A process for the manufacture of inorganic fibres comprises: (a) selecting a composition and proportion of: (i) silica sand; (ii) lime comprising at least 0.10 wt % magnesia; and (iii) optional additives comprising a source of oxides or non-oxides of one or more of the lanthanides series of elements, or combinations thereof; (b) mixing the silica sand; lime; and optional additives to form a mixture; (c) melting the mixture in a furnace; and (d) shaping the molten mixture into inorganic fibres. The raw materials selection comprises composition selection and proportion selection of the raw materials to obtain an inorganic fibre composition comprising a range of from 61.0 wt % and 70.8 wt % silica; less than 2.0 wt % magnesia; less than 2.0% incidental impurities; and no more than 2.0 wt % of metal oxides and/or metal non-oxides derived from said optional additives; with calcia providing the balance up to 100 wt %; and wherein the inorganic fibre composition comprises no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.20.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

A process for the manufacture of inorganic fibres comprises: (a) selecting a composition and proportion of: (i) silica sand; (ii) lime comprising at least 0.10 wt % magnesia; and (iii) optional additives comprising a source of oxides or non-oxides of one or more of the lanthanides series of elements, or combinations thereof; (b) mixing the silica sand; lime; and optional additives to form a mixture; (c) melting the mixture in a furnace; and (d) shaping the molten mixture into inorganic fibres. The raw materials selection comprises composition selection and proportion selection of the raw materials to obtain an inorganic fibre composition comprising a range of from 61.0 wt % and 70.8 wt % silica; less than 2.0 wt % magnesia; less than 2.0% incidental impurities; and no more than 2.0 wt % of metal oxides and/or metal non-oxides derived from said optional additives; with calcia providing the balance up to 100 wt %; and wherein the inorganic fibre composition comprises no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.20.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

Provided is a structure having both fire resistance and heat insulation properties and capable of retaining its shape without being collapsed or deformed even when exposed to a flame. The present invention provides a fire-resistant heat-insulation composition comprising 70 to 250 parts by mass of gypsum based on 100 parts by mass of calcium aluminate having a CaO content of 34% or more, and 0.1 to 20 parts by mass of a fibrous inorganic clay mineral having a crystallization water ratio of 5% or more, based on 100 parts by mass of the total of the calcium aluminate and the gypsum.

Provided is a structure having both fire resistance and heat insulation properties and capable of retaining its shape without being collapsed or deformed even when exposed to a flame. The present invention provides a fire-resistant heat-insulation composition comprising 70 to 250 parts by mass of gypsum based on 100 parts by mass of calcium aluminate having a CaO content of 34% or more, and 0.1 to 20 parts by mass of a fibrous inorganic clay mineral having a crystallization water ratio of 5% or more, based on 100 parts by mass of the total of the calcium aluminate and the gypsum.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt % MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %, The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt % MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %, The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt% SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt% CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt% MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %,

The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt% SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt% CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt% MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %,

The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

There is provided a fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite. The fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite comprises a brittle matrix material (for example, a cementitious or ceramics material) and a coated fiber embedded in the brittle matrix material, wherein the coated fiber comprises a fiber (for example, polyethylene fiber, glass fiber, silicon carbide fiber, alumina fiber, mullite fiber) and a coating material (for example, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes), which is non-covalently disposed on the fiber. A method for producing the fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite is also provided. The method comprises providing a fiber, disposing a coating material on the fiber to form a coated fiber, wherein the coating material is non-covalently disposed on the fiber, and embedding the coated fiber in a brittle matrix material to obtain the fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite.

There is provided a fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite. The fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite comprises a brittle matrix material (for example, a cementitious or ceramics material) and a coated fiber embedded in the brittle matrix material, wherein the coated fiber comprises a fiber (for example, polyethylene fiber, glass fiber, silicon carbide fiber, alumina fiber, mullite fiber) and a coating material (for example, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes), which is non-covalently disposed on the fiber. A method for producing the fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite is also provided. The method comprises providing a fiber, disposing a coating material on the fiber to form a coated fiber, wherein the coating material is non-covalently disposed on the fiber, and embedding the coated fiber in a brittle matrix material to obtain the fiber-reinforced brittle matrix composite.