Process for binding siliceous fibers

Claim 1

Process for reducing the static charge and binding siliceous fibers, said process comprising first forming an aqueous composition comprising about 30 to about 70 percent by weight of water, 1 part of at least 1 lower alkanol of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, about 0.8-4 parts of at least 1 polybasic water-soluble acid having 2 or 3 acidic groups per molecule and a molecular weight of less than about 250, about 1-5 parts by weight of a lower alkylene polyol or poly(lower alkylene glycol), and about 0.1-1 parts of at least 1 water-soluble siliconate which reduces the surface tension of pure distilled water by at least 50 percent when used in an amount of 0.4 weight percent therein, wherein said lower alkanol and said lower alkylene polyol or poly(lower alkylene glycol) are mixed together prior to the addition thereto of said polybasic acid, applying the resulting composition to siliceous fibers at a temperature from about 35° to about 100°F in an amount corresponding to at least 1 oz. of said composition per 30 lbs. of siliceous fibers, and then drying said fibers to form a dried coating of said composition thereon.