The invention relates to a biodegradable, bioactive and bio-compatible glass composition comprising: SiO.sub.2 65-75 wt-%, Na.sub.2O 12-17 wt-%, CaO 8-11 wt-%, MgO 3-7 wt-%, P.sub.2O.sub.5 0.5-2.5 wt-%, B.sub.2O.sub.3 1-4 wt-%, K.sub.2O>0.5 wt-%-4 wt-%, SrO 0-4 wt-%, and at most 0.3 wt-% in total of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. The invention also relates to glass fiber comprising the glass composition and use of the glass fiber in medical and nonmedical applications.

The invention relates to a biodegradable, bioactive and bio-compatible glass composition comprising: SiO.sub.2 65-75 wt-%, Na.sub.2O 12-17 wt-%, CaO 8-11 wt-%, MgO 3-7 wt-%, P.sub.2O.sub.5 0.5-2.5 wt-%, B.sub.2O.sub.3 1-4 wt-%, K.sub.2O>0.5 wt-%-4 wt-%, SrO 0-4 wt-%, and at most 0.3 wt-% in total of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. The invention also relates to glass fiber comprising the glass composition and use of the glass fiber in medical and nonmedical applications.

The present invention is an annealed quartz glass cloth that has an SiO.sub.2 content of 99.5 mass % or more, a dielectric loss tangent of less than 0.0010 at 10 GHz, and a tensile strength of 1.0 N/25 mm or more per cloth weight (g/m.sup.2). This provides an annealed quartz glass cloth that has a low dielectric loss tangent and that is also excellent in tensile strength; and a method for manufacturing an annealed quartz glass cloth by which strength recovers after a high-temperature heat treatment.

The present invention is an annealed quartz glass cloth that has an SiO.sub.2 content of 99.5 mass % or more, a dielectric loss tangent of less than 0.0010 at 10 GHz, and a tensile strength of 1.0 N/25 mm or more per cloth weight (g/m.sup.2). This provides an annealed quartz glass cloth that has a low dielectric loss tangent and that is also excellent in tensile strength; and a method for manufacturing an annealed quartz glass cloth by which strength recovers after a high-temperature heat treatment.

An inorganic fiber containing silica, alumina, one or more alkali metal oxides, and one or more of alkaline earth metal oxides, transition metal oxides, or lanthanide series metal oxides. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at use temperatures of 1260° C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperatures, is free of crystalline silica upon devitrification, is alkali flux resistant, exhibits low bio-persistence in an acidic medium, and exhibits low dissolution in a neutral medium. Also provided are thermal insulation products incorporating the inorganic fibers, a method for preparing the inorganic fiber and a method of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from the inorganic fibers.

An inorganic fiber containing silica, alumina, one or more alkali metal oxides, and one or more of alkaline earth metal oxides, transition metal oxides, or lanthanide series metal oxides. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at use temperatures of 1260° C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperatures, is free of crystalline silica upon devitrification, is alkali flux resistant, exhibits low bio-persistence in an acidic medium, and exhibits low dissolution in a neutral medium. Also provided are thermal insulation products incorporating the inorganic fibers, a method for preparing the inorganic fiber and a method of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from the inorganic fibers.

An environmentally friendly, aqueous binder composition that includes a metal salt and a polyol is provided. The metal salt may be a water soluble salt, including salts of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, tin, zirconium, thallium, lead, and bismuth. The polyol may include water miscible or water soluble polymeric alcohols including polyvinyl alcohol. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven mats, among other products.

An environmentally friendly, aqueous binder composition that includes a metal salt and a polyol is provided. The metal salt may be a water soluble salt, including salts of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, tin, zirconium, thallium, lead, and bismuth. The polyol may include water miscible or water soluble polymeric alcohols including polyvinyl alcohol. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven mats, among other products.

A glass composition for glass fiber includes SiO.sub.2 in the range of 52.0% by mass or more and 56.0% by mass or less; B.sub.2O.sub.3 in the range of 21.0% by mass or more and 24.5% by mass or less; Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in the range of 9.5% by mass or more and 13.0% by mass or less; MgO in the range of 0% by mass or more and less than 1.0% by mass; CaO in the range of 0.5% by mass or more and 5.5% by mass or less; SrO in the range of 0.5% by mass or more and 6.0% by mass or less; and TiO.sub.2 in the range of 0.1% by mass or more and 3.0% by mass or less; and includes F.sub.2 and Cl.sub.2 in the range of 0.1% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less in total, with respect to the total amount.

An environmentally friendly, aqueous binder composition that includes a metal salt and a polyol is provided. The metal salt may be a water soluble salt, including salts of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, tin, zirconium, thallium, lead, and bismuth. The polyol may include water miscible or water soluble polymeric alcohols including polyvinyl alcohol. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven mats, among other products.