Fiber-containing composites are described that include woven or non-woven fibers, and a binder that holds the fibers together. The binder may include the reaction product of a starch and a polycarboxylic acid. The starch has a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 1×10.sup.7 Daltons. The fiber-containing composite has an unaged tensile strength of greater than 4.0 and an aged tensile strength greater than 3.0. Also described are methods of making the fiber-containing composites. The methods may include applying a binder composition to fibers to form coated fibers, measuring a moisture content of the coated fibers, and curing the coated fibers in a curing oven to form the fiber-containing composite. The binder composition may include a starch having a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 1×10.sup.7 Daltons, and a polycarboxylic acid.

Fiber-containing composites are described that include woven or non-woven fibers, and a binder that holds the fibers together. The binder may include the reaction product of a starch and a polycarboxylic acid. The starch has a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 1×10.sup.7 Daltons. The fiber-containing composite has an unaged tensile strength of greater than 4.0 and an aged tensile strength greater than 3.0. Also described are methods of making the fiber-containing composites. The methods may include applying a binder composition to fibers to form coated fibers, measuring a moisture content of the coated fibers, and curing the coated fibers in a curing oven to form the fiber-containing composite. The binder composition may include a starch having a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 1×10.sup.7 Daltons, and a polycarboxylic acid.

An outer wall material includes a first transparent member integrally or separately including a transparent plate material and a prism portion; and a reflection member provided on a second side of the prism portion of the first transparent member. The prism portion causes the reflection member to collect light whose angle with respect to a normal line of the plate material is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle and to retro-reflect the collected light, and transmits light whose angle with respect to the normal line of the plate material is less than the predetermined angle.

An outer wall material includes a first transparent member integrally or separately including a transparent plate material and a prism portion; and a reflection member provided on a second side of the prism portion of the first transparent member. The prism portion causes the reflection member to collect light whose angle with respect to a normal line of the plate material is equal to or greater than a predetermined angle and to retro-reflect the collected light, and transmits light whose angle with respect to the normal line of the plate material is less than the predetermined angle.

Fiber-containing composites are described that include woven or non-woven fibers, and a binder that holds the fibers together. The binder may include the reaction product of a starch and a polycarboxylic acid. The starch has a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 10×10.sup.6 Daltons. The fiber-containing composite has an unaged tensile strength of greater than 4.0 and an aged tensile strength greater than 3.0. Also described are methods of making the fiber-containing composites. The methods may include applying a binder composition to fibers to form coated fibers, measuring a moisture content of the coated fibers, and curing the coated fibers in a curing oven to form the fiber-containing composite. The binder composition may include a starch having a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 10×10.sup.6 Daltons, and a polycarboxylic acid.

Fiber-containing composites are described that include woven or non-woven fibers, and a binder that holds the fibers together. The binder may include the reaction product of a starch and a polycarboxylic acid. The starch has a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 10×10.sup.6 Daltons. The fiber-containing composite has an unaged tensile strength of greater than 4.0 and an aged tensile strength greater than 3.0. Also described are methods of making the fiber-containing composites. The methods may include applying a binder composition to fibers to form coated fibers, measuring a moisture content of the coated fibers, and curing the coated fibers in a curing oven to form the fiber-containing composite. The binder composition may include a starch having a weight average molecular weight that ranges from 1×10.sup.6 Daltons to 10×10.sup.6 Daltons, and a polycarboxylic acid.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt % MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %,

The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 61.0 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 28.0 to 39.0 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 0.85 wt % MgO other components, if any, providing the balance up to 100 wt %,

The sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 98.8 wt % and the other components comprise less than 0.70 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3, if any.

A device for thermally insulating, force-transmitting retrofitting of a second load-bearing construction element to a first load-bearing construction element has an insulation body to be arranged in a construction joint between the construction elements. The insulation body has a casing filled with insulation material. The casing has a first longitudinal side to be arranged at the first construction element and an oppositely positioned second longitudinal side. The casing has a length direction, a transverse direction, and an upright direction perpendicular to length direction and transverse direction. A compression element for transmitting compressive forces between first and second construction elements extends from the first to the second longitudinal side. First tension rods project into the casing at the first longitudinal side and second tension rods project into the casing at the second longitudinal side. A connection arrangement is arranged in the casing for force-transmittingly connecting the first and second tension rods.

A device for thermally insulating, force-transmitting retrofitting of a second load-bearing construction element to a first load-bearing construction element has an insulation body to be arranged in a construction joint between the construction elements. The insulation body has a casing filled with insulation material. The casing has a first longitudinal side to be arranged at the first construction element and an oppositely positioned second longitudinal side. The casing has a length direction, a transverse direction, and an upright direction perpendicular to length direction and transverse direction. A compression element for transmitting compressive forces between first and second construction elements extends from the first to the second longitudinal side. First tension rods project into the casing at the first longitudinal side and second tension rods project into the casing at the second longitudinal side. A connection arrangement is arranged in the casing for force-transmittingly connecting the first and second tension rods.