Abstract: A system for melting and delivering glass to a work area such as spinners for making fiberglass includes a melter with heaters so arranged that the “hot spot” in the molten glass is located away from the walls and corrosion sensitive parts so that the various elements of the melter wear out at substantially the same time. The system is further provided with a dual exhaust arrangement when the melter, conditioner and forehearth are located on the same floor of the plant, the first exhaust being at the juncture of the melter and conditioner, and the second being an alternating replacement for one of the heating/cooling orifices and mechanisms in the conditioner, so as to effectively limit the amount of corrosive volatiles reaching the forehearth.

Abstract: The device for melting glass includes a compartment 1 for melting with a discharge throat 11 defined on top by a mobile carrier 16 having an upper part 18 extending upward above the level of glass and a lower part 17 intended to be totally immersed in the molten glass. Faces of the lower part are formed of a metal or an alloy of metals resistant to corrosion by the molten glass.

Abstract: A fiberglass product usable as an end product or an intermediate product is formed as a pack in a forming station but only 1/7th of the conventional quantity of binder is applied. After curing to a self-sustaining form, additional binder is added at a location remote from the forming station in an amount in excess of the amount required in the final product and then the excess binder and moisture is removed by one or more vacuum stripping steps.

Abstract: Short and long wavelength absorption losses contribute to loss at the operating wavelength of an optical fiber drawn from a preform. Excess losses over and above Rayleigh scattering losses have been attributed to conditions such as temperature and the speed during drawing. Typically, after optical fiber (21) is drawn from an optical preform in a furnace (23) wherein temperatures may be 2200.degree. C. or higher, the fiber is moved out of the furnace and immediately through ambient environment to other portions of a draw line such as, for example, measuring and coating apparatus. It has been found that these absorption losses may be reduced substantially by application of a magnetic field to the optical fiber after it has been drawn and prior to it being coated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a glass optical fiber drawn from a glass preform, prior to applying a protective coating to the fiber, wherein the fiber is transported through a cooling zone containing coolant consisting of a solid or liquid dispersion of a condensible gas, the gas being a chemical element or compound having a vapor pressure of at least 1 atmosphere at 25.degree. C. such that rapid coolant vaporization at ambient temperatures is insured, are provided.

Abstract: A glass fiber strand impregnated with a liquid crystal polymer and an aqueous slurry composition useful for producing the liquid crystal polymer impregnated glass fiber strand are disclosed. The aqueous slurry composition includes a liquid crystal polymer resin powder and a thickener material. The slurry composition is applied to the glass fiber surfaces during the fiber forming process. Coupling agents, surfactants or lubricants material may optionally be added to the slurry composition. One embodiment of the slurry composition includes a polyethylene oxide binder material and a melt spinnable liquid crystal polyester which is optically anisotropic in the melt phase.

Abstract: The presence of (typically unintended) birefringence in single mode optical fiber can severely limit the usefulness of the fiber for, e.g., high bit rate or analog optical fiber communication systems, due to the resulting polarization mode dispersion (PMD). It has now been discovered that PMD can be substantially reduced if, during drawing of the fiber, a torque is applied to the fiber such that a "spin" is impressed on the fiber. Desirably the torque is applied such that the spin impressed on the fiber does not have constant spatial frequency, e.g., has alternately clockwise and counterclockwise helicity. At least a portion of optical fiber according to the invention has a spin whose spatial frequency exceeds 4 spins/meter.

Abstract: A curing apparatus which is supported from a base plate (68) includes a housing which includes guide members for holding a magnetron and one portion of an elliptical chamber in which is disposed a longitudinally extending bulb. Outside the housing are triangular shaped gusset plates which are adapted to mate with a pivotally moveable portion (95) in which is disposed a mating portion of the elliptical chamber and a center tube through which the drawn optical fiber extends. An exhaust system is supported from the gusset plates. Advantageously, the pivotally moveable portion may be opened pivotally to expose the center tube and facilitate removal of the center tube and its replacement. Also advantageously, the entire curing apparatus may be aligned with the fiber by moving the base plate until the drawn fiber is centered within the center tube. In yet another advantage, the present invention incorporates a plurality of slidable plates to provide easy access to the magnetrons.

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: Apparatus for heating a silica optical fiber in a fiber-drawing installation. The apparatus is disposed at the outlet of a fiber-drawing oven to raise the optical fiber to a temperature greater than 1000.degree. C. The apparatus is constituted by a microwave generator coupled to a resonant cavity formed by a helically-wound metal wire helix fixed at opposite ends to two short circuit metal plates respectively, with the optical fiber running substantially along the axis of the helix and the helix concentric about the running fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber (24), destined to receive a hermetic coating (32), is moved through a hermetic coating apparatus (30) wherein the fiber, entering the hermetic coating apparatus as a predetermined temperature, is caused to be engaged by a reactive gas. The reactive gas, reacting with the heated fiber, is effective to cause a layer of a hermetic material to be deposited adjacent to the outer surface of the fiber. A cross-flow purge gas is effective to prevent a resultant accumulation of a soot comprising reactive components of the reactive gas adjacent to portions of the hermetic coating apparatus which become heated by the fiber. Failure to prevent the accumulation of the soot may lead to fiber abrasions and reduced fiber strength.

Abstract: In the manufacture of coated optical fiber, fiber (21) is drawn from a preform (22) and is coated with one or preferably two layers (42,44) of light curable coating materials. Afterwards, the coating materials are cured. Increases in manufacturing line speed may be achieved if the cure speed of the coating materials is increased. This is accomplished by the simultaneous application of a magnetic field during irradiation of the curable coating materials to enhance the crosslinking of the coating materials by a free radical polymerization mechanism. Upon absorption of light, a photoinitiator in each composition cleaves to produce two free radical fragments in the spin paired or singlet state. The magnetic field has the effect of enhancing the production of spin parallel radicals which enhances the polymerization initiation of the coating material, thereby allowing an increase in the manufacturing line speed through drawing and coating apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiberglass composite which possesses outstanding armor properties. This ballistic resistant composite material employs high strength magnesia aluminosilicate glass fibers and phenol formaldehyde condensation product as the matrix resin. The composite is produced from sheet molding compound using little or no solvent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing hard clad optical fibers with improved ultraviolet transmission which includes drawing an optical fiber core while simultaneously coating the core with a photoinitiator-free, active energy ray curable composition and then introducing the coated core to a high energy ionizing radiation ray source so as to minimize exposure of the core to the ionizing radiation. The energy is less than 800 keV and preferably less than 200 keV. In one preferred embodiment, the energy is aimed at the coated core so as to pass therethrough at an angle of 45.degree. or less. The resulting product from the process is also included in the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aqueous polyisocyanate dispersion which has an isocyanate content of at least 0.5% by weight, based on the weight of the polyisocyanate, and is prepared bya) dispersing in water a polyisocyanate which has an isocyanate content of at least 12% by weight andb) reacting the dispersed polyisocyanate withi) a primary or secondary monoamine containing at least one hydroxyl group in an amount sufficient to provide an equivalent ratio of amino groups to isocyanate groups of 0.1:1.0 to 0.7:1.0 andii) a polyamine having primary and/or secondary amino groups and a molecular weight of 400 or less in an amount sufficient to provide an equivalent ratio of amino groups to isocyanate groups of 0.1:1.0 to 0.4:1.0,wherein component i) is mixed with the dispersed polyisocyanate either before or during the mixing of component ii) and provided that the equivalent ratio of amino groups from both components i) and ii) does not exceed 0.95:1.0.

Abstract: A method of sizing insulating glass fibers, comprising: preparing glass fibers by a high temperature aerodynamic procedure in which glass fibers are drawn out by a gas current and collected in a hood; spraying a size diluted in water onto said glass fibers in said collection hood, said size consisting essentially of an epoxy resin, an amino hardening agent and, as additives, 0.1 to 2.0% of a silane and 0 to 15% of a mineral oil, each calculated on 100 parts of dry resin, wherein said epoxy resin is a condensation product of epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A having a polymerization index n of less than 1 and the equivalent molar mass of the hardening agent is less than 100 g and said size is free of formaldehyde and components which release formaldehyde when baked; and recovering a sized insulating glass fiber product.

Abstract: A drawn optical fiber (21) is provided with inner and outer layers (42,44) of coating material to protect the optical fiber during handling and use. The coating materials are such that they are characterized by being curable upon exposure to different portions of the light spectrum. In a preferred embodiment, the coating material of the inner layer includes a photoinitiator which absorbs light in the visible portion of the light spectrum whereas the outer coating material of the outer layer includes a photoinitiator which absorbs light in the ultraviolet light portion of the light spectrum.

Abstract: An optical fiber (24), destined to receive a hermetic coating (32), is moved through a hermetic coating apparatus (30) wherein the fiber, entering the hermetic coating apparatus at a predetermined temperature, is caused to be engaged by a reactive gas. The reactive gas, reacting with the heated fiber, is effective to cause a layer of a hermetic material to be deposited adjacent to the outer surface of the fiber. A cross-flow purge gas is effective to prevent a resultant accumulation of a soot comprising reactive components of the reactive gas adjacent to portions of the hermetic coating apparatus which become heated by the fiber. Failure to prevent the accumulation of the soot may lead to fiber abrasions and reduced fiber strength.

Abstract: An optical fiber resin coating device having a nipple and a die which each have gradually tapering holes through which the optical fiber is drawn. The die and the nipple have adjacent parallel flat surfaces which are spaced to created a gap through which resin is supplied by pressuring to be applied to the optical fiber. The gap between the die and the nipple and the tapered holes within the die and the nipple are all designed to produce a resin coating which is even and contains no air bubbles, especially at high optical fiber drawing rates.

Abstract: A composite substrate is fabricated by applying to a glass fiber substrate a liquid sol-gel composition and then sintering the sol-gel to convert it to the glass phase. A polymeric coating is then applied.

Abstract: The binder composition of this invention contains a beta-hydroxy urethane functional material and a polycarboxylic acid. Coated glass fibers are prepared by contacting said fibers with the binder composition of the invention and thereafter curing the composition. This invention is also an improved method of treating glass fibers by contacting them with the improved binder composition of the invention.

Abstract: Extruded thermoplastic members, particularly structural members, are reinforced by longitudinally extending pre-stressed elements, such as filaments or matting. The elements, while under tension, are drawn into an extrusion crosshead die forming the thermoplasatic member. The elements are fully imbedded within the thermoplastic material while under tension and curing of the thermoplastic material, and final curing of the tensioned reinforcing elements, if a thermosetting resin impregnated element is used, occurs while the elements are under tension, the material of the member and the elements intimately bond and the tension forces within the elements reinforce the member at the desired locations. The forming of the reinforced member is a continuous operation.

Abstract: In a method for the production of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin molding material by a procedure of leading a mixture of a liquid thermosetting resin composition with reinforcing fibers to an impregnation apparatus and deaerating the mixture and impregnating the reinforcing fibers with the resin composition, apparatus including at least one pair of vertically opposed endless belts adapted to be driven in the directions of taking in and nipping the mixture and at least one pair of vertically opposed rollers adapted to depress the mixture across the endless belts, at least one of the opposed rollers being a flexible roller possessing elasticity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a molding material composed of a liquid thermosetting resin composition containing styrene monomer as a cross-linking component thereof and chopped glass fiber strands which can give a large molded product having high impact strength in high productivity and a method for manufacture thereof characterized by using glass fiber strands such that the number of glass filaments used in the glass fiber strands falls in the range of 600 to 1,400 per strand, the amount of a binder deposited on the glass fibers is not less than 1.0% by weight, and the percentage of styrene monomer insoluble binder falls in the range of 40 to 90% by weight.

Abstract: The subject matter of this invention relates to a method and apparpatus for making mats of continuous glass fiber strands in which a heated calendering roll and continuous belt are used to compact the mat, expel excess noisture, melt, and/or cure resin previously distributed throughout the glass strand. The resin may be deposited in the mat in the form of a powdered resin or as continuous thread of material that is combined with the remaining strands that form the mat as the glass strands are projected onto the surface of a moving conveyor to form the mat.

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: An aqueous size composition for glass fibers is disclosed which includes a coupling agent, a binder or film former material and a thermoplastic polymer resin powder, wherein said composition is applied to the glass fiber surfaces during the fiber forming process. A rheology modifier material may be added to the size composition. One embodiment of the composition includes an organosilane coupling agent, a polyethylene oxide binder material and a polyamide thermoplastic polymer resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing carbon-coated optical fiber including the steps of thermally decomposing a halogenated hydrocarbon compound to obtain a thermal decomposate of the halogenated hydrocarbon, and depositing the thermal decomposate on a surface of an uncoated optical fiber to form at least one carbon coating layer on the surface of the fiber. The halogenated hydrocarbon compounds include CClF.sub.3 , CCl.sub.2 F.sub.2 , CCl.sub.3 F, C.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 F and C.sub.2 ClF.sub.5. The deposition is performed at a temperature which is slightly below the thermal decomposition temperature. The method includes an optional step of coating at least one resin layer over a surface of the carbon coating layer.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an optical fiber includes the steps of heating and drawing material from a hot optical fiber preform; depositing a conductive coating (especially carbon) on the moving optical fiber; putting a heat curable liquid material on the moving optical fiber; and curing the heat curable liquid material by inductively heating the conductive coating on the moving optical fiber in an electromagnetic field. Heat induced into the conductive coating by energy from the field is conducted from the conductive coating to the heat curable material. The optical fiber continuously moves through the steps of the process without any physical contact.

Abstract: A thermoplastic impregnated fiberglass pipe or tube and the process for making such pipe are disclosed. The pipe or tube is made of thermoplastic impregnated fibrous roving which consists of a plurality of glass filaments, at least a portion of the filaments' surfaces being in contact with the residue produced by evaporating water from an aqueous size composition consisting of an organosilane coupling agent, a polyethylene oxide binder material, and a polypropylene thermoplastic polymer resin, wherein the composition is applied to the glass fiber during the fiber forming process. The pipe forming process includes filament winding the rovings around a spindle and thereafter heating the wound rovings to fuse the thermoplastic polymer resin.

Abstract: A camera mirror-drum with good precision and strength comprising a molded part in which glass fibers with an aspect ratio of 3-7 are dispersed in a resin at the overall proportion of 35-40% by weight, and a method and an apparatus for the manufacture of the mirror-drum.

Abstract: In the manufacture of coated optical fiber, fiber (21) is drawn from a preform (22) and coated with one or preferably two layers (42,44) of light curable coating materials. Afterwards, the coating materials are cured. Increases in manufacturing line speed may be achieved if the cure speed of the coating materials is increased. This is accomplished by the simultaneous application of a magnetic field during irradiation of the curable coating materials to enhance the crosslinking of the coating materials by a free radical polymerization mechanism. Upon absorption of light, a photoinitiator in each composition cleaves to produce two free radical fragments in the spin paired or singlet state. The magnetic field has the effect of enhancing the production of spin parallel radicals which enhances the polymerization initiation of the coating material, thereby allowing an increase in the manufacturing line speed through drawing and coating apparatus.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing mineral wool products according to which the mineral wool is collected to form a mattress on a conveyor belt, carried to a conforming and binder polymerizing chamber consisting of two complementary calibrating and transport conveyors consisting of a plurality of articulated perforated elements of pallet type. The speeds of the two conveyors are different, the difference in speed corresponding along the entire length of the chamber to a staggering of a length equivalent to at least the width of one pallet so that one of the faces of the mattress is smoothed during conformation of the mineral wool product.

Abstract: Two optical fibers are spliced together to form a single spliced optical fiber. The spliced region is uncontaminated by impurities, and has substantially no loss of optical transmission or mechanical strength as compared to the other regions of the fibers. Splicing is accomplished by removal of the buffer coating, if any, cleaving of the fibers to be spliced to form facing splicing surfaces, careful precleaning of the cleaved fibers in the region adjacent the splicing surfaces, aligning the fibers using optical transmission as the alignment criterion, fusing the fibers together by preheating the region to be spliced, fusing the region, postannealing the spliced region, carefully postcleaning the spliced region, and recoating the spliced region with a UV curable polymer buffer material, if desired. The heating of the fibers to accomplish the fusion is desirably accomplished by a laser such as a carbon dioxide laser.

Abstract: A process for producing coated, single twist glass yarns which comprises drawing a plurality of fibers formed from fibers of molten glass, applying to the fibers a sizing comprising a thermoplastic, thermosetting or photosetting composition, gathering the coated fibers into a yarn, imparting a continuous rotative twisting movement to the coated yarn and curing the coated yarn so as to polymerize and/or crosslink the sizing coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to working molten glass in tank furnaces for continuous production. According to the process of the invention, the vitrifiable material being brought first to the molten bath state in a zone upstream from the tank, and said bath then having access to the successive downstream zones allocated to the other phases of the process of working the glass through at least one tank portion comprising a section reduction of the type usually called a neck, there is generated at the upper level of the opening available to the glass by said neck a glass current directed from downstream to upstream of said neck. The invention proves to be especially advantageous for electric melting furnaces with large production capacity.

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: A process for producing coated, single twist glass yarns which comprises drawing a plurality of fibers formed from fibers of molten glass, applying to the fibers a sizing comprising a thermoplastic, thermosetting or photosetting composition, gathering the coated fibers into a yarn, imparting a continuous rotative twisting movement to the coated yarn and curing the coated yarn so as to polymerize and/or crosslink the sizing coating. An apparatus for performing this process comprises a spinneret having a plurality of nozzles or orifices from which fibers of molten glass are discharged; means for drawing a plurality of glass fibers from the spinneret; at least one coating applicator for applying the sizing coating to the glass fibers; guide means for gathering the coated fibers into a yarn; means for imparting a single twist to the coated yarn, such as a strap spindle device and means for curing the sizing coating wherein the coating is crosslinked and/or polymerized.

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 rotary fiberization method and apparatus. Gas and/or liquid may be introduced into the void area produced by a rotary fiberization process. The gas and/or liquid may be used to alter the configuration of the fiber column and to apply desired materials to the fibers.

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: Apparatus for producing mineral fibres from silicate raw materials such as basalt by blast drawing.When blast drawing is used to produce mineral fibres from basalt, there is arranged between the entry zone (26) of the chute (16) and the exit zone of the nozzle slot (10) of the blast nozzle unit (8), this slot forming the fiberization duct, a guide cell (13). The relative position of the side walls (29) of the guide cell is freely adjustable, so that desired flow conditions can be set and also the exit direction of the exit flow bundle (31) and hence the web formation can be controlled. As a consequence of a lateral distance (a) of the exit orifice (28) of the guide cell (13) relative to the entry flow bundle (27) additional secondary air is sucked in, which has a further cooling effect on the fibres.

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: Fiber mats formed by attenuating molten streams of attenuable mineral material by subjecting the streams to the action of a hot attenuating gas blast. The gas blast induces gas from the surrounding atmosphere, and the combined blast and induced gas forming a fiber-carrying current. The current is directed toward a preforated fiber-collecting conveyor on which the fibers are deposited in the form of a mat and the gas of the current passes through the conveyor. Provision is made for withdrawing a peripheral portion of the fiber-carrying current at a point intermediate the zone of attenuation and the perforated fiber-collecting conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a plate glass which comprises(A) a melter for storing a molten glass material,(B) a molding portion for molding the molten glass material from the melter into a plate,(C) a temperature adjusting tank located between the melter and the molding portion for maintaining the molten glass material from the melter at a uniform temperature, said temperature adjusting tank having a glass material channel for introducing the molten glass material maintained at the uniform temperature into the molding portion in a position facing on the molding portion, and(D) a tweel for adjusting a flow rate of the glass material which is raisable and lowerable in the glass material channel and has a hole through which a surface layer stream of the molten glass material can be separated and passed in the glass material channel.

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: In the production of bonded mineral fibre wool, binder is injected in the chute (16) onto the fibres, as a result of which there is a tendency for the fibres to adhere to the walls of the chute (16) and to form encrustations due to binder becoming cured in the course of time. To avoid such encrustations, which can cause production shortfalls, the circumferential walls (18, 20) of the chute are constructed as jacketed walls and are cooled by passing cooling liquid in the hollow space (30) between the inner and outer surface portions (28, 29). It has been found, surprisingly, that as a result no solid encrustations can form even over prolonged periods, since temporarily adhering fibres cannot in fact become adhesively bonded due to insufficient curing of the binder at the low temperatures, but are continuously removed from the wall again.