A die and method for extruding an extrudable material to form an extruded member is described. In one embodiment, the die comprises a barrier member comprising a plurality of feed channels that extend through the barrier member. Furthermore, the die incorporates a passage forming member extending from the barrier member substantially in the direction of extrusion. The feed channels are arranged with respect to the passage forming member to allow the extrudable material to substantially flow about the passage forming member to form a corresponding passage in the extruded member.

A die and method for extruding an extrudable material to form an extruded member is described. In one embodiment, the die comprises a barrier member comprising a plurality of feed channels that extend through the barrier member. Furthermore, the die incorporates a passage forming member extending from the barrier member substantially in the direction of extrusion. The feed channels are arranged with respect to the passage forming member to allow the extrudable material to substantially flow about the passage forming member to form a corresponding passage in the extruded member.

Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

An apparatus used for the fabrication of fiberoptic waveguides utilizing a novel melting and resolidifying apparatus and method while under microgravity conditions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical fiber core has a lower melting point than the cladding and the core is melted and resolidified under microgravity conditions. The molten lower melting point core is thus contained by the higher melting point cladding while under microgravity conditions.

A high-magnesium glass fiber composition with high specific modulus and a glass fiber is provided. The glass fiber composition includes the following contents of components in percentage by mass: 58.5-63.0% of SiO2, 15.0-20.0% of Al2O3, 0.3-2.5% of CaO, 16.0-19.5% of MgO, 0.2-0.6% of Fe2O3, 1.0-3.5% of Y2O3 and B2O3, 0.1-1.0% of B2O3, and 0.3-0.8% of K2O and Na2O. The glass fiber composition has a density of less than 2.610 g/cm3, and the glass fiber has an elasticity modulus of equal to or greater than 94.0 GPa and a specific modulus of equal to or greater than 3.67*106 m.

A high-magnesium glass fiber composition with high specific modulus and a glass fiber is provided. The glass fiber composition includes the following contents of components in percentage by mass: 58.5-63.0% of SiO2, 15.0-20.0% of Al2O3, 0.3-2.5% of CaO, 16.0-19.5% of MgO, 0.2-0.6% of Fe2O3, 1.0-3.5% of Y2O3 and B2O3, 0.1-1.0% of B2O3, and 0.3-0.8% of K2O and Na2O. The glass fiber composition has a density of less than 2.610 g/cm3, and the glass fiber has an elasticity modulus of equal to or greater than 94.0 GPa and a specific modulus of equal to or greater than 3.67*106 m.

Glass compositions are disclosed that include SiO.sub.2 in an amount of from 50 wt. % to 60 wt. %; Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in an amount of less than 20 wt. %; CaO in an amount of less than 5 wt. %; MgO in an amount of greater than or equal to 15 wt. %; Y.sub.2O.sub.3 and, optionally, La.sub.2O.sub.3 present in a sum concentration of from 2 wt. % to 6 wt. %; and less than 0.5 wt. % of Li.sub.2O. The glass composition has a Young's modulus of greater than or equal to 93 GPa.

Provided are flat-cross-section glass fiber that is superior in continuous-production efficiency and mass-production suitability and able to give superior reinforcing ability for resin molded products, and a method for manufacturing flat-cross-section glass fiber from a glass raw material containing a recycled glass material. In the flat-cross-section glass fiber of the present invention, flat-cross-section glass filaments constituting the flat-cross-section glass fiber each have a flat cross-sectional shape having a major axis with a length in a specific range and a minor axis with a length in a specific range, and the coefficient of variation for the lengths of the minor axes is within the range of 8.0 to 26.1%.

Provided are flat-cross-section glass fiber that is superior in continuous-production efficiency and mass-production suitability and able to give superior reinforcing ability for resin molded products, and a method for manufacturing flat-cross-section glass fiber from a glass raw material containing a recycled glass material. In the flat-cross-section glass fiber of the present invention, flat-cross-section glass filaments constituting the flat-cross-section glass fiber each have a flat cross-sectional shape having a major axis with a length in a specific range and a minor axis with a length in a specific range, and the coefficient of variation for the lengths of the minor axes is within the range of 8.0 to 26.1%.