KR20080083689A - Ceramic oxide fibers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to disconnection of substantially continuous ceramic oxide fibers with a sizing material. The disconnection according to the invention is useful, for example, for making metal matrix wires.

Solid wire, ceramic oxide fiber, crystalline, sizing material, wire

Description

Ceramic Oxide Fibers {CERAMIC OXIDE FIBERS}

The present invention relates to ceramic oxide fibers, and more particularly to ceramic oxide fibers comprising a sizing material.

In general, virtually continuous ceramic oxide fibers are known. Examples include polycrystalline alumina fibers, such as those sold under the trade name "NEXTEL 610" by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., USA, under the trade names "Nextel 440" and "Nextel 550" by 3M Company. And aluminosilicate fibers such as those sold under the "Nextel 720", and aluminoborosilicate fibers such as those sold under the trade name "Nextel 312" by 3M Company. These continuous fibers are incorporated into various metal matrix composites (eg, aluminum and titanium) and polymer matrix composites (eg, epoxy) to reinforce and reinforce these composites.

It is desirable to maintain the strength of the composite. Composite strength is increased by having continuous fibers with as little discontinuity as possible. One source of discontinuity occurs when the continuous fibers are released from the spool and the fibers are broken or shed—commonly called “strip back”. It is desirable to allow the production of metal and polymer matrix composites of increased strength by removing, minimizing, or at least reducing these discontinuities produced during the annealing process.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the present invention provides a tow of ceramic oxide fibers that is substantially continuous refractory (i.e., maintaining its integrity or usefulness at temperatures in the range of 820 DEG C to 1400 DEG C), wherein each ceramic oxide fiber has an outer surface At least a portion of the outer surface of at least a portion of the ceramic oxide fibers has a sizing material therein. The sizing material includes a composition represented by the following formula:

R'O- (RO) _n -H

Wherein R 'is selected from C _x H _{2x +1} where x is 1-8 or -H; R _is- (C _y H _2y )-(which may be linear or branched), where y is 1-4, and -CH ₂ -O- (CH ₂ ) _m -where m is 2- 5); n is selected such that the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 7,000,000 g / mol. Typically, the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 3,000,000 g / mol (in some embodiments, 500 g / mol to 600,000 g / mol, 500 g / mol to 400,000 g / mol, 500 g / mol to 300,000 g / mol, or even in the range of 4,000 g / mol to 40,000 g / mol). Typically, the sizing material provides an add-on weight in the range of 0.5-10% by weight.

"Continuous fiber" refers to a fiber having a length of at least 30 meters. In some embodiments, the refractory fiber is crystalline (ie, exhibits an identifiable X-ray powder diffraction pattern). In some embodiments, the fibers have at least 50 (in some embodiments, at least 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or even 100) weight percent crystalline to be. In some embodiments, the refractory ceramic oxide fibers (including crystalline ceramic oxide fibers) are (a) based on the total oxide content of each individual fiber at least 40 (in some embodiments, at least 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or even 100) wt% Al ₂ O ₃ , or (b) collectively up to 40 wt% based on the total oxide content of each individual fiber SiO ₂ , Bi ₂ O ₃ , B ₂ (in some embodiments, 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.1, or even 0 wt% or less) At least one of O ₃ , P ₂ O ₅ , GeO ₂ , TeO ₂ , As ₂ O ₃ , and V ₂ O ₅ .

Sizing materials have been observed to provide lubricity and protect the fiber strands during handling. For some applications of the fibers, such as, for example, reinforcement in metal matrix composites, the sizing is typically removed during the treatment prior to applying the metal to the fibers. Sizing can be removed, for example, by burning the sizing from the fiber.

Examples of suitable refractory ceramic oxide fibers include alumina fibers, aluminosilicate fibers, aluminoborate fibers, aluminoborosilicate fibers, zirconia-silica fibers, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable crystalline refractory ceramic oxide fibers include alumina fibers, aluminosilicate fibers, aluminoborate fibers, aluminoborosilicate fibers, zirconia-silica fibers, and combinations thereof. Examples of suitable amorphous, refractory ceramic oxide fibers include aluminoborosilicate fibers, zirconia-silica fibers and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the fiber may be based on at least 40 (in some embodiments, at least 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, or even based on the total volume of the fiber 100) volume% Al ₂ O ₃ is preferred. In some embodiments, the fiber preferably comprises Al ₂ O ₃ in the range of 40 to 70 (in some embodiments, 55 to 70, or even 55 to 65) volume percent, based on the total volume of the fiber.

Partially crystalline fibers may comprise a mixture of crystalline ceramics and amorphous phases (ie, the fibers may contain both crystalline ceramics and amorphous phases). Typically, continuous ceramic fibers have an average fiber diameter in the range of at least about 5 micrometers, more typically in the range of about 5 micrometers to about 20 micrometers, and in some embodiments in the range of about 5 micrometers to about 15 micrometers.

Alumina fibers are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,954,462 (Wood et al.) And US Pat. No. 5,185,299 (Wood et al.). In some embodiments, the alumina fibers are polycrystalline alpha alumina fibers and comprise more than 99 wt% Al ₂ O ₃ and 0.2-0.5 wt% SiO ₂ based on the total weight of the alumina fibers on a theoretical oxide basis. In other aspects, some preferred polycrystalline alpha alumina fibers include alpha alumina having an average grain size of less than 1 micrometer (or in some embodiments, even less than 0.5 micrometer). In another embodiment, in some embodiments, the polycrystalline alpha alumina fiber is at least 1.6 GPa (in some embodiments, at least 2.1, when measured according to the tensile strength test disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,460,597 (McCullough et al.). KPa, or even at least 2.8 kPa). Exemplary alpha alumina fibers are sold under the trade name "Nextel 610" by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Aluminosilicate fibers are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 4,047,965 (Karst et al.). Exemplary aluminosilicate fibers are sold under the trade names "Nextel 440", "Nextel 550", and "Nextel 720" by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Aluminoborate and aluminoborosilicate fibers are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,795,524 (Sowman). Exemplary aluminoborosilicate fibers are marketed under the trade name "Nextel 312" by 3M Company.

Zirconia-silica fibers are disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,709,706 (Soulman).

Solid wire is known in the fiber art and typically comprises a plurality of (individual) fibers (typically at least 100 fibers, more typically at least 400 fibers) which are usually untwisted. In some embodiments, the disconnection comprises at least 780 individual fibers per disconnection, and in some cases at least 2600 individual fibers per disconnection, or at least 5200 individual fibers per disconnection. Solid wires of various ceramic fibers are available in a variety of lengths including lengths of 300 meters, 500 meters, 750 meters, 1000 meters, 1500 meters, and more. The fibers may have a cross-sectional shape that is circular, elliptical, or dogbone.

The disconnection (s) according to the invention can be prepared by a method comprising the following steps:

Providing a disconnection of substantially continuous ceramic oxide fibers, wherein each ceramic oxide fiber has an outer surface;

Coating at least a portion of the outer surface of at least a portion of the ceramic oxide fibers with an aqueous based sizing material; And

Removing at least a portion of the water. The aqueous based sizing material comprises a composition represented by the formula:

R'O- (RO) _n -H

Wherein R 'is selected from C _x H _{2x +1} where x is 1-8 or -H; R is selected from the group consisting _of- (C _y H _2y ) _-where y is 1-4, and -CH ₂ -O- (CH ₂ ) _m -where m is 2-5 ; n is selected such that the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 7,000,000 g / mol. Typically, the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 3,000,000 g / mol (in some embodiments 500 g / mol to 600,000 g / mol, 500 g / mol to 400,000 g / mol, 500 g / mol to 300,000 g / mol, or even in the range of 4,000 g / mol to 40,000 g / mol).

Suitable sizing materials are available under the trade name “TERATHANE 2900” (number average molecular weight: 2,900 g / mol) from poly (tetramethylene oxide) (eg, Invista, Wichita, Kansas, USA). ), A polyethylene glycol (e.g., the trade name "POLYGLYKOL 35000" (number average molecular weight: 35,000 g / mol) from Clariant GmbH Functional Chemicals Division, Frankfurt, Germany , "Polyglycol 20000" (number average molecular weight: 20,000 g / mol), "polyglycol 4000S" (number average molecular weight: 4000 g / mol), "polyglycol 8000S" (number average molecular weight: 8000 g / mol), " Polyglycol 1500S "(available as number average molecular weight: 1500 g / mole), and polyethylene oxide materials of high number average molecular weight (e.g., Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich.) (POLYOX) WSR N-3000 " (Number average molecular weight: 400,000 g / mol), "polyox WSR N-750" (number average molecular weight: 300,000 g / mol) and polyox WSR-301 "(number average molecular weight: 4,000,000 g / mol) available) It includes.

Water-soluble sizing materials such as poly (ethylene glycol) may be dissolved in water to provide an aqueous based sizing material. The concentration of the water soluble sizing material in the aqueous sizing material can be selected as desired. Typically, such aqueous-based sizing materials combine water-soluble sizing materials with water to provide an aqueous-based sizing material comprising water-soluble sizing materials in the range of 1 to 30% by weight and in some embodiments in the range of 1 to 10% by weight. Are manufactured.

When using a material that is not soluble in water (eg poly (tetramethylene oxide)), the aqueous based sizing material is emulsified. Such emulsions can be prepared using surfactants. Typically, the amount of surfactant used to prepare the emulsion ranges from 0.5 to 10% by weight of the material to be emulsified, although amounts of surfactant outside this range may also be useful. Typically, the emulsion is in the range of 5 to 50 weight percent solids. If the solids percentage of the emulsion is higher than desired, it can be diluted with water.

In general, sizing materials are handled by (a) sufficient strength to bond the fibers in a single wire form into a cohesive bundle, and (b) the fibers / solid wires do not adhere to the equipment and thread guides and are lubricated. Good lubrication / release properties such that friction and adhesion to the surface in contact with the solid wires are reduced, and (c) residues (eg, carbon) in the fibers at relatively low or moderate temperatures (eg, 700 ° C.) -Containing residues) has been observed in the art to provide the ability to oxidize rapidly without leaving behind. The latter is particularly preferred in the embodiment of the metal matrix wire manufacturing method, where the sizing material is easily removed within a relatively short period of time (eg less than 30 seconds) by heating the wire typically at relatively low or moderate temperatures. do. Removal of the sizing material is enhanced by pumping oxidizing gas (eg air) into the area where the sizing material is being oxidized. The desired flow rate of the oxidizing gas will depend on the particular situation (eg, the specific sizing material, amount of sizing material, fiber speed, temperature, length of the thermal zone, etc.), but exemplary flow rates range from about 5 liters / minute to about 10 liters. Include flow rates in the range of / min.

In addition, the sizing material specified for the present invention includes the application of the sizing material to the fiber as the fiber exits the sintering furnace, effectively effecting the fiber (eg, a fiber in a temperature range of about 15 ° C.-200 ° C.). Can be applied.

The disconnection according to the invention is useful for producing metal matrix composite wires, for example. Exemplary metal matrix materials include aluminum, zinc, tin, magnesium, and alloys thereof (eg, alloys of aluminum and copper). Techniques for making metal matrix composite wires are known in the art and include, for example, US Pat. No. 5,501,906 (Deve), US Pat. No. 6,180,232 (McClow, et al.), US Pat. No. 6,245,425 (McClow) US Patent No. 6,336,495 (McKlow), US Patent 6,544,645 (McKlow), US Patent 6,447,927 (McKlow), US Patent 6,460,597 (McKlow), and US Patent. 6,329,056 (Dev et al.), US Pat. No. 6,344,270 (McKlow et al.), US Pat. No. 6,485,796 (Carpenter et al.), US Pat. No. 6,559,385 (Johnson et al.), US Pat. No. 6,796,365 ( McCullough et al., US Pat. No. 6,723,451 (McCalllow et al.) And US Pat. No. 6,692,842 (McCalllow et al.) And US Pat. No. 6,913,838 (McCalllow et al.); United States Patent Application No. 10 / 403,643, filed March 31, 2003, US Patent Publication No. 2005-0178000-A1, filed February 13, 2004, US Patent Application dated February 13, 2004 US 2005-0179228-A1, filed June 17, 2004, US Publication No. 2005-0279526-A1, filed June 17, 2004, US Patent Publication 2005-0279527-A1, and US Patent And those discussed in US Pat. No. 7,093,416.

Embodiments of metal matrix composite wires made of fibers sized in accordance with the present invention are stronger than metal matrix composite wires made from fibers (including fibers sized with other sizing materials) that do not include the sizing material used in the present invention. (Eg, about 2-8%).

The advantages and embodiments of the present invention are further illustrated by the following examples, but the specific materials and amounts recited in these examples as well as other conditions and details should not be construed as unduly limiting the invention. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

52.2 kg (115 lbs.) Of solid poly (tetramethylene oxide) (number average molecular weight of 2900 g / mol; available under the trade name "Terratan 2900" from Invista, Wichita, Kansas, USA, at 60 ° C. (140 And melted overnight in an oven heated to < RTI ID = 0.0 > A 284 liter (75 gallon), glass-lined water-jacketed receiver with a stirrer was made at 140 ° F (60 ° C). The stirrer was set at 80 rpm and the reactor was charged with molten poly (tetramethylene oxide) (“teratan 2900”). Then 52.2 kg (115 lbs.) Of ethyl acetate (obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, Milwaukee, WI) was added to the reactor followed by 8.7 kg (19.1 lbs.) Of octadecylmethyl ( Polyoxyethylene [15]) ammonium chloride (obtained under the trade name “ETHOQUAD 18/25” from Akzo Nobel, Chicago, Ill.) Was added.

A second 284 liter (75 gallon) glass lined water jacketed reactor with a stirrer (80 rpm) was brought to 60 ° C. (140 ° F.). 114 kg (253 lb) filtered through a 0.2 micron filter (CCDay Co., Minneapolis, Minn .; Part No. 25-10110-002-01-WG) ) Deionized water was added to the reactor. The stirrer speed was increased to 100 rpm. When the temperature of both the reactor and receiver reached 60 ° C. (140 ° F.), the nitrogen pressure on the receiver was increased to allow the contents from the first reactor to flow into the second reactor.

Water inlet connection of a two-stage homogenizer (type 70-M-310-TBS; obtained from Manton-Gaulin Manufacturing Co., Everett, Mass .; flushed with deionized water) Was attached to the inlet of the homogenizer using a tube and a 0.2 micrometer filter (obtained from C. C. Day Company; part number 25-10110-002-01-WG). A 25 micrometer filter cartridge (obtained from C. C. Day Company; Part No. -25-RYA10T) was attached between the outlet of the reactor and the inlet connection of the homogenizer. The operating pressure of the homogenizer was set to 20.7 MPa (3000 psig) and the mixture was pumped to 20.7 MPa (3000 psig). Once the output from the homogenizer was a solid-free blue-white emulsion, the output was directed into a 208 liter (55 gallon) drum with a polyethylene liner.

The blue white emulsion was passed through a homogenizer for the second time and the output was directed back into a 208 liter (55 gallon) drum with a polyethylene liner. The first reactor was equipped with a condensate decanter, which was flushed with deionized water and washed, after which a blue white emulsion was charged into the (clean) reactor. The stirrer was made at 60 rpm and the jacket temperature was set to 38 ° C. (100 ° F.). The reactor was then sealed and vacuum (8 kPa (60 mm Hg)) was applied to the contents. While ethyl acetate distillate was collected in a decanter, the vacuum was slowly increased to 5.3 kPa (40 mm Hg) to minimize excessive foaming. When 45.4 kg (100 lbs.) Of ethyl acetate was collected, the distillation was terminated, the reactor was cooled to 21 ° C. (70 ° F.) and the resulting emulsion was obtained from a 25 micrometer cartridge filter (C. C. Day Company). Via a part number SWF-25-RYA10T) into a 19 liter (5 gallon) polyethylene lined pail and capped.

The resulting emulsion was made of alpha alumina fibers (10,000 denier; sold under the trade name "CERAMIC OXIDE FIBER 610" * by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.) Using a coating station according to the following procedure. It was coated on a single wire. As described above, the "teratan 2900" emulsion was diluted with 5% "teratan 2900" emulsion with deionized water and placed in the sizing tray of the coating station. The sizing roll is immersed in the coating tray to take the emulsion. The sizing was coated on one fiber break by passing the break through the sizing roll at a speed of 34.7 m / min (114 ft / min). The speed of the sizing application roll was set to provide a sizing net coating weight of 1.5%. Coated fiber breaks were wound twelve times around a drying can (a 6 inch diameter chrome-coated steel roll heated to 100 ° C.) and then wound onto a cardboard cylinder.

[ ^* Fibers used were unsized prior to emulsion application. Fibers marketed by 3M are typically sold with sizing on them. Such sizing can typically be removed by heating the fiber to at least 700 ° C. for 5 minutes.]

The amount of sizing applied to the fiber break was weighed (w _initial ) a 1 meter (3 ft) piece of sized wire, the sized wire was placed in a 700 ° C. furnace for 5 minutes, samples were taken from the furnace, cooled to room temperature, The sample was then determined by reweighing (w _final ). The weight percent (S _w ) of the applied sizing was calculated using the following formula:

The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 2% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example  2

A 4 liter (1 gallon) glass jar was charged with 2858 grams of DI water. An overhead mixer equipped with a cowl's blade mixer was inserted into the glass jar, brought to 500 rpm, and 150 grams of polyethylene glycol (300,000 g / mol number average molecular weight; Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich.) (Available under the name "Polyox WSR N-750") was added slowly (over about 30 minutes) in the vortex produced by the cowl blade. The resulting mixture was subjected to a platform shaker table (New Brunswick Scientific Company Inc., Edison, NJ) for about 60 hours under the trade name “INNOVA 2000”. Obtained).

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 3

Example 3 except that 3 grams of polyethylene glycol (1500 g / mole number average molecular weight; obtained under the trade name “PEG 1500” from Sigma-Aldrich, Milwaukee, WI) was added to deionized water prior to polyethylene glycol Prepared as described in Example 2.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1.5% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 4

Example 4 was prepared as described in Example 2 except that 150 grams of polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight of 20,000 g / mol; obtained under the trade name “PEG 20,000” from Sigma-Aldrich) was used in place of polyethylene glycol. It was. The resulting material was a clear solution.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 5

A 3.8 liter (1 gallon) glass jar was charged with 2850 grams of DI water. An overhead mixer equipped with a cowl blade mixer was inserted into a glass jar, made at 500 rpm, and 150 grams of polyethylene glycol (35,000 g / mol number average molecular weight; Clariant Corporation, Mount Holly, NC) Obtained as “polyglycol 35000” was added slowly (over about 10 minutes) in the vortex created by the cowl blade. The resulting material was a clear colorless solution.

The resulting solution was diluted and coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 6

A 6-liter stainless steel beaker was charged with 2970 grams of deionized water, and the mixer (ROSS MIXER EMULSIFIER, manufactured by Charles Ross & Son Co. of Howford, NY, USA). Model # ME100L), obtained as ", was inserted into the beaker. The mixer was made at 5000 rpm and 30 grams of polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight of 4,000,000 g / mol; obtained under the trade name "Polyox WSR-301" from Dow Chemical) was added slowly (over about 15 minutes) to water. . The resulting mixture was placed on a shaker table (see Example 2; 125 rpm) for 12 hours.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1.5% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 7

A 6 liter stainless steel beaker was charged with 2985 grams of DI water. An overhead mixer equipped with a cowl blade mixer was inserted into a glass jar, made at 500 rpm, and 15 grams of polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight of 7,000,000 g / mol; obtained from Dow Chemical under the trade name "Polyox WSR-303" ) Was added slowly to the water (over about 30 minutes). The resulting mixture was placed on a shaker table (see Example 2; 125 rpm) for 12 hours.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 2% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 8

A 6 liter stainless steel beaker was charged with 2850 grams of deionized water and a mixer with a Ross screen head (“Loss Mixer Emulsifier”) was inserted into the beaker. The mixer was brought to 5000 rpm, the water was heated to about 60 ° C. and 30 grams of polyethylene glycol (“Polyox WSR N-750”) was added slowly (over about 15 minutes) to the water. The resulting mixture was placed on a conventional roller table (about 40 rpm) for 12 hours to give a cloudy solution.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1.3% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 9

A 6 liter stainless steel beaker was charged with 2850 grams of deionized water and a mixer with Ross dispersion blades (“Loss Mixer Emulsifier”) was inserted into the beaker. The mixer was made at 5000 rpm and 150 grams of polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight of 400,000; obtained under the trade name “Polyox WSR N-3000” from Dow Chemical) were added slowly (over about 30 minutes) to water. This produced a clear solution.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1.5% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 10

Example 10 was carried out except that polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight of 4000 g / mol; obtained under the trade name “Polyglycol 4000S” from Clarity Corporation) was added to deionized water instead of “PEG 1500” polyethylene glycol. Prepared as described in Example 3.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1.3% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 11

Example 11, except that polyethylene glycol (number average molecular weight of 8000 g / mol; obtained under the trade name "polyglycol 8000S" from Clarity Corporation) was added to deionized water instead of "polyglycol 4000S" polyethylene glycol Prepared as described in Example 10.

The resulting solution was coated on a single wire of alumina fiber as described in Example 1. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 2% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Example 12

Example 12 except Example 147 grams of "Polyox WSR N-750" and 3.02 grams of "PEG-1500" were added to deionized water instead of 150 grams of "Polyox WSR N-750" polyethylene glycol. Prepared as described in 2. The added weight of the dried sizing material was about 1.2% by weight. The sizing material was visually observed to be cleanly burned away from the fibers.

Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not unduly limited to the exemplary embodiments shown herein.

Claims (8)

Each ceramic oxide fiber has an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface of at least a portion of the ceramic oxide fiber having a sizing material therein, the sizing material comprising a composition represented by the following formula: Disconnection of fiber: R'O- (RO) _n -H [here, R 'is selected from C _x H _{2x +1} where x is 1-8 or -H; R _is- (C _y H _2y )-, where y is 1-4, and -CH ₂ -O- (CH ₂ ) _m -where m is 2-5; n is chosen such that the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 7,000,000 g / mol. The disconnection of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous ceramic oxide fibers are crystalline. The solid wire of claim 1, wherein the substantially continuous ceramic oxide fibers are selected from the group consisting of crystalline alumina fibers, crystalline aluminosilicate fibers, crystalline aluminoborosilicate fibers, and combinations thereof. The disconnection of claim 1, wherein n is selected such that the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 3,000,000 g / mol. The disconnection of claim 1, wherein n is selected such that the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 400,000 g / mol. Providing a disconnection of substantially continuous ceramic oxide fibers, wherein each ceramic oxide fiber has an outer surface; Formula: R ₁ 'O- (R ₁ O) _{n 1} -H [here, R ₁ ′ is selected from C _{× 1} H _{2x1 +1} , wherein x1 is 1-8 or —H; R ₁ is selected from the group consisting _of- (C _y1 H _2y1 )-, where y ₁ is 1-4, and -CH ₂ -O- (CH ₂ ) _m1 -where m ₁ is 2-5 Become; coating at least a portion of the outer surface of at least a portion of the ceramic oxide fibers with an aqueous based sizing material comprising a composition wherein n is selected such that the number average molecular weight is in the range of 500 g / mol to 7,000,000 g / mol; And A method for providing a disconnection of a substantially continuous ceramic oxide fiber according to claim 1 comprising removing at least a portion of water. The method of claim 6, wherein the aqueous based sizing material is a solution. The method of claim 6, wherein the aqueous based sizing material is an emulsion.