Abstract A process of removing organic binder material from the surface of randomly oriented glass fibers forming a bulk material, particularly glass fiber insulation material, in which a gaseous mixture containing oxygen and water varpor is passed through the material, from which the air has previously been removed from the interstices thereof, at a temperature sufficient to effect removal of the organic binder from the surfaces of the glass fibers by volatization including vapourization oxidation and gasification thereof, but below that at which incipient fusion of the glass fibers occurs, the temperature of the glass fibers being maintained in said range by proportioning the amounts of oxygen and water vapour in the gaseous mixture such that the heat generated by the exothermic oxidation reaction is at least partially and preferably substantially completely balanced by the endothermic gasification reaction.
A METHOD OF REMOVING ORGANIC BINDER MATERIAL FROM THE SURFACE OF RANDOMLY ORIENTED GLASS FIBERS FORMING A BULK MATERIAL WHICH METHOD COMPRISES REMOVING OXYGEN FROM THE INTERSTICES OF SAID BULK MATERIAL AND PASSING A GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING OXYGEN AND WATER VAPOR THROUGH SAID BULK MATERIAL SO AS TO CONTACT THE SURFACES OF SAID GLASS FIBERS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 800*F TO 1,200*F WHICH IS AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE OXIDATION AND GASIFICATION OF THE ORGANIC BINDER MATERIAL WHICH TEMPERATURE IS BELOW THE INCIPIENT FUSION OF THE GLASS FIBERS; SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE BEING PREPARED BY INJECTING A WATER SPRAY INTO THE FLAME OF GAS BURNING FURNACE, SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE ALSO INCLUDING GASES WHICH ARE NON-REACTIVE WITH SAID BINDER; THE RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF WATER VAPOUR AND OXYGEN IN SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE BEING SELECTED TO MAINTAIN SAID TEMEPRATURE IN THE AFORESAID RANGE, SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING 1 TO 4 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF OXYGEN AND 30 TO 50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF WATER VAPOUR.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A METHOD OF REMOVING ORGANIC BINDER MATERIAL FROM THE SURFACE OF RANDOMLY ORIENTED GLASS FIBERS FORMING A BULK MATERIAL WHICH METHOD COMPRISES REMOVING OXYGEN FROM THE INTERSTICES OF SAID BULK MATERIAL AND PASSING A GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING OXYGEN AND WATER VAPOR THROUGH SAID BULK MATERIAL SO AS TO CONTACT THE SURFACES OF SAID GLASS FIBERS AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 800*F TO 1,200*F WHICH IS AT LEAST SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE OXIDATION AND GASIFICATION OF THE ORGANIC BINDER MATERIAL WHICH TEMPERATURE IS BELOW THE INCIPIENT FUSION OF THE GLASS FIBERS; SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE BEING PREPARED BY INJECTING A WATER SPRAY INTO THE FLAME OF GAS BURNING FURNACE, SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE ALSO INCLUDING GASES WHICH ARE NON-REACTIVE WITH SAID BINDER; THE RELATIVE PROPORTIONS OF WATER VAPOUR AND OXYGEN IN SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE BEING SELECTED TO MAINTAIN SAID TEMEPRATURE IN THE AFORESAID RANGE, SAID GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING 1 TO 4 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF OXYGEN AND 30 TO 50 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF WATER VAPOUR.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the bulk material is glass fiber insulation material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the bulk density of the glass fiber insulation material is from 2 to 5 pounds per cubic foot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the bulk density of the glass fiber insulation material is from 2.5 to 3 pounds per cubic foot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 in which the gaseous mixture is passed through the glass fiber insulating material at a rate of 20 to 50 pounds per square foot of section across the flow of gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the oxygen is removed from the interstices of the bulk material by purging prior to passing the gaseous mixture through the bulk material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the oxygen is purged with said gaseous mixture at a temperature below that at which gasification and oxidation of the organic binder takes place to a significant extent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 in which is operated on a continuous basis the effluent gases from the oxidation and gasification of the organic binder being used to purge the oxygen from fresh feed of bulk material.