Coated optical fibers and uses of such fibers as sensors in high temperature and/or high pressure environments. The coated optical fiber has improved sensing properties at elevated pressure and/or temperature, such as enhanced acoustic sensitivity and/or a reduced loss in acoustic sensitivity. The use of the coated optical fibers in various sensing applications that require operation under elevated pressure and/or temperature, such as, acoustic sensors for various geological, security, military, aerospace, marine, and oil and gas applications are also provided.

Coated optical fibers and uses of such fibers as sensors in high temperature and/or high pressure environments. The coated optical fiber has improved sensing properties at elevated pressure and/or temperature, such as enhanced acoustic sensitivity and/or a reduced loss in acoustic sensitivity. The use of the coated optical fibers in various sensing applications that require operation under elevated pressure and/or temperature, such as, acoustic sensors for various geological, security, military, aerospace, marine, and oil and gas applications are also provided.

The invention pertains to the fields of chemistry and construction and relates to surface-modified glass fiber for reinforcing concrete, such as those which can be used in textile-reinforced concrete (textile concrete), for example. The object of the present invention is to provide surface-modified glass fibers for reinforcing concrete, which glass fibers are at least substantially protected against an alkaline attack caused by the calcium hydroxides released during the cement reaction and/or dissolution and leaching processes generated thereby. The object is attained with surface-modified glass fibers for reinforcing concrete which are at least partially covered at least with a hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant cationic polyelectrolyte and/or hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant cationic polyelectrolyte mixture and/or with a hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant polyelectrolyte complex and coupled to the glass fiber surface via a (polyelectrolyte) complex formation process by means of ionic bonding, with the hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant polyelectrolyte complex A thereby being formed, wherein at least one additional (co)polymer at least partially covers the polyelectrolyte complex A and is coupled with the polyelectrolyte A via ionic and/or covalent bonds.

The invention pertains to the fields of chemistry and construction and relates to surface-modified glass fiber for reinforcing concrete, such as those which can be used in textile-reinforced concrete (textile concrete), for example. The object of the present invention is to provide surface-modified glass fibers for reinforcing concrete, which glass fibers are at least substantially protected against an alkaline attack caused by the calcium hydroxides released during the cement reaction and/or dissolution and leaching processes generated thereby. The object is attained with surface-modified glass fibers for reinforcing concrete which are at least partially covered at least with a hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant cationic polyelectrolyte and/or hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant cationic polyelectrolyte mixture and/or with a hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant polyelectrolyte complex and coupled to the glass fiber surface via a (polyelectrolyte) complex formation process by means of ionic bonding, with the hydrolysis-stable and alkali-resistant polyelectrolyte complex A thereby being formed, wherein at least one additional (co)polymer at least partially covers the polyelectrolyte complex A and is coupled with the polyelectrolyte A via ionic and/or covalent bonds.

An aqueous binder composition is provided for use in the formation of fiber insulation and non-woven mats that comprises a reaction product of one or more Liquid Polyol Monomers; itaconic acid, its salts or anhydride; and a C4 to C6 polyol selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol, trimethylol propane, neopentyl glycol, and mixtures thereof. The molar ratio of the combined alcohols (Liquid Polyol Monomers and C4 to C6 polyols) to itaconic acid is at least 2:1, wherein the molar ratio of Liquid Polyol Monomers to C4 to C6 polyols is from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

An aqueous binder composition is provided for use in the formation of fiber insulation and non-woven mats that comprises a reaction product of one or more Liquid Polyol Monomers; itaconic acid, its salts or anhydride; and a C4 to C6 polyol selected from the group consisting of pentaerythritol, trimethylol propane, neopentyl glycol, and mixtures thereof. The molar ratio of the combined alcohols (Liquid Polyol Monomers and C4 to C6 polyols) to itaconic acid is at least 2:1, wherein the molar ratio of Liquid Polyol Monomers to C4 to C6 polyols is from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

The present invention relates to a reinforced composite material and a method for its production. The composite material comprises at least one cured resin having a reinforcing material. Preferably the reinforcing material is a plurality of glass fibres which are treated such that the properties of the interphase substantially surrounding each fibre are substantially equivalent to those of the bulk cured resin. The fibre treatment may be selected from the group consisting of a polymeric coating, a hydrophilic surface coating, a surface coating of a free radical inhibitor, or a reduction in the total surface area of the fibres. The reinforced composite material of the invention provides improved long-term mechanical properties compared to traditional glass fibre reinforced materials.

The present invention relates to a reinforced composite material and a method for its production. The composite material comprises at least one cured resin having a reinforcing material. Preferably the reinforcing material is a plurality of glass fibres which are treated such that the properties of the interphase substantially surrounding each fibre are substantially equivalent to those of the bulk cured resin. The fibre treatment may be selected from the group consisting of a polymeric coating, a hydrophilic surface coating, a surface coating of a free radical inhibitor, or a reduction in the total surface area of the fibres. The reinforced composite material of the invention provides improved long-term mechanical properties compared to traditional glass fibre reinforced materials.

A fibrous insulation product is provided comprising a nonwoven fiber mat including a plurality of fibers bound together by an aqueous binder composition comprising that includes a thermally degradable polyol; a crosslinking agent; and an acid/aldehyde. The binder composition is free of added formaldehyde.

An optical fibre comprising: an optical waveguide comprising a glass core surrounded by a glass cladding; a primary coating surrounding the optical waveguide; a secondary coating, surrounding the primary coating, comprising a cured polymer material obtained by curing a curable coating composition comprising: (a) a polyester obtained by esterification of a reactant A selected from carboxylic acids, triglycerides, and mixtures thereof, having a C.sub.16-C.sub.24 aliphatic chain comprising at least two double bonds spaced by one carbon atom at most, with a reactant B selected from polyols having at least 3 hydroxyl groups, the polyols being thermally stable up to 300 C.; (b) an aromatic glycidyl epoxy resin; (c) an aliphatic polyether hardener containing from 8 to 64 hydroxy groups and/or from 2 to 4 epoxy groups; and (d) a secondary amine compound as curing agent. Preferably, the step of curing is a thermal curing, preferably up to 300 C. When cured by heat, the coating material can be applied during the drawing process of the fibre so as to exploit the heat of the just drawn glass fibre as heat source for curing.