A method for manufacturing a compact includes a mixing step of mixing a fiber and a powder of a binder to obtain a mixture; an accumulating step of accumulating the mixture to form a web; a humidifying step of adding water to the web; and a forming step of heating and pressurizing the water-added web to obtain a compact. The binder binds between fiber molecules by the addition of water. The powder has an average particle diameter (D50) of 20.0 μm or less.

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.

The present invention relates to a method of producing a fabric impregnated with an aqueous binder composition of thinned starch and optionally non-thinned starch. In one aspect, such a method includes providing an aqueous binder composition; providing a fabric, applying an aqueous binder composition to the fabric; and drying the fabric. The invention also relates to the fabric obtained and the use thereof in bituminous membrane layer.

A method for consolidating a fibrous material of plant-based fibers, such as cellulose fibers and/or poly-lactic acid fibers, the method including: applying to the fibrous material an aqueous solution including a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof, and an acid, the aqueous solution having a pH within the range of from 3 to 7, optionally within the range of from 3 to 6, optionally within the range of from 3 to 4.5; and drying the bonded fibrous material, optionally at 100° C. or higher. Also, a fibrous material formed by the method, an aqueous binder solution including a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof, and an acid, and a nonwoven material including airlaid plant-based fibers being consolidated by a bio-based binder in the presence of a carboxylic acid, the bio-based binder being a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof.

A method for consolidating a fibrous material of plant-based fibers, such as cellulose fibers and/or poly-lactic acid fibers, the method including: applying to the fibrous material an aqueous solution including a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof, and an acid, the aqueous solution having a pH within the range of from 3 to 7, optionally within the range of from 3 to 6, optionally within the range of from 3 to 4.5; and drying the bonded fibrous material, optionally at 100° C. or higher. Also, a fibrous material formed by the method, an aqueous binder solution including a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof, and an acid, and a nonwoven material including airlaid plant-based fibers being consolidated by a bio-based binder in the presence of a carboxylic acid, the bio-based binder being a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof.

A fabric of nanofibers that includes an adhesive is described. The nanofibers can be twisted or both twisted and coiled prior to formation into a fabric. The adhesive can be selectively applied to or infiltrated within portions of the nanofibers comprising the nanofiber fabric. The adhesive enables connection of the nanofiber fabric to an underlying substrate, even in cases in which the underlying substrate has a three-dimensional topography, while the selective location of the adhesive on the fabric limits the contact area between the adhesive and the nanofibers of the nanofiber fabric. This limited contact area can help preserve the beneficial properties of the nanofibers (e.g., thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, infra-red (IR) radiation transparency) that otherwise might be degraded by the presence of adhesive.

A fabric of nanofibers that includes an adhesive is described. The nanofibers can be twisted or both twisted and coiled prior to formation into a fabric. The adhesive can be selectively applied to or infiltrated within portions of the nanofibers comprising the nanofiber fabric. The adhesive enables connection of the nanofiber fabric to an underlying substrate, even in cases in which the underlying substrate has a three-dimensional topography, while the selective location of the adhesive on the fabric limits the contact area between the adhesive and the nanofibers of the nanofiber fabric. This limited contact area can help preserve the beneficial properties of the nanofibers (e.g., thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, infra-red (IR) radiation transparency) that otherwise might be degraded by the presence of adhesive.

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.

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.