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.2O.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

Active agent-containing articles, for example fibrous structures, that exhibit consumer acceptable article in-use properties, such as article peel strength, flexibility, article dimensions, and/or dissolvability, and methods for making same are provided.

Active agent-containing articles, for example fibrous structures, that exhibit consumer acceptable article in-use properties, such as article peel strength, flexibility, article dimensions, and/or dissolvability, and methods for making same are provided.

An insulating product includes mineral fibers of aluminosilicate glass including aluminum oxide, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, in a fraction by weight of between 14% and 28%, that are sized with a sizing composition including the following constituents within the limits defined below, expressed as fractions by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition: from 80% to 98% of water, from 2% to 20% of water-soluble poly(furfuryl alcohol), which is obtained by polycondensation of furfuryl alcohol, and less than 0.5% of furfuryl alcohol, wherein a sum of the fractions by weight of the poly (furfuryl alcohol) and of the water is at least 95%, and wherein the sizing composition applied to the mineral fibres has a pH in a range from 5 to 8.

A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product is provided and includes: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; and irrigating the growth substrate product. The aqueous binder composition prior to curing includes a component (i) in the form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in the form of one or more cross-linkers, and a component (iii) in the form of one or more plasticizers.

A method of growing plants in a coherent growth substrate product is provided and includes: providing at least one coherent growth substrate product comprising man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured aqueous binder composition; positioning one or more seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants in contact with the growth substrate product; and irrigating the growth substrate product. The aqueous binder composition prior to curing includes a component (i) in the form of one or more oxidized lignins, a component (ii) in the form of one or more cross-linkers, and a component (iii) in the form of one or more plasticizers.

A method for preparing an insulating product based on wool includes an aeration step inside a device, the device including a chamber and at least one structure capable of generating a turbulent gaseous flow, during the aeration step. A stream of carrier gas is introduced into the chamber and a wool in the form of nodules or flakes is subjected to the turbulent flow of this carrier gas with entrainment in one sense in a direction A and in the opposite sense in a direction B that is the opposite to the direction A so that within the chamber there is at least in one plane perpendicular to the direction A in which the wool entrained in the direction A crosses the wool entrained in the direction B.

A method for preparing an insulating product based on wool includes an aeration step inside a device, the device including a chamber and at least one structure capable of generating a turbulent gaseous flow, during the aeration step. A stream of carrier gas is introduced into the chamber and a wool in the form of nodules or flakes is subjected to the turbulent flow of this carrier gas with entrainment in one sense in a direction A and in the opposite sense in a direction B that is the opposite to the direction A so that within the chamber there is at least in one plane perpendicular to the direction A in which the wool entrained in the direction A crosses the wool entrained in the direction B.

An uncoated nonwoven fibrous mat having a reduced air porosity is disclosed comprising a first plurality of fibers having a length between about 10 mm and 20 mm and an average diameter between about 9 μm and 15 μm; a second plurality of fibers having a length between about 3 mm and 8 mm and an average diameter between about 5 μm and 8 μm; and a binder composition. The uncoated nonwoven fibrous mat has an air porosity less than about 550 CFM.

An uncoated nonwoven fibrous mat having a reduced air porosity is disclosed comprising a first plurality of fibers having a length between about 10 mm and 20 mm and an average diameter between about 9 μm and 15 μm; a second plurality of fibers having a length between about 3 mm and 8 mm and an average diameter between about 5 μm and 8 μm; and a binder composition. The uncoated nonwoven fibrous mat has an air porosity less than about 550 CFM.