The present invention concerns a glass fibre manufacturing plant comprising a forehearth (31) comprising a longitudinal wall provided with at least one burner assembly comprising: (A) a burner block (20) made of a refractory material and comprising a through-passage and comprising a hot surface (20H) forming a portion of the longitudinal wall (31 L); and (B) a burner sub-assembly comprising: (a) an oxy-burner (1) comprising a downstream end ending at a free end of the downstream end, wherein a cross-sectional area of said downstream end of the oxy-burner body decreases towards the free end of the downstream end; characterized in that, the burner sub-assembly further comprises: (b) a cooling unit (3) comprising: · a cooling plate (5) comprising an aperture which geometry matches the geometry of the downstream end of the oxy-burner which is inserted in said aperture to form a thermal contact therewith; • a cooling channel (3C) defined by walls and comprising an inlet (3U) and an outlet (3D) for circulating a refrigerating fluid, wherein a cooling wall (5W) of said cooling channel is formed by a portion of the cooling plate, and in that, the cooling plate is encased in the through-passage.
F23D 11/36 - Burners using a direct spraying action of liquid droplets or vaporised liquid into the combustion space Details
F23D 14/32 - Burners for combustion of a gas, e.g. of a gas stored under pressure as a liquid using a mixture of gaseous fuel and pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air
The present invention concerns a glass fibre manufacturing plant comprising a forehearth forming a passage for conveying molten glass and defined by a first and second opposite longitudinal walls, wherein each longitudinal wall is made of a refractory masonry comprising a cavity of width, Wc, and height, H1c, formed by a floor defined by a base wall, by lateral walls defined by two spacer bricks and by a ceiling defined by a lintel resting on each of the two spacer bricks, and further comprising a support block (20) comprising a hot cuboid portion of width, w, and height, h, wherein w < Wc, and h < H1c, said hot cuboid portion being reversibly inserted in the cavity, thus defining a gap surrounding the hot cuboid portion of the support block when positioned in the cavity, said gap being filled with a resilient material (29), said forehearth being characterized in that, the masonry comprises a spacing element hindering the thermal expansion of the two spacer bricks, such that the distance, Wc, between said two spacer bricks measured at room temperature cannot be reduced below a predetermined hot cavity width, W, at said service temperature, hT, wherein said predetermined distance, W, is larger than the width, w, of the hot cuboid portion of the support block.
The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising terminal ears (1) coupled to opposed end walls (2) of the bushing assembly, for heating the bushing tip plate and walls, each of said terminal ears comprising: (a) an electrically conductive plate, said conductive plate comprising at least a first portion (1A) extending along a longitudinal 1D axis (X1) from a first terminal edge (1D) substantially normal to said longitudinal axis (X1) 1B and coupled to a bushing end wall (2), and further comprising a second, free terminal edge (1C) connectable to a source of power, and (b) at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) coupled to said at least first portion (1A) of said plate to increase the bending moment of the latter, characterized in that, said at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) extends from, or adjacent to the plate first terminal edge (1D) along a direction non parallel to said longitudinal axis (X1).
C03C 3/087 - Glass compositions containing silica with 40% to 90% silica by weight containing aluminium oxide or an iron compound containing an oxide of a divalent metal containing calcium oxide, e.g. common sheet or container glass
5.
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED COMPOSITES
The present invention concerns a process for the production of injection moulded glass fi bre reinforced composites from extruded glass fibre reinforced pellets, said process comprising the following steps: (A) Providing : (a) Glass fibres (2) coated with a silane based sizing composition, said silane based sizing composition comprising at least one sizing reactive moiety, A1, A2; (b) A thermoplastic matrix polycondensate (2) comprising a first matrix reactive moiety, B1, at a first end of the chain and a second matrix reactive moiety, B2, at a second end of the chain; (c) A salt (3) selected among an internal lubricant and a nucleating agent comprising a salt reactive moiety, C, capable of reacting with the at least one sizing reactive moiety, A1, A2, and /or with the first or second matrix reactive moiety, B1, B2, said salt reactive moiety, C, being selected among, • A metallic cation, • An organic portion having a functionality, f = 1, with a reactive moiety selected among the an ionic form of a carboxylic group or a hydroxyl group, and • An inorganic anion such as carbonate or sulphate, (B) Blending the glass fibres, thermoplastic matrix polycondensate, and salt; (C) Forming glass fibre reinforced pellets; and (D) Injection moulding a composite part with a composition comprising the reaction product of said glass fibres, thermoplastic matrix polycondesate and salt Characterized in that, the salt is added to a blend of thermoplastic matrix composite and glass fibres only after the first and /or second matrix reactive moieties, B1, B2, and the at least one sizing reactive moiety, A1, A2, are given time to react together at least partially.
The present invention concerns a sizing composition for glass fibers comprising the following components: (a) A silane based coupling agent which is not an aminosilane; (b) A film former; (c) A borate; (d) A lubricant Characterized in that, at least 75 wt. % of the silane coupling agent present in the composition is dialkoxylated. It also concerns a glass fiber sized with the reaction product of said sizing composition, as well as a polymeric composite reinforced with such glass fibers.
The present invention concerns a tip plate module for use in a bushing assembly for the production of glass fibres, said tip plate module comprising side walls surrounding at least a portion of the perimeter of a tip plate (1 1 ) forming the floor of the module, said tip plate forming a convex polygon, characterized in that, said polygonal tip plate comprises at least five edges (N ≥ 5), preferably at least six edges (N ≥ 6), more preferably it comprises six edges (N = 6). The present invention also concerns a bushing assembly comprising at least one such tip plate module.
The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising: (a) a liquid glass feeding unit arranged upstream of, and in fluid communication with, (b) a first and second tip plate assemblies (1A, 1B) extending along a longitudinal direction, arranged side by side, and each surrounded by side walls and end walls and, the first and second tip plate assemblies being separated from one another by a stiffening rib structure (21) extending along said longitudinal direction, characterized in that, the feeding unit comprises a glass distribution manifold (2), which defines two separate fluid communication paths to the first and second tip plate assemblies (1A, 1B), and in that, the stiffening rib structure (21) forms an integral part of the floor of the manifold (2).
The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising terminal ears (1) coupled to opposed end walls (2) of the bushing assembly, for heating the bushing tip plate and walls, each of said terminal ears comprising: (a) an electrically conductive plate, said conductive plate comprising at least a first portion (1A) extending along a longitudinal axis (X1) from a first terminal edge (1D) substantially normal to said longitudinal axis (X1) and coupled to a bushing end wall (2), and further comprising a second, free terminal edge (1C) connectable to a source of power, and (b) at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) coupled to said at least first portion (1A) of said plate to increase the bending moment of the latter, characterized in that, said at least one elongated reinforcing member (1B) extends from, or adjacent to the plate first terminal edge (1D) along a direction non parallel to said longitudinal axis (X1).
The present invention concerns glass fibre composition comprising the following oxides : Si02: 57.5- 59.5 wt.% AI2O3 : 1 7.0-20.0 wt.% CaO: 1 1.0-1 3.5 wt.% MgO: 8.5 - 1 2.5 wt.% wherein the sum of Na2O, K2O, and TiO2 is at least 0.1 wt.% and Li2O ≤ 2.0 wt.%, all amounts being expressed in weight % with respect to the total weight of the composition. It also concerns composite materials reinforced with such fibres, used in applications such as windmill blades, pressure vessels, components in the automotive, machinery, aerospace applications and such products produced therewith, and wherein the temperature difference, ΔΤ, defined as the difference between the temperature, T3, at which the composition has a viscosity of 103 Poise and the liquidus temperature, Tliq, is at least 50°C.
C03C 3/087 - Glass compositions containing silica with 40% to 90% silica by weight containing aluminium oxide or an iron compound containing an oxide of a divalent metal containing calcium oxide, e.g. common sheet or container glass
The present invention concerns a two-part sizing composition comprising: (A) A precursor comprising: (a) An aminosilane (e.g. A1100) and (b) a polymer or copolymer containing carboxylic acid and/or anhydride, both having a functionality, F ≥ 3, and (B) A binder comprising a multifunctional epoxy resin of functionality, F ≥ 3. Glass fibres sized with the reaction product of the above composition yield a higher resistance to hydrolysis of polymeric matrix composite materials reinforced with such fibres. The sizing composition of the present invention is particularly advantageous for use with polyester resins, such as PET.
C08L 35/00 - Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by a carboxyl radical, and containing at least one other carboxyl radical in the molecule, or of salts, anhydrides, esters, amides, imides or nitriles thereofCompositions of derivatives of such polymers
C08G 59/42 - Polycarboxylic acidsAnhydrides, halides, or low-molecular-weight esters thereof
The present invention concerns a bushing assembly (2) comprising terminal ears coupled to opposed end walls (2A) of the bushing assembly, for heating the bushing tip plate and walls, each of said terminal ears comprising an electrically conductive plate (1) comprising a first terminal edge (1D) coupled to a bushing first end wall (2A), and extending away from said first end wall to a second, free terminal edge (1A) connectable to a source of power (5, 6), said plate comprising a slot (3) comprising : (a) a first, open end (3A) of width, WA, at the second, free edge (1A) of the plate, (b) an elongated portion (3 B) extending towards said first edge (1D) of gap width, WB, and (c) a second, closed end (3C), separate from the first edge (1D) of the terminal ear, and having a curved geometry; characterized in that, the curvature, 1/(2 R), at any point of the curved second end (3C) of the slot is less than the reciprocal, 1/ Wo, of the smallest gap width, Wo, of both slot first open end (3A), WA, and elongated portion (3 B), WB, wherein R is the radius at any point of the curved second end (3C)
The present invention concerns an aqueous sizing composition for glass fibres comprising: (a) A silane based coupling agent, (b) one or more film formers, Characterized in that, said one or more film formers comprise a polyamide based or a copolyamide based film former. This sizing is particularly suitable for enhancing the resistance to hydrolysis of glass fibre reinforced composites comprising a polyamide matrix, in particular a partly aromatic polyamide such as PPA.
The present invention concerns a sizing composition for glass fibres comprising : (a) A silane based coupling agent mixture, (b) A film former, (c) Additives, Characterized in that, the silane based coupling agent mixture comprises (d) At least 1 5 wt.% of at least one dialkoxysilane, and (e) At least 20 wt.% of at least one unsaturated ester silane comprising an olefinic double bond activated by an ester function^, Wherein R can be -H, -CH3, -C2H5, wherein R' can be -H„ CH3, -CH2-COOR, wherein R" can be -H, -CH=CH2, -COOH, phenyl, CH3-CH=CH-,-COOR, and wherein m - 0 to 8, preferably 2 to 4, more preferably m = 3, and n = 0 to 2, preferably 0 or 1.
The invention relates to an aqueous sizing composition for reinforcing charges, preferably glass fibers, comprising a silane coupling agent, an epoxy film forming polymer comprising 2-8 reactive epoxy groups per chain and compatible with thermoplastic polyester matrix resin selected from PET and PBT, and a hypophosphite in an amount of 5 to 30 w% of the composition, preferably 7 to 25 w%, more preferably 10 to 20 w% and most preferably 12 to 18 w% of the composition. A thermoplastic polyester resin reinforced with glass fibers coated with a sizing composition of the invention shows improved resistance to staining and improved tensile elongation at break. The sizing composition further improves processability of the sized fibres.
The present invention concerns a sizing composition for glass fibres comprising the following components: (a) A silane based coupling agent which is not an aminosilane; (b) A film former; (c) A borate; (d) A lubricant Characterized in that, at least 75 wt.% of the silane coupling agent present in the composition is dialkoxylated. It also concerns a glass fibre sized with the reaction product of said sizing composition, as well as a polymeric composite reinforced with such glass fibres.
The present invention concerns a bushing assembly comprising a tip plate (2) supported by reinforcing ribs (10), said reinforcement ribs having a planar portion (10A) having a shape inscribed in a triangle of vertices α1, α2, α3, wherein α1 is the smallest angle of the three vertices, and the side of the triangle opposed to the smallest vertex, α1, matches exactly one side of the planar portion (10A). It also concerns a bushing assembly comprising a tip plate (2) reinforced with the reinforcing ribs (10) discussed supra, wherein the reinforcing ribs are coupled to the bushing assembly by three sides, adjacent two by two.
The present invention provides an impregnation system suitable for impregnating filaments continuously with an impregnating substance, said system may comprise an impregnation assembly comprising (a) at least one axial passageway for the filaments having an entrance end and an exit end and (b) at least one passageway for the impregnating substance having at least one inlet for the impregnating substance and at least two outlets for the impregnating substance leading into the passageway for the filaments via the outlets for the impregnating substance, wherein the passageway for the filaments has an oblong cross- section at the outlet point for the impregnating substance, and the at least two outlets for the impregnating substance have an oblong cross-section, and are disposed essentially opposite to each other, at the opposite widths of the passageway for the filaments. Thus, the present invention proposes an in-line system for manufacturing continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic structure which comprises a simple device to provide strands in spread filaments form without using high friction or tension on the strand or filaments so as to ease the impregnation step and to allow higher line speeds and lower cycle times.
The present invention provides a method of reinforcing a substance or an object with continuous filaments comprising the steps of (a) supplying a fiber strand from a source of fiber strands, (b) passing said fiber strand horizontally through a passageway (21), (c) subjecting said fiber strand to a fluid such as air flow, within a channel (22) of rectilinear shape having an oblong cross-section, at an angle (γ) substantially perpendicular with respect to the moving direction of the filaments so as to separate said fiber strand into a plurality of smaller strands or individual filaments, and then (d) pulling said separated strands and/or individual filaments horizontally through a divergent zone (23), wherein the area of its exit end (232) is larger than the one of its entrance end (231) and has an oblong cross-section, so as to spread said strands and/or filaments along its diverging wall in a plane. Thus, the present invention proposes an improved frictionless solution to spread the fiber strand at higher speeds with a newly designed and simple apparatus as well as an improved process for reinforcing a substance or an object with continuous filament.
The present invention concerns glass fibre of quaternary composition comprising SiO2, AI2O3, CaO, and MgO, each present in an amount of at least 5 wt.%, and comprising less than 3.3 wt.% B2O3, and less than 2.0 wt.% fluorine, characterized in that • 1 8 ≤ (CaO + AI2O3) < 36 wt%, • b - a (CaO + AI2O3) < (MgO / AI2O3) ≤ 3.6 wherein a = 0.01 57 and b = 1 1 1.75%, all amounts being expressed in weight % with respect to the total weight of the composition. It also concerns composite materials reinforced with such fibres, used in applications such as windmill blades, pressure vessels, components in the automotive, machinery, aerospace applications and such products produced therewith.
The present invention concerns Glass fibre of quaternary composition comprising SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and MgO, each present in an amount of at least 5 wt.%, and comprising less than 3.3 wt. B2O3, and less than 2.0 wt.% fluorine, characterized by: • b - a (MgO + AI2O3) ≤ (MgO / AI2O3) ≤ 3.6, and • (MgO + AI2O3) < 40 wt.%, wherein parameters a = 0.0223 and b = 1.28, all amounts being expressed in weight % with respect to the total weight of the composition. It also concerns composite materials reinforced with such fibres, used in applications such as windmill blades, pressure vessels, components in the automotive, machinery, aerospace applications and such products produced therewith.
The present invention concerns a glass fibre of quaternary composition comprising SiO2, AI2O3, CaO, and MgO, each present in an amount of at least 5 wt.%, and comprising less than 3.3 wt.% B2O3, and less than 2.0 wt.% fluorine, characterized by: • 22,0 < MgO + CaO ≤ 35.0 wt%, and • 27.0 < MgO + AI2O3 ≤ 44.0 wt%. all amounts being expressed in weight % with respect to the total weight of the composition. It also concerns composite materials reinforced with such fibres, used in applications such as windmill blades, pressure vessels, components in the automotive, machinery, aerospace applications and such products produced therewith.
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