Polymer sizing compositions and methods yielding sized glass fibers having reduced tackiness

Claim 1

An aqueous sizing composition for glass fibers that produces sized glass fibers for use in reinforcing elastomeric materials wherein the sized glass fibers have reduced tackiness but still permit good adhesion between the sized glass fibers and the reinforced elastomeric materials, comprising in weight percent of the aqueous sizing composition: (a) about 0.5 to about 2 percent of liquid hydroxyl terminated styrene butadiene copolymer having a molecular weight weight in the range of 500-5000, (b) about 0.30 to about 2.0 percent of an organo silane coupling agent, and (c) a system for minimizing the tackiness of the liquid hydroxyl terminated styrene-butadiene copolymer, comprising: (1) about 0.35 to about 2 percent of one or more non-ionic emulsifying agents having a fatty acid portion with carbon to carbon bonds of at least C-14 to C-20, (2) about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent of a wet lubricant that has a nitrogeneous group to provide hydrogen bonding with the surface of the glass, and (3) about 0.5 to about 3 percent of one or more dry lubricant oils or wax lubricants, and (d) the remaining amount percent of the sizing composition being water.