The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a shaped composite, comprising the preparation of a mixture into which fragments of mineral wool comprising a size comprising a sugar, a non-cement silica carrier distinct from the wool, a non-cement alkali metal carrier distinct from the wool, and water, are introduced, the non-cement silica carrier and the non-cement alkali metal carrier forming, with the water, a mineral binder which gradually solidifies around the solid particles present in the mixture, and then the shaping of the mixture into a shaped composite, in particular into briquettes. The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of mineral wool, in which a molten mass is produced which is converted into mineral wool by means of a fiberizing device, the shaped composite being introduced as vitrifiable charge into a melting chamber, such as a cupola furnace.

A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an addition product of an amine and a reactant to form an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product is a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an addition product of an amine and a reactant to form an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product is a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

An optical fiber includes: a core; a cladding layer that is lower in refractive index than the core; and a depressed layer that lies between the core and the cladding layer and that is lower in refractive index than the cladding layer, wherein: the optical fiber has an effective core area Aeff that is equal to or greater than 100 ?m.sup.2 and equal to or less than 129 ?m.sup.2, the core has a radius r1 that is equal to or greater than 5.2 ?m and equal to or less than 7.4 ?m, the core has a refractive index volume Vcore that is equal to or greater than 8.5% ?m.sup.2 and equal to or less than 16.5% ?m.sup.2, the depressed layer has a refractive index volume Vdep that is equal to or greater than ?40% ?m.sup.2 and less than 0% ?m.sup.2.

A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an addition product of an amine and a reactant to form an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product is a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

A curable formaldehyde-free binding composition for use with fiberglass is provided. Such curable composition comprises an addition product of an amine and a reactant to form an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when applied to fiberglass is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion to glass. In a preferred embodiment the fiberglass is in the form of building insulation. In other embodiments the product is a microglass-based substrate for use in a printed circuit board, battery separator, filter stock, or reinforcement scrim.

An optical fiber includes a glass fiber and a coating resin layer with which the glass fiber is covered, wherein the coating resin layer includes tin and a cured ultraviolet curable resin composition containing 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenyl phosphine as a photoinitiator, a percentage of uncured components having a molecular weight of 1000 or less included in the coating resin layer is 15% by mass or less, and a fraction of an amount of a phosphorus-tin complex with respect to an amount of hydrocarbon on the surface of coating resin layer is 1000 ppm or less.

An optical fiber includes a glass fiber and a coating resin layer with which the glass fiber is covered, wherein the coating resin layer includes tin and a cured ultraviolet curable resin composition containing 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenyl phosphine as a photoinitiator, a percentage of uncured components having a molecular weight of 1000 or less included in the coating resin layer is 15% by mass or less, and a fraction of an amount of a phosphorus-tin complex with respect to an amount of hydrocarbon on the surface of coating resin layer is 1000 ppm or less.

An optical fiber comprises a glass fiber having a core and a cladding with which the core is covered, and a coating resin layer with which the glass fiber is covered, the coating resin layer having a colored layer of a thickness of 10 ?m or more, wherein a change rate of a yellow index of the coating resin layer after aging due to temperature and humidity under an environment of 85? C. and 85% RH for 30 days is 5 or less per day.

An optical fiber comprises a glass fiber having a core and a cladding with which the core is covered, and a coating resin layer with which the glass fiber is covered, the coating resin layer having a colored layer of a thickness of 10 ?m or more, wherein a change rate of a yellow index of the coating resin layer after aging due to temperature and humidity under an environment of 85? C. and 85% RH for 30 days is 5 or less per day.