganosiloxane, an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, a silica filler treated with dimethyldichlorosilane, optionally diphenylsilanediol, and a platinum catalyst is useful for treating glass fiber and is an electrical insulating material. The cured product has excellent electrical characteristics, flame retardancy, mechanical strength, and transparency.

Abstract: Sizing compositions having polyurethane latex, cationic silane having unsaturation and polyamino silane are provided. The compositions are used to treat glass fibers to produce sized glass fibers having improved physical properties such as integrity. The sized glass fibers when used with molding compounds yields molded articles with improved physical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength and articles with impact strength.

Abstract: Sizing compositions comprising a combination of several adhesive agents capable of being cross-linked, an acrylic polymer and a coupling agent, are used to treat glass fibers in order to provide improved plastic reinforcing fibers especially suited to use in sheet molding compounds whereby molded articles, particularly large pieces formed therefrom, will have improved reinforcement and surface characteristics.

Abstract: A soft polymeric clad glass fiber waveguide with an easy to handle, low-loss end termination is disclosed. Each end termination is formed with a pair of telescopically assembled plastic sleeves. The inner sleeve is heat bondable to the glass core and has a refractive index lower than the glass core. It replaces an end portion of the soft rubbery polymeric cladding. The outer sleeve is heat shrinkable and during the termination procedure functions to compress, center and confine the inner sleeve. After termination, it functions to stiffen the fiber end and strain relieve the junction between the soft polymeric cladding and the stiffer inner sleeve. A method for making such a waveguide termination is disclosed. Also disclosed is an environmentally sealed optical waveguide of related construction.

Abstract: A predetermined rate of flow of molten glass from a reservoir, for example a glass melting furnace, is maintained by flowing glass from the reservoir to an intermediate vessel in which the glass temperature is fixed in relation to the temperature of glass discharging from the reservoir, continuously developing a control signal representing any change in the quantity of glass in the intermediate vessel, and using that signal to adjust the flow from the reservoir.

Abstract: The proposed glass melting apparatus comprises a cooled cylindrical chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion connected by an intermediate member, the lower portion of the chamber having a greater diameter than the upper portion and housing a cooled hollow body, the bottom of said body facing upwards. Said body is arranged above the level of the molten glass and is intended to raise the hydrodynamic stability of the mass of molten glass.