Wet web strength for fiberglass mats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214919-B2
Application number	US-201916424931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2019
Priority date	May 31, 2018
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

Methods of and systems for treating a web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers passing through a chopped nonwoven mineral fiber mat process are provided. The methods comprise spraying strength aid onto the web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers in a forming section of the chopped nonwoven mineral fiber mat process. The systems comprise a first spray bar comprising a delivery conduit configured to provide a flow of strength aid at a flow rate to one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the delivery conduit. The one or more nozzles are configured to receive the strength aid from the delivery conduit and to spray of the strength aid onto the web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers in the forming section of the chopped nonwoven mineral fiber mat process.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of treating a web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers passing through a chopped nonwoven mineral fiber mat process, the method comprising:
spraying strength aid onto the web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers in a forming section of the process at a concentration of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight active ingredient and at a flow rate of from about 0.1 g to about 35 g active ingredient per 100 square feet of surface area of the web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers, wherein the strength aid is sprayed onto the web upstream of a vacuum section of the process, and binder is applied to the web downstream of the vacuum section.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is cationic, anionic, nonionic, or amphoteric.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is anionic or cationic.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is anionic.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is cationic.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is sprayed onto the web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers at a concentration of from about 0.3% to about 12% by weight active ingredient.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient of the strength aid comprises an acrylate-containing polymer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient of the strength aid comprises an acrylate-acrylamide copolymer.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient of the strength aid is an acrylate-acrylamide copolymer.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is sprayed onto the web downstream of a forming head of the chopped nonwoven mineral fiber mat process.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid is sprayed onto the web downstream of a forming head and upstream of a vacuum section of the chopped nonwoven mineral fiber mat process.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chopped nonwoven mineral fibers comprise glass fibers.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the web of chopped nonwoven mineral fibers has a thickness of from about 10 to about 45 mil.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the strength aid further comprises an optical detection compound.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the optical detection compound comprises fluorescein, rhodamine, naphthalene sodium sulfonate-formaldehyde condensate, di-sulfonated stilbene, tetra-sulfonated stilbene, hexa-sulfonated stilbene, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Krause Adam
• Rieck James
• Lucas David
• Ouderkirk Eric J
• Kirkman Janet R
• Lowe Robert M
• Knoth Alexandra

Classifications

• D04H1/64

  the bonding agent being applied in wet state, e.g. chemical agents in dispersions or solutions · CPC title

• D10B2401/063

  high strength · CPC title

• D06M15/263 Primary

  of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof · CPC title

• D04H1/4218 Primary

  Glass fibres · CPC title

• D10B2101/06

  Glass · CPC title