A method of recycling glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials that can provide improved quality recycled glass fiber is described. More particularly, the method comprises pyrolysis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite scrap and/or end-of-life material and the subsequent immersion of the pyrolyzed glass fibers in a molten salt bath, e.g., comprising molten potassium nitrate. Immersion in the molten salt bath can eliminate char from the pyrolyzed fibers, as well as removing residual inorganic materials. In addition, immersion in the molten salt bath can strengthen the glass fiber, which can result in the recovery or avoidance of tensile strength losses normally incurred through traditional char removal processes.

A method of recycling glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials that can provide improved quality recycled glass fiber is described. More particularly, the method comprises pyrolysis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite scrap and/or end-of-life material and the subsequent immersion of the pyrolyzed glass fibers in a molten salt bath, e.g., comprising molten potassium nitrate. Immersion in the molten salt bath can eliminate char from the pyrolyzed fibers, as well as removing residual inorganic materials. In addition, immersion in the molten salt bath can strengthen the glass fiber, which can result in the recovery or avoidance of tensile strength losses normally incurred through traditional char removal processes.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a boron containing glass, comprising melting raw materials including boron compounds in a submerged combustion melter (11), withdrawing flue gases from said melter and recovering heat from said flue gases in appropriate heat recovery equipment prior to release into the environment.

Disclosed herein are methods for forming low melting point glass fibers comprising providing a glass feedstock comprising a low melting point glass and melt-spinning the glass feedstock to produce glass fibers, wherein the glass transition temperature of the glass fibers is less than or equal to about 120% of the glass transition temperature of the glass feedstock. The disclosure also relates to method for forming low melting point glass frit further comprising jet-milling the glass fibers. Low melting point glass frit and fibers produced by the methods described above are also disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein are methods for forming low melting point glass fibers comprising providing a glass feedstock comprising a low melting point glass and melt-spinning the glass feedstock to produce glass fibers, wherein the glass transition temperature of the glass fibers is less than or equal to about 120% of the glass transition temperature of the glass feedstock. The disclosure also relates to method for forming low melting point glass frit further comprising jet-milling the glass fibers. Low melting point glass frit and fibers produced by the methods described above are also disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions. In some embodiments, the glass and articles exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of Murine Norovirus under Modified JIS Z 2801 Test for Viruses testing conditions.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions. In some embodiments, the glass and articles exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of Murine Norovirus under Modified JIS Z 2801 Test for Viruses testing conditions.

A submerged combustion melter is arranged with a melting chamber, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners.

A submerged combustion melter is arranged with a melting chamber, which may be cylindrical, and at least five submerged combustion burners.