GB1010702A - Quartz fibres and extruded rods - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1010702/C1/1> A method of forming quartz fibres, comprises mixing together powdered silica, a liquid binder composition comprising from 1 to 50 weight per cent of a binding agent, and an extruding agent, extruding the mixture into a self-sustaining rod, drying the extruded rod, and passing the rod into a fibre-forming torch having an operating temperature above the melting point of the silica thereby forming the quartz fibres, the temperature prior to the fibre-forming step being maintained below the melting point of the silica. Quartz powder with a binder and extruding agent added is slowly extruded out of an extruder 14, by an hydraulically operated piston 16, through a die 24. The resulting rod 26 passes on to a synchronized wire conveyer belt 28 on which it is dried by bunsen burners 30, 32. The rod 26 then passes through a guide 34 and between rollers 36, 38 into a fibre-forming torch 40. Suitable extruding agents and binding agents, and liquid solvents or suspending agents therefor, are described. Of the binding agents mentioned polyvinyl alcohol, if present in sufficient quantity, may also act as an extruding agent. Several alternative means for drying the rod 26 are mentioned. Slight additions of other materials which could form glassy substances, e.g. boron trioxide, may be employed.