The invention is directed to a mineral fibre product having a low water leachable chloride content which is suitable as non-corrosive thermal and/or acoustic insulation.

The present invention provides modified urea formaldehyde (UF) resin binder compositions and mineral fiber mats having an emulsion polymer modifier comprising, in copolymerized form, from 5 to 25 wt. % of co polymerized carboxylic acid functional monomers. The emulsion polymers have a measured glass transition temperature (DSC) ranging from −40° C. to 70° C. and a large average particle size. Further, the emulsion polymers comprise less than 30% of the copolymerized acid in neutralized form and do not excessively thicken aqueous compositions containing them. The modified UF resin binder compositions enable good dilution stability in use and high tensile strength in products containing them.

The present invention relates to a sizing composition for mineral fibers, especially glass fibers or rock fibers, containing a liquid phenolic resin having a free formaldehyde content, expressed with respect to the total weight of liquid, of 0.1% or less and an extender.

Preferably, the liquid phenolic resin is mainly composed of phenol-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde-amine condensates and has a water dilutability, at 20° C., at least equal to 1000%.

Another subject of the present invention is the insulating products based on mineral fibers treated by said sizing composition.

The present invention relates to a sizing composition for mineral fibers, especially glass fibers or rock fibers, containing a liquid phenolic resin having a free formaldehyde content, expressed with respect to the total weight of liquid, of 0.1% or less and an extender.

Preferably, the liquid phenolic resin is mainly composed of phenol-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde-amine condensates and has a water dilutability, at 20° C., at least equal to 1000%.

Another subject of the present invention is the insulating products based on mineral fibers treated by said sizing composition.

The present invention is directed to a mineral fibre product, comprising mineral fibres in contact with a binder resulting from the curing of an aqueous binder composition free of phenol and formaldehyde.

The present invention is directed to a mineral fibre product, comprising mineral fibres in contact with a binder resulting from the curing of an aqueous binder composition free of phenol and formaldehyde.

The present invention relates to a method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product, the method comprising: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition free of phenol and formaldehyde; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; irrigating the growth substrate product;

wherein the aqueous binder composition prior to curing comprises; a component (i) in form of one or more lignosulfonate lignins having a carboxylic acid group content of 0.03 to 1.4 mmol/g, based on the dry weight of the lignosulfonate lignins, a component (ii) in form of one or more cross-linkers.

This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mineral wool board, comprising the following steps in the given order: providing mineral wool fibers having a fiber length of 50 to 800 μm; gluing the fibers with a liquid binder comprising phenolic resin, whereby the ratio of binder (based on the solids content of the resin of the binder) to mineral wool fibers is 5 to 30% by weight, and pressing the glued fibers using heat and pressure.

This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mineral wool board, comprising the following steps in the given order: providing mineral wool fibers having a fiber length of 50 to 800 μm; gluing the fibers with a liquid binder comprising phenolic resin, whereby the ratio of binder (based on the solids content of the resin of the binder) to mineral wool fibers is 5 to 30% by weight, and pressing the glued fibers using heat and pressure.

A method of manufacturing a mineral fibre thermal insulation product comprises the sequential steps of: Forming mineral fibres from a molten mineral mixture; Spraying a substantially formaldehyde free binder solution on to the mineral fibres, the binder solution comprising: a reducing sugar, an acid precursor derivable from an inorganic salt and a source of nitrogen; Collecting the mineral fibres to which the binder solution has been applied to form a batt of mineral fibres; and Curing the batt comprising the mineral fibres and the binder which is in contact with the mineral fibres by passing the batt through a curing oven so as to provide a batt of mineral fibres held together by a substantially water insoluble cured binder.