Ppg Industries, Inc.

Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

Azdel, Inc.

Narasimhan Raghupathi

Peter C Gaa

Jerry C Hedden

Mikhail M Girgis

Balbhadra Das

Luciano M Parrinello

James C Watson

Thomas V Thimons

Philip L Schell

David T Melle

Jeffrey A Neubauer

John N Paulson

This invention relates to generally to geosynthetic materials which can be used for earthen reinforcement, and more particularly to a novel geosynthetic material exhibiting less strain under an initial tensile load then presently available geosynthetic materials. The novel geosynthetic material includes a first plurality of spaced-apart generally parallel fiber strands, a second plurality of spaced-apart generally parallel fiber strands positioned adjacent to and forming a plurality of intersections with at least a portion of the first plurality of strands, an organic tying member fixedly connecting portions of fiber strands of the first plurality of fiber strands with intersecting corresponding portions of the second plurality of fiber, and a bonding agent adhering predetermined regions of selected fiber strands of the first plurality of fiber strands with predetermined regions of selected fiber strands of the second plurality of fiber strands, wherein at least a portion of the fiber strands selected from the group consisting of the first plurality of fiber strands, the second plurality of fiber strands and combinations thereof comprise glass fibers. The present invention also relates to a novel geosynthetic composite including the novel geosynthetic material in combination with a second geosynthetic material, e.g. a geotextile fabric or geomembrane. The present invention also relates to a novel reinforced soil composite which includes a soil material in combination with the novel geosynthetic material of the present invention.

Fiber glass based geosynthetic material

Chemically treated glass fibers having good processability are useful in producing fiber reinforced polymeric matrices, wherein the glass fibers have controlled wettability and are not detrimental to the weatherability of the fiber reinforced polymeric matrices. The chemically treated fibers have the dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition having a bisphenol A polyester film forming polymer compatible with and soluble in the matrix polymer, poly(vinyl acetate) polymeric film former, acryloxy-containing or methacryloxy-containing organo coupling agent in an effective coupling agent amount, cationic fiberous lubricant in an effective lubricating amount, with or without a cationic organic quaternary ammonium salt having alkoxy moieties, and with water in an amount to give a total solid for the aqueous chemical treating composition in the range of about 1 to about 30 weight percent. In addition, the aqueous chemical treating composition can have one or more amino-containing organofunctional silane coupling agents. The amount of the organic quaternary ammonium agent generally is in the range of from 0.05 to around 0.4 weight percent of the aqueous chemical treating composition. When this agent is not in the aqueous chemical treating composition, a secondary application of an antistatic agent is performed. The chemically treated glass fibers can be produced in any form such as chopped strand or continuous strand for combination with polymeric matrices including both filled and unfilled systems for producing reinforced polymeric matrices such as glass fiber reinforced polymeric panels which can be clear, translucent or pigmented.

Chemically treated glass fibers for reinforcing thermosetting polymer

Chemically treated glass shapes have a moisture-reduced residue of a chemical treating composition having: a first film forming polymer that is a thermoplastic polyester film forming polymer, a second film forming polymer that is an acrylic-type copolymer, at least one organosilane coupling agent selected from epoxy functional organosilane coupling agents and amino-functional organosilane coupling agents and mixtures thereof, at least one cationic lubricant and a carrier. The ratio of amounts of the first film forming polymer to the second film forming polymer is in the range of around 1:1 to 99:1. The chemically treated shapes can be in the form of beads, flakes, chopped or milled fibers, continuous fibers, strands, or bundles of fibers and yarn, and mats of continuous strand and/or chopped strand. The chemically treated glass fibers in mat form are paticularly suitable for reinforcing thermoplastic polyester polymers that are to be compression molded from the laminate of the polymer and the reinforcing material.

Chemically treated shapes, fillers and reinforcement for polymer matrices

Fiber reinforced thermoplastic parts having good surface characteristics are produced by a process involving: preheating fiber reinforced composite to achieve at least a flowable viscosity of the polymer, and (2) molding under controlled rheological conditions. The preheating is conducted on composites that are predominantly amorphous thermoplastic polymers, copolymers, polyblends or alloys reinforced with continuous glass fiber strand reinforcing mat. The amount of the mat present in the laminate is less than around 40 weight percent of the composite. The temperature of preheating is at least greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer and less than the degradation temperature of the polymer to expand the composite. The preheated composites are compression molded in an effective charge and at a pressure of at least around 500 to 6,000 psi, where at least one die surface of the mold is maintained at a temperature in the range of the glass transition temperature of the polymer to a temperature of 70.degree. F. (39.degree. C.) below the glass transition temperature of the polymer.

Process for producing glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic compression

Treated glass fibers having adequate protection for gathering into strands and when chopped being more dispersible in aqueous media. The treated glass fibers have a coating of an aqueous treating composition, wherein the solids have a cationic surfactant having one or more primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine moieties and one or more water dispersible, poly(oxyethylene-oxyalkylene) copolymer having an oxide ratio of about 78 to about 22 to about 99 to about 1 and an average molecular weight of at least 15,000, and one or more polar functional coupling agents. Optionally, the solids may also have one or more starches that are insoluble or only incompletely soluble in cold water. Glass fibers treated with the aqueous treating compositions and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fiber strands having lengths of about 1/16 of an inch (1.58 mm) to about 3 inches (76.2 mm), have good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without addition of dispersing agents. Nonwoven, sheet-like mat is produced from aqueous dispersions having the chopped treated glass fibers, where some of the water is removed and polymeric binders, commonly referred to as wet strength binders, are applied and the mat is cured. The resulting nonwoven, sheet-like mat product has very good strength properties for use as a reinforcing element for roofing products, construction products and flooring products.

Treated glass fibers and aqueous dispersion and nonwoven mat of the

Treated glass fibers having adequate protection for gathering into strands and when chopped being more dispersible in aqueous media. The treated glass fibers having a coating of an aqueous treating composition, wherein the solids have a cationic surfactant having one or more primary, secondary and/or tertiary amine moieties and one or more water dispersible, poly(oxyethylene-oxyalkylene) copolymer having an oxide ratio of about 78 to about 22 to about 99 to about 1 and an average molecular weight of at least 15,000, and one or more polar functional coupling agents. Optionally, the solids may also have one or more starches that are insoluble or only incompletely soluble in cold water. Glass fibers treated with the aqueous treating compositions and produced into wet or dry chopped glass fiber strands having lengths of about 1/16 of an inch (1.58 mm) to about 3 inches (76.2 mm), have good dispersibility in aqueous media with or without addition of dispersing agents. Nonwoven, sheet-like mat is produced from aqueous dispersions having the chopped treated glass fibers, where some of the water is removed and polymeric binders, commonly referred to as wet strength binders, are applied and the mat is cured. The resulting nonwoven, sheet-like mat product has very good strength properties for use as a reinforcing element for roofing products, construction products and flooring products.

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Murrysville, PA, United States of America

Narasimhan Raghupathi