Dissolvable glass fibres for wood preservatives and degradable composite materials

Abstract

A fibre structure formed from dissolvable glass fibres is provided, the dissolvable glass fibres being formed from one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds. The dissolvable glass can be formed into filaments, rovings and staple fibres of varying composition, length and diameter dependent on functionality and purpose. A mixture of chemicals components are heated, melted and then drawn or extruded into dissolvable filaments, rovings and staple fibres for use in a fibre-reinforced composite part or as a preservative in the internal and surface treatment of solid wood and engineered composite panels. A water-soluble surface coating may be applied to adjust dissolution rate and facilitate binding into an air-laid nonwoven mat or incorporation into other matrices.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.