A NEW FIBERGLASS COMPOSITION
D e s c r i p t i o n
The present invention relates to a new fiberglass composition.
It is known that fiberglass compositions apply in the felt manufacture, packaged in the form of panels or rolls which are widely used in the civil field for example, to carry out thermal and/or acoustical insulations.
In order to obtain fiberglass materials of good mechanical quality and high features in terms of ability for thermal and/or acoustical insulation, many studies have been recently carried out in an attempt to obtain compositions capable of ensuring an easy workability of the fiber at competitive costs.
In other words, recent studies have increasingly tried to optimize the production costs, the mechanical qualities and the thermal and/or acoustical insulation features of the fiber, as well as the workability easiness of the vitreous material.
While many fiberglass compositions available on the market meet the above outlined requirements, glass fibers presently on the market are not able to constitute efficient barriers against radiation of high energy content. In other words, a fiberglass composition adapted to make structures for insulation against radiation in addition to insulation against heat and sound is still an unresolved technical problem, in particular as far as high-energy radiation is concerned.
In particular, it is an aim of the present invention to
provide a new fiberglass composition having the capacity to absorb high-energy radiation from either a natural and/or an artificial origin.
It is a further aim of the invention to accomplish a new fiberglass composition that, due to its property of absorbing high-energy radiation, enables use of fibers starting from raw materials of natural origin contaminated by radioactive elements to a more or less marked extent.
Beside the above aims, it is a further aim of the invention to provide a new composition with which it is possible to obtain bio-soluble glass fibers and in particular fibers satisfying the most severe biosolubility regulations presently in force.
Another aim of the invention is to provide a fiberglass composition ensuring easy workability and low tendency to devitrification and capable of giving rise to a product which is also valid from a mechanical point of view and has competitive costs.
The foregoing and further aims that will become more apparent in the following are substantially achieved by a composition in accordance with one or more of the appended claims .
Further features and advantages will be best understood from the detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive fiberglass compositions in accordance with the present invention. This description will be taken hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is a graphic representation of the trend of the linear absorption coefficient μ (cm"1) against the
radiation energy (MeV) , on logarithmic scales, in connection with a first group of different fiberglass compositions ;
- Fig. 2 is a graphic representation of the trend of the linear absorption coefficient μ (cm-1) against the radiation energy (MeV) , on logarithmic scales, relative to a second group of different fiberglass compositions;
- Fig. 3 is a graphic representation of the trend of the linear absorption coefficient μ (cm-1) against the radiation energy (MeV) , on logarithmic scales, relative to a third group of different fiberglass compositions;
- Fig. 4 is a graphic representation, by a bar chart, of a comparison between the linear absorption coefficient μ of the first composition group at different levels of radiation energies;
- Fig. 5 is a graphic representation, by a bar chart, of the comparison between the linear absorption coefficient μ of the second composition group at different levels of radiation energies; - Fig. 6 is a graphic representation, by a bar chart, of the comparison between the linear absorption coefficient μ of the third composition group at different levels of radiation energies;
- Fig. 7 is a representation in the form of a table of the compositions 01, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, CIO of the first group, of the compositions 02, 011, C12, 013, 014 of the second group and of the compositions 03, 015, Clβ, C17, C18, 019, C20 of the third group; wherein the linear absorption coefficient μ (cm-1) meets the relation
I0 = 1-μ-x wherein
I = original radiation intensity;
I0 = radiation intensity at a thickness of x(cm).
Specifically and in more detail, the Applicants started from three different fiberglass compositions then
carrying out different experimental tests during which one or more of the percentage concentrations of the individual components of the starting compositions were greatly modified.
More particu larly , a first starting composition studied by the Appli cants was the following :
Si02 64 . 51
A1203 1 . 85
Na20 17 . 94
K20 0 . 45
CaO 6 . 02
MgO 3 . 01
B203 5 . 98
BaO 0 . 01
PbO 0 . 00
Fe203 0 . 22
Total amount 99 . 99
wherein the concentrations of the individual components are expressed in percentages by weight and wherein K
j, is the sum by weight of the following oxides: K
± = Na
20%+K
20%+CaO%+MgO%+B
20
3%+BaO%)-2Al
20
3%.
The above composition that will be called composition 01, has a good bio-solubility which was detected by short- term inhalation tests ("biopersistance of fibers, short- term exposure by inhalation" EC/TM/26 Rev. 7 1998) on the basis of which the dissolution half cycle of the fiber (T1/2) is calculated which must be lower than 10 days.
A value of Kx equal to 29.71 corresponds to composition 01.
Starting from composition Cl and referring to Fig. 7 which is a table summarizing all compositions herein dealt with, compositions 04 to CIO were obtained which
have relatively low Kx values, included between 28 and 30, while showing a good bio-solubility degree.
In conceiving and experimenting compositions 04 to CIO, varying values of lead monoxides were inserted, also carrying out variations in the alkaline oxides, alkaline- earth oxides and alumina.
This for the purpose of obtaining a glass having different although good performance in terms of workability and viscosity, and a high bio-solubility.
Also altered was barium oxide content for the purpose of evaluating behavior and cooperation of same in the presence of variations, in particular as regards the lead monoxide.
The Applicants then took into consideration a second starting composition, hereinafter referred to as 02 and having the following components in percentage by weight:
Si02 62.66
A1203 1.02
Na20 17.23
K20 0.54 CaO 7.03
MgO 3.14
B203 7.65
BaO 0.45
PbO 0.00 Fe203 0.23
Total amount 99.96
Kx = 34.00
Variations in 02 were also carried out in connection with the percent contents of the different components (as can be seen, the second composition 02 is different from Cl
in particular in terms of percent compositions of Si02, A1203, B203, BaO) , thereby obtaining compositions Oil to C14 which have intermediate K values included between 33 and 36 (see table in Fig. 7) . In these compositions alkaline oxides kept relatively high values and also boron oxide content was kept high.
The sum of the alkaline-earth oxides was acted upon, while keeping this sum lower than 12% in order to avoid arising of worrying devitrification phenomena, i.e. formation of devitrified crystals in the liquid vitreous matrix which, as is known, would involve problems during the formation-into-fiber (" fibering" ) step as well as a final quality of the fiber surely lower at least as regards its mechanical features.
In compositions Oil to C14 a relatively low alumina content was maintained with concentrations of lead monoxide varying between 0.5 to 2.00%.
Finally, starting from a third starting composition hereinafter referred to as 03 having the following components the concentration of which are expressed in percentages by weight: Si02 57.12
A1203 0.80
Na20 18.06
K20 0.57
CaO 6.98 MgO 3.00
B203 11.52
BaO 1.51
PbO 0.00
Fe203 0.36 Total amount 99.92
K, = 40.04
compositions 015 to C20 were obtained which have high KA values and in particular values of 40 or higher, as clearly viewed from the table in Fig. 7.
In this case too the alumina percentages are relatively low and the boron oxide content is relatively high for all compositions 015 to C20.
It is to be noted that actually the Applicants' studies to reach important results were greatly wider than those herein dealt with. However, for the sake of simplicity, only the most important compositions were reproduced although the experimental activity concerned studies relating to a very wide range of compositions, but dealing with them all in the present description would be meaningless.
Based on the obtained compositions, in particular compositions from 01, 02 and C3, studying the behavior in terms of biosolubility of the fiber that can be obtained with such compositions, and also studying the desirable insulation features for the concerned product, as well as taking into consideration all purposes that the Applicants intended to achieve, it was surprisingly ascertained that particularly advantageous were compositions containing, in percentage by weight:
Si02 50.00-70.00
A1203 0.00-3.50
Na20 + κ2o 16.00-21.00 C CaaOO ++ M MggOO + + B BaaOO < 12.50
B203 4.00-13.00
Heavy metal oxides 0.05-7.00
Compositions in accordance with the above preestablished ranges, in particular when lead monoxide is present in a percentage included between 0.50 and 2.00%, preferably
between 0.10 and 2.00%, appeared to be valid in terms of capability of absorption of electromagnetic radiation, in particular of the high-energy type, and bio-soluble in accordance with the dictates of the regulations presently in force, in some case even with a K± index higher than 40, beyond which value the German TRGS 59505 standard itself judges glass fibers biosoluble without requiring any laboratory test for the purpose.
It should be noted that within the above ranges alkaline oxides are present in relatively high percentages and the sum of the alkaline-earth oxides is maintained lower than 12%, in order to avoid devitrification being promoted.
Preferably, in accordance with the invention, it should be pointed out with reference to alkaline oxides that Na20 is present in a percentage by weight included between 15 and 20%, whereas K20 is preferably present in a percentage between 0 and 1%.
With reference to barium oxide, still in accordance with the invention, it is preferably present in a percentage lower than 5%, even if its presence is important in increasing the linear absorption coefficient μ, in particular at energy levels close to 0.05 MeV, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6.
With reference to alkaline-earth oxides, it is to be noted that CaO+MgO is preferably present in a percentage by weight between 7 and 12%, wherein in particular CaO is present in a percentage included between 4 and 10% whereas MgO is present in a percentage by weight varying between 0 and 6%.
It is also to be noted that the compositions in accordance with the invention can contemplate the
presence of impurities until 2% and additional compounds such as iron oxide Fe203 which is present in a percentage by weight included between 0 and 2%, preferably between 0.1 and 1%.
In more detail, with reference to the three composition groups originated from composition 01 (compositions Cl to CIO in Fig. 7), from composition 02 (compositions Oil to C14 in Fig. 7) and from 03 (compositions 015 to C20) respectively, the following is to be noted.
In particular the first composition group in accordance with the present invention preferably involves the presence of the following ranges expressed in percentages by weight of the corresponding substances:
Si02 58-66
A1203 1-3.5
Na20 16-19
K20 0-1 CaO 5-7
MgO 2-4
B203 5-7.5
BaO 0-1.5
PbO 0.05-2.00% (preferably between 0.10 and 2.00%)
With reference to the compositions of the second group in accordance with the present invention and originating from composition C2, preferably the concentration ranges of the individual components, expressed in percentages by weight, are the following:
Si02 58 -63
A1203 0 . 5-1 . 5
Na20 16-19 K20 0-1
CaO 6-7 . 5
MgO 2-4
B203 7 - 9
BaO 0-2
PbO 0.05-2 (preferably between 0.10 and 2.00%)
Finally, as regards the compositions of the third group
C15 to C20 and originating from composition 03, these compositions preferably meet the following ranges of percentages by weight:
Si02 54-58
A1203 < 1
Na20 16-19
K20 0-1 CaO 6-7.5
MgO 2.5-4.5
B203 10-13
BaO 0-2.5
PbO 0.05-2, preferably between 0.10 and 2.00%
The invention achieves important advantages. In particular inclusion of lead monoxide greatly promotes the capability of electromagnetic radiation absorption in particular in ranges between 0.05 and 0.2 MeV.
The presence of lead monoxide and/or other heavy metal oxides does not at all jeopardize either glass biosolubility or glass workability, in all cases enabling fibers of good quality to be obtained which meet the most severe regulations in force.
In addition, surprisingly, barium oxide too cooperates in increasing the linear absorption coefficient, in particular with reference to energy levels in the order of 0.05 MeV.