Production of inorganic fibers

TLDR: In this article, the authors describe the production of inorganic fibers comprising a metal oxide phase and a finely divided disperse phase distributed throughout the oxide phase, the disperse phase constituting about 0.5 to 50% by weight of the fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of inorganic fibers comprising a metal oxide phase and a finely divided disperse phase distributed throughout the oxide phase, the disperse phase constituting about 0.5 to 50% by weight of the fiber. The process involves preferably dry spinning a solution in water or an organic solvent of fiber forming components which, when heated to temperature of from 500° to 1600° C either in an inert or in a reactive atmosphere, form at least two phases with a miscibility gap, of which one phase is an oxide phase containing the other phase in very finely disperse form. Preferably, the solution contains a metal salt, the anion of which contains carbon so that upon heating there is formed an oxide phase comprising the oxide of said metal having carbon dispersed therein; if carbon is not in the anion, its precursor may be an organic compound, such as a polymer, present in the solution. Other materials which may constitute the disperse phase include boron as well as carbides, nitrides, borides or silicides and some metals. The resulting fiber are of low porosity and high modulus and impart superior properties to plastics, metals, glasses and ceramics reinforced therewith.