Use of Organo-Inorganic Binder in the Composition of Mineral Wool Products

Abstract

The main purpose of a liquid binder in the composition of mineral wool products is to bond individual fibers to each other to create a strong and elastic structure. The combined use of an organic (phenol-formaldehyde resin) and an inorganic binder based on cold dissolution liquid glass is accompanied during their mechanical mixing by the formation of complex carbon-silicon compounds, which stabilize the formation of chelate compounds with an orienting effect of silicon ion during heat treatment, converting the polymer structure to a more ordered and dense structure with additional bridging hydrogen bonds. This process is accompanied by the parallel development of a polycondensation reaction of the organic binder and methylol groups and curing of the liquid glass. The presence of intramolecular bonds between the organic and inorganic parts of the binder increases the bond strength of the mineral fibers when forming the structure of fibrous thermal insulation materials by 20 – 30% with a slight increase in their water absorption. Limited use of cold dissolution liquid glass additives (not more than 0.4%) allows a reduction in the total consumption of organic binder by 20 – 25% with the possibility of reducing the required amount of mineral part by up to 10 – 15% while maintaining the required strength and operational properties of finished heat-insulating products.