Nonwoven metal and glass

Abstract

A glass and metal fiber material includes a web of nonwoven metal fibers and glass. The metal fibers of the web are joined by bubbles of glass to other metal fibers of the web. The nonwoven metal fibers can be the same or different lengths and do not need to be sintered. The material is flexible and capable of withstanding very high temperatures. Spaces or voids between metal fibers allow embodiments of the material to be porous. However, the voids can be completely or partially filled to alter the porosity of the material. An exemplary method of making the glass and metal fiber material in accordance with the invention includes the steps of juxtaposing metal fibers with glass fibers and heating at least the glass fibers to cause them to melt. The melting glass envelops part or all of the metal fibers. When the glass cools, at least some of the of metal fibers are bound to other metal fibers by the glass. Both the metal and glass fibers can be dispersed in a liquid prior to being mixed together; and a bonding aid can be added to mixture prior to the heating step to temporarily provide stability to the web to permit processing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.