# US 4,400,217 A · Method of manufacturing reinforced fibers for mineral structural materials, and a structural element of a fiber-reinforced mineral structural material

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- Number: US 4,400,217 A
- Document ID: US4400217A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/337,687
- Filed: 1982-01-17
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1980-03-04
- Inventors: Harald Kober
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400217A

## CPC

- E04C 2/04: of concrete or other stone-like material; of asbestos cement; {of cement and other mineral fibres}(E04C2/26 takes precedence; material or manufacture B28, C04)
- C04B 18/28: Mineralising; Compositions therefor
- E04C 2/06: reinforced
- Y02W 30/91: Use of waste materials as fillers for mortars or concrete
- Y10T 428/2938: Coating on discrete and individual rods, strands or filaments
- Y10T 428/4935: Impregnated naturally solid product [e.g., leather, stone, etc.]
- E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S)
- C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method of manufacturing reinforcing fibers for a hydraulic binding material, to be used as an initial material for structural elements comprises the steps of providing a plurality of plant fibers and mineralizing the plant fibers. The mineralizing step includes opening the capilaries of the plant fibers, drying the same, impregnating the plant fibers with a lime water suspension, soaking the plant fibers with a formaldehyde-containing water glass solution, and intermediately drying the plant fibers between the impregnating and soaking steps. The plant fibers, after the drying, can be first impregnated with a lime water suspension, then dried, and after this soaked with a formaldehyde-containing water glass solution. It is also possible that the plant fibers, after drying, can be first soaked with a formaldehyde-containing water glass solution, then dried and after this impregnated with a lime water suspension. A structural element has a body of a hydraulic binding material, and a plurality of reinforcing fibers which are formed as mineralized plant fibers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A structural element, such as a pipe, a plate and the like, comprising a body of hydraulic binding material; and a plurality of reinforcing fibers, said reinforcing fibers being mineralized plant fibers manufactured by the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of plant fibers having capillaries; and mineralizing the plant fibers by opening the capillaries of the plant fibers, drying the plant fibers, impregnating the plant fibers with a lime water suspension, soaking the plant fibers with a formaldehyde-containing water glass solution, and intermediately drying the plant fibers between said impregnating and soaking steps.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A structural element as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic binding material is a cement containing structural material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A structural element as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic binding material is a gypsum containing structural material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A structural element as defined in claim 1, wherein said plant fibers have capillaries and cell walls which are strengthened by a calcium silicate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A structural element as defined in claim 4, wherein the calcium silicate coats said capillaries and cell walls of said plant fibers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A structural element as defined in claim 1, wherein said plant fibers are stalk fibers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A structural element as defined in claim 6, wherein said plant fibers are flax fibers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A structural element as defined in claim 1, particularly for a not supporting use, wherein said hydraulic binding material and said mineralized plant fibers have a predetermined total weight in mixed condition, said mineralized plant fibers having a weight substantially equal to 5% of said total weight.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A structural element as defined in claim 1, particularly for a supporting use, wherein said hydraulic binding material and said mineralized plant fibers have a predetermined total weight in mixed condition, said mineralized plant fibers having a weight substantially not exceeding 12% of said total weight.