Compatibilizing materials for use with fibers and polymeric compositions are described. A compatibilizing material can include a silane (Si) modified polyphenylene ether (PPE) oligomer having a resin reactive functional group. The resin reactive functional group can be between the PPE moiety and a Si moiety. In other instances, the resin reactive functional group can be a substituent of the Si moiety.

Disclosed are formaldehyde-free, thermally-curable, alkaline, aqueous binder compositions. Also disclosed are compositions comprising formaldehyde-free, thermally-curable binder compositions, as described herein, applied to non-woven fibers. Uses of the disclosed binder compositions as binders for non-woven fibers are also disclosed.

Disclosed are formaldehyde-free, thermally-curable, alkaline, aqueous binder compositions. Also disclosed are compositions comprising formaldehyde-free, thermally-curable binder compositions, as described herein, applied to non-woven fibers. Uses of the disclosed binder compositions as binders for non-woven fibers are also disclosed.

A fibrous insulation product is discloses comprising a plurality of randomly oriented fibers and a thermoset aqueous binder composition at least partially coating said fibers. The binder composition comprises at least one long-chain polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and a number average molecular weight of at least 2,000 Daltons, a cross-linking agent comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups, and a short-chain polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and a number average molecular weight less than 2,000 Daltons, wherein a ratio of long-chain polyol to short-chain polyol is from 0.1/0.9 to 0.9/0.1.

The resin composition according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a resin composition containing a photopolymerizable compound comprising urethane (meth)acrylate and a polyrotaxane, and a photopolymerization initiator, and the content of the polyrotaxane is 0.05% by mass or more and 11% by mass or less based on the total amount of the photopolymerizable compound.

The resin composition according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a resin composition containing a photopolymerizable compound comprising urethane (meth)acrylate and a polyrotaxane, and a photopolymerization initiator, and the content of the polyrotaxane is 0.05% by mass or more and 11% by mass or less based on the total amount of the photopolymerizable compound.

A process for manufacturing insulating products based on mineral wool includes applying, on mineral wool fibers, a binding composition containing (a) at least one carbohydrate selected from reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, hydrogenated sugars, and a mixture thereof, and (b) at least one crosslinking agent for crosslinking the carbohydrate(s). The process also includes evaporating the solvent phase of the binding composition and thermal curing the non-volatile fraction of the composition. Further, added to the binding composition, preferably immediately before the application thereof on the mineral wool fibers, is an oil-in-water emulsion including water, a mineral oil, at least one nonionic surfactant and a water-soluble polysaccharide. The mean diameter of the oil droplets of the stable oil-in-water emulsion, determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis, is greater than 5 μm.

A process for manufacturing insulating products based on mineral wool includes applying, on mineral wool fibers, a binding composition containing (a) at least one carbohydrate selected from reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, hydrogenated sugars, and a mixture thereof, and (b) at least one crosslinking agent for crosslinking the carbohydrate(s). The process also includes evaporating the solvent phase of the binding composition and thermal curing the non-volatile fraction of the composition. Further, added to the binding composition, preferably immediately before the application thereof on the mineral wool fibers, is an oil-in-water emulsion including water, a mineral oil, at least one nonionic surfactant and a water-soluble polysaccharide. The mean diameter of the oil droplets of the stable oil-in-water emulsion, determined by laser diffraction particle size analysis, is greater than 5 μm.

Formaldehyde-free binder compositions are described that include an aldehyde or ketone, a reaction product between a polyamine and an organic anhydride, and an acidic compound. The acidic compound may be an organic acid, an acidic catalyst, or both. The acidic compound is supplied in quantities that lower the pH of the binder composition to about 5 or less. The binder compositions may be used in methods of binding fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass products have an improved tensile strength due to the addition of the acidic compound.

Formaldehyde-free binder compositions are described that include an aldehyde or ketone, a reaction product between a polyamine and an organic anhydride, and an acidic compound. The acidic compound may be an organic acid, an acidic catalyst, or both. The acidic compound is supplied in quantities that lower the pH of the binder composition to about 5 or less. The binder compositions may be used in methods of binding fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass products have an improved tensile strength due to the addition of the acidic compound.