Formaldehyde-free binder compositions are described that include an aldehyde or ketone, a nitrogen-containing salt of an inorganic acid, and an acidic compound. The acidic compound may be an organic acid, such as maleic acid or citric acid among others. The acidic compound is supplied in quantities that lower the pH of the binder composition to about 5 or less. The binder compositions may be used in methods of binding fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass products have an improved tensile strength due to the addition of the acidic compound.

The present invention relates to an aqueous binding composition containing at least one reducing sugar; at least one sulphamate and/or sulphamic acid; a pH-adjusting agent which includes ammonium hydroxide (NH.sub.4OH), an organic and/or inorganic ammonium salt and/or an organic amine or combinations thereof; and at least one lactam. The binder may be effectively used to bind cotton fibers, cellulose fibers, organic fabrics, carbon powders, natural and artificial inorganic fibers, thus obtaining products with high mechanical properties.

Aqueous cellulosic binder comprising modified cellulose (carboxymethylcellulose and/or sodium carboxymethylcellulose), water, and optionally binder modifier (crosslinking agent and/or wet strength agent); with a weight ratio of water modified cellulose of 99.9:0.1 to 1,000:500, with a weight ratio of binder modifier:modified cellulose of 1:2 to 1:1,000; wherein crosslinking agent comprises carboxylic acid having two or more carboxyl groups; and wherein wet strength agent comprises a reactive functional group (halide, chloride, fluoride, hydroxyl). A method of making aqueous cellulosic binder comprising contacting modified cellulose with water to form modified cellulose solution; and optionally contacting modified cellulose solution with binder modifier to form aqueous cellulosic binder. A nonwoven fabric comprising fiber web (85-99.9 wt. %); and cured cellulosic binder (0.1-15 wt. %). An article formed from the nonwoven fabric. A method of making nonwoven fabric comprising forming fiber web; contacting web with aqueous cellulosic binder to form binder impregnated fiber web; and curing to form the nonwoven fabric.

Composite Maillard-resole binders to produce or promote cohesion in non-assembled or loosely assembled matter.

The present invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion composition comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of single-phase thermoplastic polymer particles imbibed with a thermosettable compound having at least two oxirane groups. The thermoplastic polymer particles have a sufficient concentration of anti-agglomerating functional groups to stabilize the latex against agglomeration, and the thermoplastic polymer particles being a copolymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising, based on the total dry weight of the monomer mixture (a) 35 wt. % to 71 wt. % of ethyl acrylate, (b) 30 wt. % to 60 wt. % of methyl methacrylate, and (c) 5 wt. % to 10 wt. % methylol acrylamide.

Formaldehyde-free binder compositions are described that include an aldehyde or ketone, a nitrogen-containing salt of an inorganic acid, and an acidic compound. The acidic compound may be an organic acid, such as maleic acid or citric acid among others. The acidic compound is supplied in quantities that lower the pH of the binder composition to about 5 or less. The binder compositions may be used in methods of binding fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass products have an improved tensile strength due to the addition of the acidic compound.

Formaldehyde-free binder compositions are described that include an aldehyde or ketone, a nitrogen-containing salt of an inorganic acid, and an acidic compound. The acidic compound may be an organic acid, such as maleic acid or citric acid among others. The acidic compound is supplied in quantities that lower the pH of the binder composition to about 5 or less. The binder compositions may be used in methods of binding fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass products have an improved tensile strength due to the addition of the acidic compound.

A self-bonded nonwoven web, at least some cellulosic fibers that are self-bonded to each other at points of intersection of the cellulosic fibers with each other; and, an ionic liquid. Methods of making such a web are also disclosed, wherein the method comprises: contacting at least some of the first, cellulosic fibers with an ionic liquid; exposing the ionic liquid and the first, cellulosic fibers to a first temperature; and exposing the ionic liquid and the first, cellulosic fibers to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature.

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 fibrous insulation product is discloses comprising a plurality of randomly oriented fibers and a thermoset aqueous binder composition at least partially coating said fibers. The binder composition comprises at least one long-chain polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and a number average molecular weight of at least 2,000 Daltons, a cross-linking agent comprising at least two carboxylic acid groups, and a short-chain polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and a number average molecular weight less than 2,000 Daltons, wherein a ratio of long-chain polyol to short-chain polyol is from 0.1/0.9 to 0.9/0.1.