Composite materials are provided which include a glass-ceramic matrix composition that is lightly crystallized, a fiber reinforcement within the glass-ceramic matrix composition which remains stable at temperatures greater than 1400 C., and an interphase coating formed on the fiber reinforcement. A method of making a composite material is also provided, which includes applying heat and pressure to a shape including fiber reinforcements and glass particles. The heat and pressure lightly crystallize a matrix material formed by the heat and pressure on the glass particles, forming a thermally stable composite material.

A method for producing a protected optical fiber with distributed sensors includes heating an optical fiber preform and drawing the heated optical fiber preform to form a drawn optical fiber. The method also includes coating the drawn optical fiber with a carbon coating after the optical fiber is drawn to provide a carbon coated optical fiber and then writing a series of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) into the carbon coated optical fiber to provide a carbon coated optical fiber with FBGs. The method further includes coating the carbon coated optical fiber with FBGs with one or more layers of a polymer to provide the protected optical fiber with distributed sensors, wherein the heating, drawing, carbon coating the drawn optical fiber, writing, coating the carbon coated optical fiber are performed in that sequence while the protected optical fiber is being produced.

A fibrous insulation product with improved thermal resistance and method of making it are provided. A plurality of base fibers (e.g. glass) are formed into an insulation product, which may be bindered or unbonded. At least one infrared opacifying agent, such as soot, carbon black or graphite, is applied to the fibrous insulation product such that the base fibers are substantially uniformly coated with opacifying agent. The opacifying agent may be applied, for example, from a fluid suspension or by pulling the fiber through a sooty flame. When opacifying agent applied via a suspension and a binder is desired, it is preferable to avoid binder dispersions that can dislocate the opacifying agent. Alternative binder applications may include co-mingling of base fibers with binder fibers, or other physical or mechanical distributions.

The present invention relates to a thermal insulation material comprising graphite oxide particles, and also to the use of partially oxidized graphite oxide particles as an opacifying agent in a thermal insulation material.

According to one aspect, an asphalt blend can include asphalt, a first polymer additive, and carbon black. The blend can be mixed with filler to prepare a filled asphalt mix. The blends and mixes may have a particular softening point or penetration at 115 F. that may provide improved performance or durability.

According to one aspect, an asphalt blend can include asphalt, a first polymer additive, and carbon black. The blend can be mixed with filler to prepare a filled asphalt mix. The blends and mixes may have a particular softening point or penetration at 115 F. that may provide improved performance or durability.

The present invention concerns an aqueous flame retardant composition for mineral fiber-based mats, in particular glass or rock fibers, which comprises: at least one thermoplastic or thermoset resin; magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH).sub.2, and aluminum hydroxide, AlOOH, as flame retarding agents; and optionally, carbon black.

It also concerns mats treated with said flame retardant composition.

The present invention concerns an aqueous flame retardant composition for mineral fiber-based mats, in particular glass or rock fibers, which comprises: at least one thermoplastic or thermoset resin; magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH).sub.2, and aluminum hydroxide, AlOOH, as flame retarding agents; and optionally, carbon black.

It also concerns mats treated with said flame retardant composition.

Systems and methods are provided that may utilize a glass substrate to selectively withdraw exfoliated graphene from a high-energy interface between immiscible solvents. The exfoliated graphene preferentially adheres to the surface of the glass substrate for withdrawal from the noted high energy interface, leaving behind the graphite (which is too large to be effectively adsorbed relative to the glass substrate). The disclosed systems and methods are easily implemented and offer significant advantages for graphene production relative to conventional systems and methods, e.g., the disclosed systems/methods do not require the input of heat or mechanical energy which translates to processes that are both cheaper to run and do not result in damage to the graphene. Still further, the disclosed systems/methods do not require chemical modification of the graphene, again lowering the cost considerably and not damaging the graphene structure.

Systems and methods are provided that may utilize a glass substrate to selectively withdraw exfoliated graphene from a high-energy interface between immiscible solvents. The exfoliated graphene preferentially adheres to the surface of the glass substrate for withdrawal from the noted high energy interface, leaving behind the graphite (which is too large to be effectively adsorbed relative to the glass substrate). The disclosed systems and methods are easily implemented and offer significant advantages for graphene production relative to conventional systems and methods, e.g., the disclosed systems/methods do not require the input of heat or mechanical energy which translates to processes that are both cheaper to run and do not result in damage to the graphene. Still further, the disclosed systems/methods do not require chemical modification of the graphene, again lowering the cost considerably and not damaging the graphene structure.