Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An article exhibiting good heat stability and a high mechanical strength as evidenced by a modulus of rupture greater than 100 psi which is relatively insensitive to changes in the relative humidity of the surrounding environment consisting essentially of: (a) organic and/or inorganic fibers; and (b) at least 5% by weight of a binder in the form of floc composed of a product of an ion exchange reaction between (I) crystals of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite; and (II) an organic polycation, and/or an aminosilane, and/or an organic chrome complex; said high mechanical strength being the result of the structure of said articles consisting of fibers entangled in fiber/floc agglomerates, those agglomerates retaining a high percentage of said binder, and a reaction occurring between said organic polycation and/or said aminosilane and/or said organic chrome complex and said fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
An article exhibiting good heat stability and a high mechanical strength as evidenced by a modulus of rupture greater than 100 psi which is relatively insensitive to changes in the relative humidity of the surrounding environment consisting essentially of: (a) organic and/or inorganic fibers; and (b) at least 5% by weight of a binder in the form of floc composed of a product of an ion exchange reaction between (I) crystals of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolylithionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite; and (II) an organic polycation, and/or an aminosilane, and/or an organic chrome complex; said high mechanical strength being the result of the structure of said articles consisting of fibers entangled in fiber/floc agglomerates, those agglomerates retaining a high percentage of said binder, and a reaction occurring between said organic polycation and/or said aminosilane and/or said organic chrome complex and said fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said fibers are selected from the group of mineral wool and cellulose fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said crystals of water-swelling mica are relatively uniformly-sized and wherein at least a substantial portion of which displays a morphology of a continuum of flakes, rectangular-like strips, and interwoven ribbons in parallel or sub-parallel zones or sheaths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
An article according to claim 3 wherein said flakes are irregularly shaped with diameters between about 0.5-10 microns and cross-sections of less than about 100Å, and said strips and ribbons are about 0.5-10 microns in length, about 500Å-5000Å in width, and less than about 100Å in thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said organic polycation is selected from the group of: (a) a primary amine solubilized with acid; (b) a secondary amine solubilized with acid; (c) a tertiary amine solubilized with acid; (d) a quaternary ammonium acid salt; (e) a quaternary phosphonium acid salt; and (f) a ternary sulfonium acid salt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said aminosilane is N-β-aminoethyl-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said organic chrome complex is selected from the group of a chemically reactive Werner complex in which a C 14 -C 18 fatty acid is coordinated with trivalent chromium, and a chemically reactive Werner complex, methacrylato chromic chloride, wherein methacrylic acid is coordinated with chromium.