Zirconium/metal oxide fibres

Abstract

A zirconium metal oxide fibre comprises zirconium oxide and a metal oxide. The fibre is made by adding a metal oxide in a suitable form to a colloidal dispersion of an amorphous zirconium polymer. The mixed colloidal dispersion is subsequently made into a fibre. The fibre may be used as a substitute for glass fibre in the manufacture of paper and paper-like materials. The fibre's thickness is substantially uniform and has a length usually in excess of one micron.

1 - 32 . (Cancelled).  
     
     
         33 . Use of an amorphous viscoelastic zirconium polymer of the formula: 
         [Zr 4 (OH) 12 (X) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] n (X) 2n .2nH 2 O  (I) 
       wherein X is a zirconium polymer compatible anion and n is a whole number from 1 to less than 200, as a spinning aid for making a zirconium/metal based fibre.  
     
     
         34 . A process of  claim 33  wherein X is selected from the group consisting of NO 3   − , Cl −  and ClCH 2 COO − .  
     
     
         35 . A spinning aid of  claim 33  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a Group IIA metal, a transition metal, a Group IIIA metal and a Group IIIB metal.  
     
     
         36 . A spinning aid of  claim 33  wherein n is a whole number from 1 to about 100.  
     
     
         37 . A spinning aid of  claim 33  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is a lanthanide metal.  
     
     
         38 . A spinning aid of  claim 33  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is selected from the group consisting of at least one of cerium, yttrium, scandium, magnesium and calcium.  
     
     
         39 . A spinning aid of  claim 35  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is present in up to 50 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium oxide content.  
     
     
         40 . A spinning aid of  claim 39  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is present in up to 25 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium oxide content.  
     
     
         41 . A spinning aid of  claim 35  wherein said formula has a ratio of X to zirconium in the range of about 1.0 to 0.98 to about 1.0 to 1.3.  
     
     
         42 . A synergistic combination of at least one fugitive spinning aid with an amorphous viscoelastic zirconium polymeric inorganic spinning aid of the formula: 
         [Zr 4 (OH) 12 (X) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] n (X) 2n .2nH 2 O  (I) 
       wherein X is a zirconium polymer compatible anion and n is a whole number from 1 to less than 200, said combination being suitable for forming a zirconium/metal based fibre.  
     
     
         43 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of NO 3   − , Cl −  and ClCH 2 COO − .  
     
     
         44 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a Group IIA metal, a transition metal, a Group IIIA metal and a Group IIIB metal.  
     
     
         45 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42  wherein n is a whole number from 1 to about 100.  
     
     
         46 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is a lanthanide metal.  
     
     
         47 . A synergistic combination of  claim 44  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is selected from the group consisting of at least one of cerium, yttrium, scandium, magnesium and calcium.  
     
     
         48 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42  wherein said fugitive spinning agent is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylalcohol, polyurethane, polyacrylic acid salt, polyacrylamide and polyvinylmethyl ether.  
     
     
         49 . A synergistic combination of  claim 48  wherein said fugitive spinning agent is polyethylene oxide.  
     
     
         50 . A synergistic combination of  claim 49  wherein said polyethylene oxide has a molecular weight of about 5,000,000 g/mol.  
     
     
         51 . A synergistic combination of  claim 50  wherein the amount of said polyethylene oxide is 1.5 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium/metal oxide.  
     
     
         52 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is present in up to 50 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium/metal oxide.  
     
     
         53 . A synergistic combination of  claim 52  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is present in up to 25 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium/metal oxide.  
     
     
         54 . A synergistic combination of  claim 42  wherein said formula has a ratio of X to zirconium in the range of about 1.0 to 0.98 to about 1.0 to 1.3.  
     
     
         55 . A green zirconium/metal based fibre comprising a mixed colloidal dispersion of a metal, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting at least one of a Group IIA metal, a transition metal, a Group IIIA metal and a Group IIIB metal, and an amorphous zirconium polymer of the formula: 
         [Zr 4 (OH) 12 (X) 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] n (X) 2n .2nH 2 O  (I) 
       wherein X is a zirconium polymer compatible anion and n is a whole number from 1 to less than 200.  
     
     
         56 . A synergistic combination of  claim 55 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of NO 3   − , Cl −  and ClCH 2 COO − .  
     
     
         57 . A green fibre of  claim 55  wherein said metal of said zirconium/metal based fibre is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a Group IIA metal, a transition metal, a Group IIIA metal and a Group IIIB metal.  
     
     
         58 . A green fibre of  claim 55  wherein n is a whole number from 1 to about 100.  
     
     
         59 . A green fibre of  claim 55  wherein said metal is a lanthanide metal.  
     
     
         60 . A green fibre of  claim 55  wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of at least one of cerium, yttrium, scandium, magnesium and calcium.  
     
     
         61 . A green fibre of  claim 55  wherein said metal is present in up to 50 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium/metal oxide.  
     
     
         62 . A green fibre of  claim 61  wherein said metal is present in up to 25 weight % of the total equivalent zirconium/metal oxide.  
     
     
         63 . A green fibre of  claim 55  wherein said formula has a ratio of X to zirconium in the range of about 1.0 to 0.98 to about 1.0 to 1.3.