An aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers which comprises at least one polyelectrolytic hydrocolloid.

A foaming process for converting fibrous material into a cellular foam structure includes mixing fibrous material and a solvent-based binding agent to form a mixture; saturating the mixture with a pressurized gas to form a gas-saturated mixture; expanding the gas-saturated mixture by reducing the pressure of the pressurized gas to form an expanded mixture with voids in the fibrous material; and curing the expanded mixture to set the fibrous material and drive off the solvent to provide a stable network of fibrous material having cushioning properties.

A binder has at least one isocyanate and at least one biopolymer mixed with water. The biopolymer may be a biopolymer nanoparticle or cooked and chemically modified starch. Optionally, the binder may also include urea. The biopolymer and water are mixed, and the isocyanate is added to the mixture. The binder may have a viscosity that is suitable for being sprayed on a substrate to make a composite material, for example a viscosity of 700 cP or less or 500 cP or less at 40 C. The substrate may be wood, another lignocellulosic material, or synthetic or natural fibers. In particular examples, the binder is used to make no added formaldehyde wood composites including particle board and fiberboard. Alternatively, the binder may have a higher viscosity and be used to make plywood.

Disclosed herein is a composite material composition for producing a biodegradable composite material. The biodegradable composite material is at least one of air resistant and water-resistant. Further, the composite material composition includes fiber present in an amount of from 30% to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the composite material composition. Further, the composite material composition includes starch present in an amount of from 20% to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the composite material composition. Further, the composite material composition includes filler particles present in an amount of from 20% to 40% by weight based on the total weight of the composite material composition and at least one binding agent present in an amount of from 1% to 5% by weight based on the total weight of the composite material composition. Further, the at least one binding agent is biodegradable.

A method and a mineral wool product include a multiple of lamellae, such as a sandwich panel core. The product includes a plurality of lamellae cut from a mineral wool web, and bonded together by applying an adhesive on the surfaces of two adjacent lamellae to form a web-like product, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one hydrocolloid.

The invention relates to a composition comprising: at least one aliphatic polyester (A) comprising diols containing at least ethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol or mixtures thereof and diacids containing at least succinic acid, adipic acid or mixtures thereof; at least one starch (B); at least one organic plasticiser (C) for starch; optionally, an additional polyester or a mixture of additional polyesters (D) different from polyester (A). The composition is characterised in that it also comprises citric acid (E), the amount by weight of citric acid varying between 0.01 and 0.45 parts per 100 parts of the total dry weight of (A), (B), (C) and (D).

Described herein are blends of starch or starch-based materials with polymeric materials, where the starch or starch-based material is intimately blended with the polymeric material, so as to exhibit very small particles sizes (e.g., less than 2 m, or less than 1 m) for the starch or starch-based material in the matrix of the polymeric material. Such intimate dispersion of very small particles provides for far more of the particles dispersed more evenly throughout the matrix of the polymeric material, which may enhance various performance characteristics of the blended composite material. Methods of producing articles from such blends exhibiting such small particles and excellent dispersion are also disclosed.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprising at least one polyelectrolytic hydrocolloid.

The present invention relates to a method of providing thermal and/or acoustic insulation to a structure, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate which comprises fibres; applying the substrate to the structure; blending the substrate with a binder composition before, during or after application of the substrate to the structure; allowing curing of the binder composition after the substrate and the binder composition have been applied to the structure; wherein the binder composition comprises at least one hydrocolloid. The present invention also relates to an insulated structure obtainable by said method.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder composition for mineral fibers comprising at least one hydrocolloid.