Inorganic fiber dissolved in physiological saline

摘要

A saline soluble fiber is disclosed that is highly refractory. A vacuum cast preform of the fibre has a shrinkage of 3.5 % or less when exposed to 1260 DEG C for 24 hours. The fibre may comprise CaO, SiO2, MgO, optionally ZrO2, optionally less than 0.75 mol % Al2O3, any incidental impurities amounting to less than 2 mol % in total, and in which the SiO2 excess (defined as the amount of SiO2 calculated as remaining after the above named constituents are crystallised as silicates) exceeds 21.8 mol %, with the proviso that, if the amount of CaO is greater than the sum of the amount of MgO and twice the amount of ZrO2 the calculated ratio of diopside to wollastonite does not lie in the range 1.8 to 5.25. Such fibres are usable at elevated temperatures where refractoriness is of importance and their solubility in saline solution may make the fibres safer than non-soluble fibres.