An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes an intended iron oxide additive to improve the dimensional stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal insulation performance at 1400 C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and which remains non-durable in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms comprising a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

The invention relates to a resorbable and biocompatible glass fiber bundle characterized in that the glass fibers of the bundle have an average diameter in the range of 5-30 m, as measured according to ASTM D1577-01 C, the glass fiber bundle having a coefficient of variation at most 15%. The invention also pertains to, and a method of obtaining this glass fiber bundle. Also, the invention relates to composites and medical devices produced with said glass fiber bundle.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes intended addition of lithium oxide to improve the thermal stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at 1260 C. and greater, low linear shrinkage, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components which further includes intended synergistic amounts of calcia and, an additional alkali metal oxide other than magnesia, such as lithium oxide, to improve the thermal performance and manufacturability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber is easier to manufacture, has a better fiber quality, exhibits good thermal performance at a use temperature of 1260 C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from the inorganic fibers.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes intended addition of lithium oxide to improve the thermal stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at 1260 C. and greater, low linear shrinkage, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

Inorganic fibers including the following composition, SiO.sub.2, MgO and CaO being main components: SiO.sub.2: 73.6 wt % to 85.9 wt %, MgO: 9.0 wt % to 21.3 wt %, CaO: 5.1 wt % to 12.4 wt %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3: 0 wt % or more and less than 2.3 wt %, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 0 wt % to 0.50 wt %.

Inorganic fibers including the following composition, SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO and CaO being main components, and the inorganic fibers being produced by a melting method: SiO.sub.2: 3.0 wt % or more and less than 48.0 wt %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3: more than 20.0 wt % and 80.0 wt % or less, MgO: 1.0 wt % or more and 50.0 wt % or less, CaO: 1.0 wt % or more and 50.0 wt % or less, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 0.0 wt % or more and less than 1.0 wt %.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes an intended iron oxide additive to improve the dimensional stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal insulation performance at 1400 C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and which remains non-durable in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms comprising a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components which further includes an intended strontium oxide additive to improve the thermal stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at 1260 C. and greater for 24 hours or more, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

A resorbable tissue scaffold fabricated from bioactive glass fiber forms a rigid three-dimensional porous matrix having a bioactive composition. Porosity in the form of interconnected pore space is provided by the space between the bioactive glass fiber in the porous matrix. Strength of the bioresorbable matrix is provided by bioactive glass that fuses and bonds the bioactive glass fiber into the rigid three-dimensional matrix. The resorbable tissue scaffold supports tissue in-growth to provide osteoconductivity as a resorbable tissue scaffold, used for the repair of damaged and/or diseased bone tissue.