Erosion resistant mounting mats

Abstract

A mat for supporting a monolith, the mat comprising one or more first portions comprising fibers at least partially coated with an erosion resistant inorganic (e.g. silica) gel composition or a precursor thereof.

Claims

1. A mounting mat comprising one or more first portions comprising fibres at least partially coated with a silica precursor, which forms an erosion resistant inorganic gel composition on the fibres, wherein said silica precursor comprises a compound having the general formula: ##STR00003## where R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are the same or different and may comprise H or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chains.

2. A mat according to claim 1, wherein a major surface area of the first portion or portions comprises less than 80% of the major surface area of the mat.

3. A mat according to claim 2, wherein the major surface area of the first portion or portions comprises less than 40%, less than 30%, less than 20% or less than 10% of the major surface area of the mat.

4. A mat according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the first portion is adjacent at least part of an intended leading edge of the mat.

5. A mat according to claim 1, wherein one or each of said at least one first portions extend through at least a part of an entire thickness of the mat.

6. A mat according to claim 1, wherein the mat comprises a plurality of the first portions.

7. A mat according to claim 6, wherein the first portions are arranged in a random or regular pattern across a major surface of the mat.

8. A mat according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of first portions comprise columns of the erosion resistant inorganic gel composition, which columns extend through part or substantially all of a thickness of the mat.

9. A mat according to claim 8, wherein the columns are arranged in a regular pattern, each first column being between 1 mm and 50 mm from its nearest neighbour or neighbours.

10. A mat according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the mat comprises an erosion resistant material and wherein the mat undergoes 28 mm.sup.2 or less of erosion when subjected to Erosion Test 1 and the mat undergoes 50 mm.sup.2 or less of erosion when subjected to Erosion Test 2.

11. A mat according to claim 1, wherein the mat has a minimum wrapping diameter of less than 100 mm according to Flexibility Test 1 and a flexibility of less than 180 mm.sup.2N.sup.1 according to Flexibility Test 2.

12. A catalytic convertor comprising the mounting mat of claim 1.

13. A catalytic convertor comprising the mounting mat of claim 1, wherein the inorganic gel composition comprises a silica compound or silicone polymer or gel, formed on the fibres by an acid or base catalysed reaction of a silica precursor.

14. A mat according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the mat comprises an erosion resistant material and wherein the mat undergoes 28 mm.sup.2 or less of erosion when subjected to Erosion Test 1 or the mat undergoes 50 mm.sup.2 or less of erosion when subjected to Erosion Test 2.

15. A mat according to claim 1, wherein the mat has a minimum wrapping diameter of less than 100 mm according to Flexibility Test 1 or a flexibility of less than 180 mm.sup.2N.sup.1 according to Flexibility Test 2.

16. The mat according to claim 1, further comprising a second portion substantially free from said silica precursor.

17. The mat according to claim 1, wherein said silica precursor forms an erosion resistant inorganic gel composition on the fibres by an acid or base catalyzed reaction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order that the invention be more easily understood, specific embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawings.

(2) FIG. 1A shows a mat, a part of which is treated with an erosion resistant material;

(3) FIG. 1B shows a mat, a part of which is treated with an erosion resistant material, wrapped around a monolith;

(4) FIG. 2 a mat being treated with an erosion resistant material;

(5) FIG. 3A shows an SEM photograph of a mat according to the invention and FIG. 3B shows an SEM photograph of a comparative mat;

(6) FIGS. 4 and 4A show a mat having a plurality of portions treated with an erosion is resistant material;

(7) FIG. 5 shows photographs of mats according to Comparative Example 1 and Example 1;

(8) FIG. 6 shows photographs of according to Comparative Example 1, Comparative Example 2 and Example 1;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a graph of erosion characteristics of mats of the invention treated with piperidine catalysed mixtures of differing silica solids content;

(10) FIG. 8 shows SEM photographs of mats according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 9 a bar chart of the pressure performance of several mats according to the invention;

(12) FIG. 10 shows a bar chart of the pressure performance of several mats according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 11 shows a graph of the Push Out characteristics of mats according to the present invention and the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is provided a mat 10 having principal dimensions length A and width B, the mat 10 being shaped for wrapping around a monolith 18 such that dimension A is aligned along the principal axis of the monolith 18. The mat 10 is comprised of non-woven alumina silica fibres and includes an organic, e.g. latex, binder which helps to maintain its structural integrity during handling. The mat is treated with an erosion resistant material in that a portion 12 of the mat, inward of a first edge 14 and parallel with dimension B comprises a silica gel. The remaining portion 16 of the mat 10 is substantially free from such silica gel. The portion 12 of the mat 10 which comprises the silica gel is arranged such that the edge 14 along which it is positioned is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (corresponding to length A) of the mat 10 when it is wrapped around a monolith 18, as is shown in FIG. 1B.

(15) When the monolith 18 and mat 10 are canned and installed in a car exhaust system, the portion 12 of the mat 10 which comprises the silica gel provides the leading edge to gas flow (GF), i.e. it is positioned upstream of the rest of the mat. In this way, excellent erosion resistance properties are observed.

(16) The silica gel is applied to the mat by means of a silica precursor mixture.

(17) A simple method of applying the silica gel to the mat 10 is shown in FIG. 2. A is trough 20 is filled with a silica precursor mixture, as described below, and the mat 10 is dipped into the trough 20 such that the solution 22 impregnates the portion 12 of the mat 10 which is adjacent the edge 14. The mat is left in the solution for a period of between a few seconds and several minutes. It is preferable that the mat 10 is wetted and any gel already formed begins to adhere to the fibres during dipping, and that the gelling will continue in the mat 10 after dipping. A second dipping step may also be performed.

(18) The mat 10 is dried in air at ambient or elevated temperatures, and/or at reduced pressure, to provide a flexible mat. Colloidal or polymeric silica from the dried gel adheres to the ends and surfaces of the fibres in the mat 10. The mat 10 is easily canned, with little or no damage to the silica gel.

(19) The chemistry of organosiloxanes such as TEOS provides for a convenient silica precursor for applying a silica gel to the mats 10.

(20) TEOS is not readily soluble in water, though an aqueous suspension of TEOS particles may be formed. Solubility may be improved by the addition of short chain alcohols, such as ethanol or propanol to the water.

(21) When TEOS does dissolve in water it tends to hydrolyse to form silica monomers and ethanol, which silica monomers may undergo a condensation reaction to form silica gel and/or dimers and/or oligomers and/or polymers.

(22) In fact, commercially available TEOS solutions, which are often referred to as ethyl silicate solutions, may contain dimers and other oligomers of ethyl silicate, the TEOS having been subjected to an initial hydrolysis and condensation treatment. Once such commercially available ethyl silicate solution is ADOMINE ES-40, produced by Allchem of Slough, UK.

(23) By careful use of acid or base catalysts, TEOS/ethyl silicate solutions can be exploited by means of an efficient sol-gel reaction to produce a silica gel. It is this reaction which takes place in the solution 22 in which the mat 10 is dipped, and on the wetted portion 12 of the mat 10 after dipping.

(24) A solution 22 for treating the mats 10 may typically comprise an ethyl silicate solution, one or more short chain alcohols such as propanol or methylated spirit, water and a small quantity of an acid or base catalyst.

(25) Both weak and strong acids and weak and strong bases may be used as catalysts.

(26) FIG. 3A shows an SEM photograph of fibres of a mat treated with such a silica precursor solution, clearly showing fibres coated with the silica gel so formed. The thickness of the coating is relatively small compared to the thickness of the fibre. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is postulated that this relative thickness is provided by the low silica solids content in the treatment mixture and/or the controlled gelling time offered by the catalyst in the treatment mixture.

(27) In particular, it is noted that the interstices of the fibres are substantially free from the build up of any material, e.g. particulate material such as particulate silica.

(28) The coated fibres provide excellent erosion resistance while maintaining flexibility of the mat.

(29) FIG. 3B shows an SEM photograph of fibres of a mat treated with a commercially available silica colloid known as Dow 84 (available from Dow Covering). As can be clearly seen, particulate material fills and bridges the interstitial spaces between fibres.

(30) In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, there is provided a mat 10 for mounting a catalytic convertor. The mat 10 comprises non-woven alumina silica fibres and a latex binder which helps to maintain structural integrity during handling and improving high pressure performance.

(31) A plurality of columns 24 of silica gel extend through the mat 10 such that a pattern of spots is formed on the surface of the mat. These columns 24 provide excellent erosion resistance in use as well as giving further structural integrity, while allowing the mat to be wrapped easily around a monolith during installation.

(32) Columns 24 are manufactured by injecting aliquots of an ethyl silicate mixture, as described above, into the mat. Alternatively, the ethyl silicate mixture may be spotted onto the surface of the mat and the column allowed to form by capillary action through the mat. Additional solvent, such as isopropanol, may be added to the columns 24 after injection or spotting to promote capillary action and/or to control the concentration profile of silica the column.

(33) Variation of the grid pattern of the columns and/or the concentration of the ethyl silicate mixture and/or the quantity of the ethyl silica mixture used to make the columns can vary the pressure performance (PP) and the flexibility of the mat. As the skilled person understands, it is desirable to produce a mat with as high PP and flexibility as possible.

(34) The present invention provides means for increasing the PP, while retaining flexibility, and some or all of the above described parameters may be altered to provide optimal performance with mats of different fibres and/or basis weights and/or thicknesses. For example, it may be desirable to load more silica precursor into a mat of greater thickness and/or basis weight than into a thinner and/or lighter mat.

(35) Of course, it may also be desirable to treat the entire mat with an ethyl silicate mixture or other such aqueous silica precursor. This may be carried out by simply immersing a mat in such a mixture or spraying the mixture onto the mat (for example to provide a layer of silica on one or both major surfaces of the mat), before allowing it to dry. Alternatively, the fibres themselves may be treated with an ethyl silicate mixture or other such aqueous silica precursor prior to their formation into a mat.

(36) It is also recognised that the silica treatment may have an effect of repairing defects in fibres or damaged fibres.

(37) In order that the invention may be more fully understood, I now refer to the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLE 1

(38) A liquid A containing, by volume:

(39) 66% ethyl silicate solution (40% silica solids, partially hydrolysed and partially to condensed)

(40) 32% Propanol

(41) 0.5% Piperidine

(42) 0.5% Water

(43) and a liquid B containing, by volume:

(44) 75% Methylated spirit

(45) 25% Water

(46) were mixed in a ratio of A:B, by volume, of 1:3 to make a silica precursor liquid C.

(47) Immediately, an alumina silica fibre mat, of density of approximately 0.15 gcm.sup.3 to 0.2 gcm.sup.3, fabricated from Saffil fibres was partially immersed in liquid C such that a portion running the length of its leading edge and 5 mm wide was saturated.

(48) The mat was then removed and dried at ambient temperature and pressure for two days. The mat was handleable and flexible.

(49) In order to determine the erosion resistance of the mats, two tests were used, as follows:

(50) Erosion Test 1

(51) In order to test the erosion resistance of the mats, the following test was applied:

(52) First, the mat is compressed to a fibre gap bulk density (FGBD) of 0.6 gcm.sup.3 and held for 300 seconds.

(53) The mat is then held at FGBD 0.4 gcm.sup.3 while its binder is burned out at up to 900 C. and is cycled at FGBD 0.4 gcm.sup.3 and 15% RGE for 2500 cycles.

(54) The mat is then held in a spacer at a compression of FGBD 0.3 gcm.sup.3 while it is subjected to a 200 Hz pulsed stream of air at ambient temperature and at a pressure of 0.16 MPa for 50 minutes. The nozzles emitting the jet of air were positioned 11 mm from the mat.

(55) The volume of the mat which has been eroded was measured using a fluid displacement test.

(56) Erosion Test 2

(57) The second erosion test, simulating conditions in a close coupled catalytic convertor, consists of the steps:

(58) Compressing the mat to FGBD 0.56 gcm.sup.3 for 300 seconds.

(59) Holding the mat in a compression of FGBD 0.3 gcm.sup.3 and to burn out the binder at up to 700 C. and cycling for 2500 cycles at FGBD 0.3 gcm.sup.3 and 8% RGE.

(60) Holding the mat in a spacer at a compression of FGBD 0.27 gcm.sup.3 while it is subjected to a 200 Hz pulsed stream of air at ambient temperature and at a pressure of 0.16 MPa for 50 minutes. The nozzles emitting the jet of air were positioned 11 mm from the mat.

(61) As in Erosion Test 1, the volume of the mat was measured by a displacement test to assess the level of erosion.

(62) A mat produced according to Example 1 was tested by Erosion Test 1 and Erosion Test 2, in each case with the treated edge facing into the pulsed stream of air. The results are shown in Table 1, below.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

(63) A needled mullite fibre mat having a bulk density of around 0.16 gcm.sup.3 was subjected to Erosion Test 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

(64) A needled mullite fibre mat having a bulk density of around 0.16 gcm.sup.3 was subjected to Erosion Test 2.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3

(65) An alumina silica fibre mat, impregnated with silica sol was subjected to Erosion Test 2.

(66) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Erosion test results of mats of Examples 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 Example Erosion Test Eroded Volume/mm.sup.3 1 1 0 1 2 0 CE1 1 28 CE2 2 50 CE3 2 >100

(67) FIGS. 5 and 6 show photographs of the eroded mats following these tests, clearly to showing that while all of the mats of the comparative examples were eroded to a greater or lesser extend, the mats of Example 1 suffered no erosion at all in either test.

EXAMPLES 2 TO 8

(68) Several further mats were prepared, substantially according to the method of Example 1. However, different quantities of ethyl silicate were used in each treatment solution in order to assess an optimum silica solids concentration for effective erosion resistance.

(69) Each of these mats was subjected to Erosion Test 2.

(70) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Erosion test results of mats of Examples 2 to 8 % Silica Solids Example in Solution Eroded Volume/mm.sup.3 2 4.4 0 3 3.2 0 4 2.1 0 5 1.1 0.4 6 0.5 0.5 7 0.2 0.7 8 0.1 16.8

(71) As can be seen from FIG. 7, where the results are displayed graphically, the mats of the invention appear to be fully erosion resistant when treated with an ethyl silicate formulation having a silica solids concentration of just 2%, while mats have very effective erosion resistance when treated with an ethyl silicate solution having a silica solids concentration of just 0.2%. Moreover, the mat of Example 8, treated with an ethyl silicate solution having a silica solids concentration of 0.1% shows a considerably improved erosion resistance compared to a needled mat.

(72) Flexibility Test 1

(73) Mats having dimensions of 200 mm (width) and 160 mm (length) are tested to determine the minimum diameter around which it can be wrapped without splitting the mat.

EXAMPLES 9 TO 13

(74) Several further mats were prepared, substantially according to the method of Example 1. However, different quantities of ethyl silicate were used in each treatment solution in order to assess effects of the silica on the flexibility of the finished mats according to Flexibility Test 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4

(75) An untreated mat of dimensions of 200 mm (width) and 160 mm (length) was tested according to Flexibility Test 1.

(76) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Flexibility Test 1 results of mats of Examples 9 to 13 % Silica Solids Minimum wrapping Example in Solution diameter/mm 9 20 98 10 15 94 11 10 86 12 5 82 13 2 77 CE4 0 74

(77) Of course, as is understood by one skilled in the art, the use of more flexible untreated mats, for example as may be commercially available, would enable those mats when to have correspondingly greater flexibility.

EXAMPLES 14 TO 16

(78) In order to assess the impact of ethyl silicate gelling time on the erosion performance of the mats, mats were prepared using 5 w/w % silica solids solutions made substantially according to Example 1, having various concentrations of piperidine catalyst. The concentrations of catalyst solutions are shown in Table 4, below.

(79) The mats were subjected to Erosion Test 1. The results are shown in Table 4, below.

(80) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Erosion Test 1 results of Examples 14 to 16 % Piperidine in Example Solution Gel Time/min Eroded Volume/mm.sup.3 14 1 10 >50 15 0.5 15-20 >50 16 0.2 >60 0

(81) The results of Examples 14 to 16 clearly show that by careful control of the gelling time by the use of small quantities of catalyst, improvements in erosion performance can be achieved using treatment mixtures having low silica solids concentrations. This also provides increased flexibility in the finished mats.

(82) Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is postulated that fast gelling rates produce crude gel structures that are brittle and susceptible to mechanical damage. This is demonstrated by an SEM photograph of the treated fibres of Example 14, as shown in FIG. 8A.

(83) FIG. 8B, on the other hand shows an SEM photograph of the treated fibres of Example 16. The slow gelling rate has produced evenly coated fibres which are less porous and less brittle.

EXAMPLES 17 TO 21

(84) Columns of Liquid A (each approximately 0.05 cm.sup.3) were injected into aluminosilicate mats formed using Saffil Fibres. To each of these columns was then added approximately 0.55 cm.sup.3 Liquid B. The columns were positioned in a square grid pattern on each mat at spacings as shown in Table 5 below. The columns themselves were of approximately 1 mm in diameter, before any of the solvent had wicked outwardly.

(85) The mats were dried in air for two days and were handleable and flexible.

(86) The PP of the mats was tested using the following test method.

(87) Pressure Performance (PP) Test

(88) Mats are fired up to 700 C. to remove any remaining organic species and the binder. The mats are then cycled 2500 times in a spacer between a compression of FGBD 0.4 gcm.sup.3 and an 8% relative gap expansion (RGE). The holding pressure was then measured at 8% RGE at the 2500.sup.th cycle.

(89) Each of the mats of Examples 17 to 21 were subjected to the PP Test and the results were compared to the PP of a standard, untreated alumina silica fibre mat. The results are shown in Table 3, below, demonstrating that PP tends to increase as the spacing between the columns decreases, the 0.5 cm spaced columns of the mat of Example 21 giving approximately double the PP of the untreated mat.

(90) Flexibility Test 2

(91) Mats having dimensions of 200 mm (width) and 160 mm (length) are tested to determine the load required to bend the mats by 20 mm displacement, using a calibrated load cell.

(92) Each of the mats of Examples 17 to 21 was subjected to the Flexibility Test, together with an untreated alumina fibre mat. The results are shown in Table 3, below.

(93) As can be seen, the mats of Examples 17 to 19 offer at least comparable flexibility to the untreated mat, while also affording a real increase in PP.

(94) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Flexibility and PP of mats of Examples 9 to 13 PP (% greater than Flexibility/ Example Column spacing/cm untreated mat) mm.sup.2N.sup.1 17 2.5 19 68 18 2.0 50 84 19 1.5 43 87 20 1.0 77 115 21 0.5 98 170 Untreated mat 0 60

EXAMPLE 22

(95) 100 g of a single solution formulation for treating mats was made up by mixing:

(96) 40 g solution of ethyl silicate (40% silica solids, prehydrolysed containing small polymer chains);

(97) 46.2 g isopropanol;

(98) 13.8 g water.

(99) This solution equates to a silica solids content of approximately 16%.

(100) This solution was made up at pH 6, using acetic acid and was injected into an alumina silica fibre mat to form columns (0.6 cm.sup.3 per column) in a square grid is pattern at 1.5 cm spacing. The mat was dried in air for 1 day.

(101) The remaining solution gelled slowly and it was possible to continue to use the remaining solution for several hours.

(102) This mat was then tested by Erosion Test 2 and was found to demonstrate zero erosion.

EXAMPLES 23 TO 35

(103) The effect of the silica solids concentration and pH of the ethyl silicate mixture was further investigated in Examples 23 to 35. Mixtures were made up in a similar manner to that of Example 14, using various concentrations of silica solids and different pHs, using various acids and bases, as demonstrated in Table 4, below. Each mixture contained approximately equal stoichiometric quantities of water and isopropanol.

(104) Mats were then treated with these mixtures to form columns in a square grid pattern at 1.5 cm spacing. The mats were then subjected to the PP test. The results are shown in Table 6.

(105) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 PP of mats of Examples 23 to 35 Example % Silica Solids pH/acid or base added PP/kPa 23 22.86 pH 6/none added 145 24 22.86 pH 2/HCl 132 25 22.86 pH 5/acetic acid 126 26 22.86 pH 8/ammonia 127 27 16 pH 6/none added 141 28 16 pH 2/HCl 135 29 16 pH 5/acetic acid 121 30 16 pH 8/ammonia 104 31 16 pH 2/HCl 133 32 8.4 pH 6/none added 124 33 8.4 pH 2/HCl 127 34 8.4 pH 5/acetic acid 112 35 35.6 pH 6/acetic acid 137

(106) The results appear to show that a pH close to neutral provides improved PP, while reducing the concentration of silica solids in the mixture leads to a fall off in PP.

(107) The results are shown graphically in FIG. 9, which also displays a line denoting the PP of an untreated mat. All examples show a considerable improvement in PP over an untreated mat.

(108) Examples 34 and 35 were also tested according to Erosion Test 2, and were found to have suffered no erosion.

EXAMPLES 36 TO 39

(109) The effect of the drying conditions of the mats was investigated in Examples 36 to 39.

(110) Examples 36 to 38 provide mats treated by a solution made up in a similar manner to that of Example 22 but having a silica solids concentration of 22.86%, catalysed by acetic acid. The treatment comprised forming columns in a square grid arrangement at 1.5 cm spacing.

(111) Example 39 provides a mat treated by a solution made up in a similar manner to that is of Example 22 but having a silica solids concentration of 35.7%, catalysed by acetic acid. The treatment comprised forming columns in a square grid arrangement at 1.5 cm spacing.

(112) Each of the mats was subjected to the PP test. The results are shown in Table 5 below.

(113) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Drying time of mats of Examples 36 to 39 Example Drying Time Drying Temp/ C. PP/kPa 36 .sup.1 Day 25 141 37 3 hr 60 135 38 1 hr 60 128 39 2 hr Ambient 134

(114) The results appear to show that drying time can be reduced significantly from 1 day to 1 to 3 hours, while having little impact on the PP of the mat. The results are shown graphically in FIG. 10, which also displays a line denoting the PP of an untreated mat.

EXAMPLES 40 TO 42

(115) The use of ethyl silicates to treat an entire major surface of a mat was investigated in Examples 40 to 42. In each Example, a 4 w/w % silica solids solution (made substantially according to that of Example 1) was sprayed onto the surface of an alumina silica fibre mat. The mat was dried and tested according to the Friction Test, the results being shown in Table 8, below.

(116) Friction Test

(117) In order to assess the coefficient of friction of the sample mats, a pair of mats is placed in a load cell either side of central panel. If the mats have a treated major surface, that surface is positioned so as to contact the central panel. The load cell is then adjusted to compress the mats to a desired fibre gap bulk density and the force F.sub.1 required to do so is recorded. The central panel is removed and the maximum pull-out force F.sub.2 is recorded. The coefficient of friction is calculated as F.sub.1/F.sub.2.

(118) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Results of Friction Tests for Examples 40 to 41. Untreated Treated friction friction Friction Example FGBD measurement measurement Boost/% 40 0.3 0.413 0.499 17 41 0.4 0.278 0.313 11 42 0.5 0.209 0.216 4

(119) These results provide a significant increase in friction at low FGBD, potentially meaning a reduction in the quantity of fibre in each mat can be achieved, without a corresponding loss in holding pressure.

EXAMPLES 43 TO 45

(120) Use of different silica solids concentrations in surface treatment of mats was investigated in Examples 43 to 45. The mats were made substantially as according to Examples 40 to 42, containing 8 w/w % silica solids (Example 43), 10 w/w % silica solids (Example 44) and 12 w/w % silica solids (Example 45).

(121) Push Out Test

(122) In order to test the performance of a mat in holding a monolith, the mat is wrapped around a monolith and canned so as to provide a FGBD of 0.3. If the mat has a treated major surface, that surface is arranged to face the can. The canned assembly is then heated to 900 C. and allowed to call. An axial force is then applied to the monolith in order to move it through 5 mm, the magnitude of that force being continually measured.

(123) Examples 43 to 45 were tested according to the Push Out Test. FIG. 15A shows a plot of the measured force against movement for each. FIG. 11B shows a plot of the measured force against movement for an untreated mat and the mat of Example 43.

(124) The mat of Example 43 shows a maximum push out force of 1490N, representing an 8% increase over an untreated mat.

EXAMPLES 46 TO 47

(125) Alumina silica fibres were treated with ethyl silicate solutions made substantially according to that of Example 1, having a piperidine catalyst concentration of 0.2 w/w % and silica solids concentrations as shown in Table 9, below, and then dried.

(126) Mats were then made by slurrying the resultant fibres with a latex binder and those mats were tested according to the Pressure Performance Test.

(127) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 9 Results of PP Test for Examples 46 and 47 w/w % Silica solids in Example treatment solution PP/kPa 46 0.5 110 47 1 136 Untreated Mat 85

(128) The mats may be formed by wet laying papermaking techniques using a binder, needling or other consolidation techniques or dry laying techniques and suitably consolidated.

(129) In some embodiments, the silica precursor mixture may be printed or sprayed onto the mat. This may be followed by the addition of further solvent, such as isopropanol, to aid penetration of the mat by the precursor.

(130) The mat may be other insulation materials, end cones and so on, in fact any material against which gas impinges. The skilled person will also recognise that the mat may also be used in marine or static applications.

(131) No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the spirit and scope of the invention.