Glass fibers coated with compositions containing complex organo silicon compounds

#This invention relates to size compositions, and more particularly to size compositions for use in the treatment of glass fibers to improve the bonding relationship between glass fibers and resinous plastics in the manufacture of glass fiber reinforced plastics.

#The term "glass fibers", are used herein, is intended to refer to and include (1) continuous fibers formed by rapid attenuation of hundreds of streams of molten glass and to strands formed when such continuous glass fiber filaments are gathered together as they are being formed; and to yarns and cords formed by plying and/or twisting a number of strands together, and to woven and non-woven fabrics which are formed of such glass fiber strands, yarns or cords, and (2) discontinuous fibers formed by high pressure stream, air or other suitable attenuating force directed onto multiple streams of molten glass issuing from a glass melting bushing or from an orifice containing spinner, and to yarns that are formed when such discontinuous fibers are gathered together to form a silver which is drafted into a yarn; and to woven and non-woven fabrics formed of such yarns of discontinuous fibers, and (3) combinations of such continuous and discontinuous fibers in strands, yarns, cords and fabrics formed thereof.

#It is now standard practice in the manufacture of glass fiber-reinforced plastics to employ glass fibers which have been coated with an organo silicon compound in the form of an organo silane or its hydrolysis products (e.g., the corresponding silanols and/or polysiloxanes). The nature of the organo silicon compound employed depends somewhat on the particular plastic to be reinforced. For example, where the resin is a polyepoxide, the organo silicon compound is frequently an organo silane containing an epoxy group ##EQU1## where x is an integer from 2 to 5 and R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or the corresponding hydrolysis products thereof. Where the resin is a polyester, the organo silicon compound frequently contains ethylenic unsaturation; the silane can be

#An organo silane is prepared by SiCl.sub. 127.4 g (0.75 mole) of CiCl.sub.4 in a reaction flask, and then adding 87.1 g (1.5 mole) of propylene oxide and 171.1 g (1.5 mole) of allyl glycidyl ether. The product of the reaction is found to be a mixture which includes the compound ##EQU32##

#Using the procedure outlined in Example 1, one mole of SiCl.sub.4 is reacted with 3 moles of propylene oxide and 1 epoxide equivalent of DER 332. The product is a mixture which contains the compound ##SPC5##

#One mole of SiCl.sub.4 is reacted sequentially with 2.5 moles of propylene oxide, 0.5 mole of allyl glycidyl ether and 1 epoxide equivalent of DER 332. The product is a mixture which includes the compound ##SPC6##