Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Bryan Shaw

Neil Hunter Ray

Bruce Cochran Lane

Neil Winterton

James McAinsh

Valerie Lawton

A fibrous product comprises a core component which may be inorganic or organic, and a sheath component, said sheath component being a composite polymeric material comprising polyurethane and polyester and/or vinyl polymer. The sheath component may be applied to the core in the form of a gel polymerizate comprising polyurethane precursors or a polyurethane together with a polyester resin precursor comprising an ethylenically unsaturated polyester and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

Fibers sized with polyester and polyurethane precursors

A process for strengthening or toughening a phosphate glass the process comprising contacting the surface of the phosphate glass with a solution of a carboxylic acid in a liquid diluent, the carboxylic acid comprising an amino-carboxylic acid, or a hydroxy-carboxylic acid, or a mixture of an amino-carboxylic acid and a hydroxy-carboxylic acid. Particularly useful is an aqueous solution of an amino-polycarboxylic acid.

Treatment of glass

The addition of a low softening point glass of Tg 300.degree.C and optionally a blowing agent, to a reinforced thermosetting composite material gives fire retardant properties to the product. Smoke emission on burning is less than for halogenated fire retardant additives. A preferred embodiment is GRP sheet containing a powdered phosphate glass and a blowing agent.

Fire retardant compositions

An isocyanate-based polymeric foam material having dispersed therein a particulate low-softening point inorganic oxide glass having a transformation temperature of not greater than 300.degree.C, and optionally a blowing agent which is capable of liberating a non-flammable gas on heating above a temperature in the range 150.degree. to 400.degree.C.

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Runcorn, United Kingdom

Bryan Shaw