Mineral wool products, a method and an apparatus for producing a mineral wool products

Abstract

A mixture of mineral fibres and a binder composition comprising at least one protein and at least one crosslinker and water, cured mineral wool products made from the mineral fibres mixture and methods for making the mineral wool mixture and products as well as a production plant is disclosed.

Description

[0001] Mineral wool products, a method and an apparatus for producing mineral wool products

[0002] Field of invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a mineral wool mixture, mineral wool products and a method for preparing mineral wool products and use of water and / or team herein.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Mineral wool products generally comprise man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) such as, e.g., glass fibres, ceramic fibres, basalt fibres, slag wool, mineral wool and stone wool (rock wool), which are bonded together by a cured thermoset polymeric binder material.

[0006] For use as thermal or acoustical insulation products, bonded mineral fibre mats are generally produced by converting a melt made of suitable raw materials to fibres in conventional manner, for instance by a spinning cup process or by a cascade rotor process. The fibres are blown into a forming chamber and, while airborne and while still hot, are sprayed with a binder solution and randomly deposited as a mat or web onto a travelling conveyor. The fibre mat may then be transferred to a curing oven where heated air is blown through the mat to cure the binder and rigidly bond the mineral fibres together.

[0007] In the past, the binder resins of choice have been phenol-formaldehyde resins which can be economically produced and can be extended with urea prior to use as a binder. However, the existing and proposed legislation directed to the lowering or elimination of formaldehyde emissions have led to the development of formaldehyde-free binders such as, for instance, the binder compositions based on polycarboxy polymers and polyols or

[0008] SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) polyamines, such as disclosed in EP-A-583086, EP-A-990727, EP-A- 1741726, US-A-5, 318,990 and US-A-2007 / 0173588.

[0009] Another group of non-phenol-formaldehyde binders are the addition / - elimination reaction products of aliphatic and / or aromatic anhydrides with alkanolamines, e.g., as disclosed in WO 99 / 36368, WO 01 / 05725, WO 01 / 96460, WO 02 / 06178, WO 2004 / 007615 and WO 2006 / 061249. These binder compositions are water soluble and exhibit excellent binding properties in terms of curing speed and curing density.

[0010] Since some of the starting materials used in the production of these binders are rather expensive chemicals, there is an ongoing need to provide formaldehyde-free binders, which are economically produced.

[0011] A further effect in connection with previously known aqueous binder compositions for mineral fibres is that at least the majority of the starting materials used for the productions of these binders stem from fossil fuels. There is an ongoing trend of consumers to prefer products that are fully or at least partly produced from renewable materials and there is therefore a need to provide binders for mineral wool, which are at least partly produced from renewable materials.

[0012] A further effect in connection with previously known aqueous binder compositions for mineral fibres is that they involve components, which are corrosive and / or harmful. This requires protective measures for the machinery involved in the production of mineral wool products to prevent corrosion and also requires safety measures for the persons handling this machinery. This leads to increased costs and health issues and there is therefore a need to provide binder compositions for mineral fibres with a reduced content of corrosive and / or harmful materials. Accordingly, there is still a need to provide a method for preparing mineral wool products, which employs an aqueous binder composition prepared to a large part from renewable materials which are not corrosive or harmful and in the process of which only a small amount of harmful gases are produced and at the same time the mineral wool product resulting from the curing has good mechanical properties.

[0013] US2011 / 003522 A describes a soy protein based binder and a glass wool product comprising the binder. The fibres are formed in a spinning chamber by one or more rotating spinning cups where the molten glass is fiberized. The hot glass wool fibres are then sprayed with the soy protein based binder using a an annular spray ring. Water may be sprayed on the fibres in the spinning chamber prior to addition of the binder in order to cool the newly spun fibres.

[0014] For the purpose of the present application, the term "formaldehyde free" is defined to characterize a mineral wool product where the emission is below 5 pg / m2 / h of formaldehyde from the mineral wool product, preferably below 3 pg / m2 / h. Preferably, the test is carried out in accordance with ISO 16000 - 1 :2004 for testing aldehyde emissions.

[0015] For the purpose of the present application, the term Bloom is defined to characterize the strength of a gel, and is a test to measure the strength of a gel, such as gelatin. The test determines the weight in grams needed by a specified plunger (normally with a diameter of 0.5 inch / 1.27 cm) to depress the surface of the gel by 4 mm without breaking it. The number of grams is called the Bloom value. The higher a Bloom value, the higher the melting and gelling points of a gel, and the shorter its gelling times. This method is most often used on soft gels. To perform the Bloom test on a soft gel, such as gelatine, an aqueous 6.67wt-% or 12.5 wt-% gelatine solution is kept for 17- 18 hours at 10°C prior to being tested. In the present patent application the Bloom value is measured using a 12.5 wt-% solution unless otherwise specified.

[0016] Summary of the invention

[0017] When producing mineral wool fibres with a protein based binder, an aqueous binder composition is mixed with the mineral wool fibres when the fibres are blown into a forming chamber and, while airborne and while still hot, are sprayed with the protein binder solution.

[0018] Many protein based binder compositions, including gelatine based binder compositions, tend to start gelling or setting over time.

[0019] For example, the gel setting time for gelatines is (amongst other things) dependent on the gel strength of the gelatine (expressed in bloom). Thus, higher gel strength gelatines generally set faster than low gel strength gelatines.

[0020] The onset of gelling or setting may be accelerated if the water content in the composition is lowered in the protein based binder composition.

[0021] Thus, if water evaporates from the uncured mixture of mineral wool and the protein based binder composition, pre-drying and onset of gelling or setting of the protein binder composition may occur before the uncured mineral wool mixture reaches the curing oven.

[0022] Additionally, protein based binder compositions are able to cure at low temperatures, such as at room temperature. Pre-drying and an early onset of curing of the protein based binder such as before shaping or forming of the final product has completed may affect the mechanical properties, such as compression strength and / or delamination strength of the final product. The present inventors have found that there is a clear relation between this gel setting time property and the propensity for a protein based binder composition to pre-dry or pre-set before an uncured mineral wool comprising a binder composition based on protein and a crosslinker reaches the curing oven in a mineral wool production.

[0023] Surprisingly, it has been found that it is possible to at least postpone the gelling or setting of the protein based binder composition in the uncured mineral wool product before it enters the curing oven by ensuring that the water content in the mixture of mineral wool fibres and the protein based binder composition is sufficiently high to at least reduce, postpone or even avoid the above mentioned pre-drying and the resulting gelling or setting of the protein in the binder composition until the uncured mineral wool and protein based binder mixture reaches the curing oven.

[0024] Additionally, it has been found that it is possible to re-activate a protein based binder composition, which may have at least partly pre-dried set, gelled, or pre-cured before the uncured mineral wool product enters the curing oven. The reactivation of the protein based binder composition can be effectively made by adding additional water and / or steam to the mixture of mineral wool fibres and the protein based binder composition before it enters the curing oven.

[0025] The protein based binder composition is then able to efficiently bind the mineral wool fibres together when cured in the curing oven. At the same time the mineral wool product resulting from the curing has good mechanical properties. This is surprising, as the skilled person would assume that it is advantageous that the binder composition pre-cures at low temperature curing prior to the curing oven because the pre-curing and / or pre-drying would reduce energy used in the subsequent curing step due to reduce curing time or that a reduced curing temperature can be used. Thus, the skilled person would suggest to take advantage of pre-curing and / or predrying to lower temperatures in the curing oven and / or to lower curing time in order to reduce the overall energy consumption during production.

[0026] The inventors have additionally found that adding at least a part of the additional water as steam, especially wet steam or saturated steam, can also re-activate a pre-dried protein based binder in the uncured mineral wool mixture. Surprisingly, it was found that the mechanical properties are at least maintained or even improved by substituting at least a part of the additional water with a lower amount (in kg water per ton wool) of steam. This may further reduce the retention time and / or curing temperatures needed in the curing oven as less water needs to be evaporated from the mineral wool - protein binder mixture in the curing oven. Additionally, the use of steam to substitute part of the water added separately to the binder with a lower amount if steam (in kg water per ton wool) lowers the water consumption used in the production process. Further, this reduces the overall amount of energy used for producing the mineral wool products.

[0027] Also, the inventors have surprisingly found that the first fraction of water added as part of the protein based binder composition can be reduced when a second fraction of water and / or steam is added separately to the uncured mixture of mineral wool fibres and the protein based binder composition before the curing oven. A significant part of the water content in the protein based binder composition evaporates shortly after being dosed to the mineral fibre flocs formed in the forming chamber. Typically, at least 50% by weight, or at least 75% by weight, such as in the range of 80-90 % by weight of the water added with the binder composition in the formation chamber will evaporate in the formation chamber when it is mixed with the newly spun - and still hot - mineral wool fibres. The evaporation of water cools the newly spun mineral wool fibres. But, the evaporation of water from the protein based binder composition also increases the risk of pre-drying and the associated gelling and / or setting of the protein based binder. The addition of a second fraction of water and / or steam after the mixture of mineral wool fibres and the protein based binder leaves the formation chamber and before entering the curing oven will delay, reduce or even eliminate the pre-drying resulting from water evaporated in the formation chamber. The addition of the second fraction of water may additionally allow reducing the amount of water added with the protein binder composition in the formation chamber. This may may reduce the amount of water evaporated in the formation chamber resulting in that the overall water consumption can be reduced without compromising the good mechanical strength of the cured mineral wool product.

[0028] The present inventors have found that the above mentioned reactivation or pre-drying may be avoided by providing a mineral wool fibre mixture which comprises mineral wool fibres and a binder composition comprising at least one protein and at least one crosslinker, and where said mineral wool mixture comprises 10-400 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres. Prior to curing the mixture is hereby less prone to the above mentioned pre-drying.

[0029] Preferably, the mixture comprises 20-375 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres, such as 30-250 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres or preferably 40- 200 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres or more preferred 50-150 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres .

[0030] When the mineral wool has left the formation chamber it is typically a mixture of mineral wool and the binder compositions. Thus the weight of mineral wool fibres may include the weight of the binder solids. Often the amount of binder solids, i.e. LOI, see further below, is about 5% by weight, so the weight of binder solids may be omitted when referring the to the weight of the mineral wool fibres or the mineral wool. The method of producing a mineral fibre product according to the present invention comprises the steps of a) fiberizing a melt of raw materials by means of a fibre forming apparatus to form a cloud of mineral fibres, b) adding a binder comprising at least one protein and at least one crosslinker to the cloud of mineral fibres to obtain mineral fibres mixed with the binder, c) ensuring a water content of 10-400 kg water per ton m ineral wool fibres, and d) curing the mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder in a curing device.

[0031] The use according to the present invention of water having a temperature of cold water having a temperature of >4-5°C or at elevated temperatures, such as 30-95°C or 40-75 °C and / or wet or saturated steam having a temperature of 75-150 °C, such as 90-130°C and / or at a pressure of 1-5 bar, such as 1-3 bar to reactivate a protein binder comprising at least one protein and preferably at least one cross-linker which has been partially gelled or set, wherein the protein binder is preferably in contact with mineral fibres, wherein the use is preferably in a method according to the present invention.

[0032] A mineral wool product production apparatus for preparing a mineral wool fibre mixture according to the present invention or for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises i. a melting device for melting the raw materials of the mineral fibres, ii. a fibre forming apparatus to form the cloud of mineral fibres, iii. a first application device to add a binder composition comprising at least one protein and preferably at least one cross-linker to the mineral fibres, iv. at least one second application device, preferably a spray bar, to treat the web or tuffs with water and / or water steam in one, two, three, four or more sections of the transport route, wherein each application bar is preferably arranged across the direction of movement of the web above or below the web.

[0033] Crosslinkers

[0034] The crosslinker is preferably at least one phenol or quinone containing compound or at least one enzyme.

[0035] Phenol containing compound component of binder

[0036] The binder composition used in the mineral wool mixture according to the present invention comprises a crosslinker which is a phenol or quinone containing compound of the binder, in particular one or more phenolic compounds.

[0037] Phenolic compounds, or phenolics, are compounds that have one or more hydroxyl group attached directly to an aromatic ring. Polyphenols (or polyhydroxyphenols) are compounds that have more than one phenolic hydroxyl group attached to one or more aromatic rings. Phenolic compounds are characteristic of plants and as a group they are usually found as esters or glycosides rather than as free compounds.

[0038] The term phenolics covers a very large and diverse group of chemical compounds. Preferably, the phenol containing compound is a compound according to the scheme based on the number of carbons in the molecule as detailed in by W. Vermems, R. Nicholson, in Phenolic Compound Biochemistry, Springer Netherlands, 2008.

[0039] Preferably, the phenol containing compound comprises a phenol containing compound such as simple phenolics, such as hydroxybenzoic acids, such as hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl or ethyl substituted hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl vanillin or ethyl vanillin, such as hydroxyacetophenones, such as hydroxyphenylacetic acids, such as cinnamic acids, such as cinnamic acid esters, such as cinnamyl aldehydes, such as cinnamyl alcohols, such as coumarins, such as isocoumarins, such as chromones, such as flavonoids, such as chaicones, such as dihydrochalcones, such as aurones, such as flavanones, such as flavanonols, such as flavans, such as leucoanthocyanidins, such as flavan- 3-ols, such as flavones, such as anthocyanidins, such as deoxyanthocyanidines, such as anthocyanins, such as biflavonyls, such as benzophenones, such as xanthones, such as stilbenes, such as betacyanins, such as polyphenols and / or polyhydroxyphenols, such as lignans, neolignans (dimers or oligomers from coupling of monolignols such as p- coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol), such as lignins (synthesized primarily from the monolignol precursors p- coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol), such as tannins, such as tannates (salts of tannins), such as condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), such as hydrolysable tannins, such as gallotannins, such as ellagitannins, such as complex tannins, such as tannic acid, such as phlobabenes, such as phlorotannins, such as sulfonated phenolic containing compounds.

[0040] In one variant, the phenol containing compound may be selected from the group consisting of simple phenolics, phenol containing compounds with a more complex structure than a C6 structure, such as oligomers of simple phenolics, polyphenols, and / or polyhydroxyphenols. The phenol containing compounds used according to the present invention can also be synthetic or semisynthetic molecules or constructs that contain phenols, polyphenols. An example for such a construct is a protein, peptide, peptoids (such as linear and / or cyclic oligomers and / or polymers of N-substituted glycines, N- substituted beta-alanines), or arylopeptoids (such as linear and / or cyclic oligomers and / or polymers of N- substituted aminomethyl benzamides) modified with phenol containing side chains. A dendrimer decorated with phenol containing side chains is another example.

[0041] In another variant, the phenol containing compound used according to the present invention is a quinone. Quinones are oxidized derivatives of aromatic compounds and are often readily made from reactive aromatic compounds with electron-donating substituents such as phenolics. Quinones useful for the present invention include benzoquinones, napthoquinone, anthraquinone and lawsone.

[0042] Tannins comprise a group of compounds with a wide diversity in structure that share their ability to crosslink, bind and / or precipitate proteins. Tannins are abundant in many different plant species, in particular oak, chestnut, staghorn sumac and fringe cups. Tannins can be present in the leaves, bark and fruits. Tannins can be classified into three groups: condensed tannins, hydrolysable tannins and complex tannins. Condensed tannins, or proanthocyanidins, are oligomeric or polymeric flavonoids consisting of flavan-3-ol (catechin) units. Gallotannins are hydrolysable tannins with a polyol core substituted with 10-12 gallic acid residues. The most commonly found polyol in gallotannins is D-glucose although some gallotannins contain catechin and triterpenoid units as the core polyol. Ellagitanins are hydrolysable tannins that differ from gallotannins in that they contain additional C-C bonds between adjacent galloyl moieties. Complex tannins are defined as tannins in which a catechin unit is bound glycosidically to either a gallotannin or an ellagitannin unit.

[0043] Preferably, the tannin is selected from one or more components from the group consisting of tannic acid, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), sulfonated tannins, hydrolysable tannins, gallotannins, ellagitannins, complex tannins, and / or tannin originating from one or more of oak, chestnut, staghorn sumac, fringe cups, quebracho, acacia, mimosa, black wattle bark, grape, gallnut, gambier, myrobalan, tara, valonia, and eucalyptus.

[0044] Preferably, the content of the at least one phenol or quinone containing compound, such as in form of tannin is 1 to 60 weight percent, such as 2 to 60 weight percent, such as 3 to 50 weight percent, such as 4 to 40 weight percent, such as 5 to 35 weight percent, such as 2.5 to 15 weight percent, such as 4 to 12 weight percent, based on dry protein basis.

[0045] The inventors have found that a wide range of such phenol containing compounds can be used in order to obtain binder compositions which can be used in the method according to the present invention with excellent results. Often, these phenol containing compound components are obtained from vegetable tissues and are therefore a renewable material. In some variants, the compounds are also non-toxic and non-corrosive. As a further advantage, these compounds are antimicrobial and therefore impart their antimicrobial properties to the mineral wool product bound by such a binder.

[0046] The content of the at least one cross-linker, preferably the at least one phenol or quinone containing compound, in particular tannin, may be in the range of 1 to 30 % by weight, more preferably 2 to 15 % by weight, most preferably 3 to 10 % by weight, based on dry weight of the least one protein.

[0047] In a variant, the crosslinker is a combination of of the one or more tannins and of the one or more hydroxybenzoic aldehyde, and wherein the content of the tannin, is in the range of 1 to 30 % by weight, more preferably 2 to 15 % by weight, most preferably 3 to 10 % by weight based on dry weight of the least one protein, and wherein the content of the one or more hydroxybenzoic aldehyde(s) is in the range of 0.01 -5% by weight, such as 0.01 -2% by weight, or preferably 0.01 -1.0 % by weight, in particular 0.15- 0.5% by weight based on the dry weight of weight of the at least one protein and the at least one tannin. In a variant, the crosslinker comprises one or more hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl or ethyl substituted hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl vanillin or ethyl vanillin or mixtures thereof and in combination with one or more tannins, such as one or more tannins selected from selected from the group consisting of tannic acid, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), sulfonated tannins, hydrolysable tannins, gallotannins, ellagitannins, complex tannins, and / or tannin originating from one or more of oak, chestnut, staghorn sumac, fringe cups, quebracho, acacia, mimosa, black wattle bark, grape, gallnut, gambier, myrobalan, tara, valonia, and eucalyptus and combinations thereof.

[0048] Some hydroxybenzoic aldehydes are, in addition to being cross linkers, also used as fragrant and / or flavouring agents. Thus, hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl or ethyl substituted hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl vanillin or ethyl vanillin, may thus provide a fragrance to the mineral wool products and / or mask any unwanted odour, e.g. odours arising from the protein or phenolic moieties of the protein containing binder composition.

[0049] Enzyme component of binder

[0050] The protein containing binder composition may additionally or alternatively further comprise at least one crosslinker, which is an enzyme selected from the group consisting of transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13), protein disulfide isomerase (EC 5.3.4.1 ), thiol oxidase (EC 1.8.3.2), polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.14.18.1 ), in particular catechol oxidase, tyrosine oxidase, and phenoloxidase, lysyl oxidase (EC 1 .4.3.13), and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1 .7).

[0051] Protein component of the binder

[0052] Preferably, the protein component of the binder used according to the present invention is selected from the group consisting of proteins from animal sources, including collagen, gelatine, hydrolysed gelatine, and protein from milk (casein, whey), eggs; proteins from jellyfish, proteins produced by recombinant techniques; proteins from insects, such as silk worms, such as sericin, such as mussel foot protein; proteins from vegetable sources, including proteins from algae, legumes, cereals, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruits, like protein from buckwheat, oats, rye, millet, maize (com), rice, wheat, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, quinoa, soybeans (soy protein), lentils, kidney beans, white beans, mung beans, chickpeas, cowpeas, lima beans, pigeon peas, lupines, wing beans, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts, rapeseeds, cotton seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds, proteins produced by recombinant techniques; polyphenolic proteins such as mussel foot protein or a combination thereof. In particular, the term gelatine or hydrolysed gelatine also encompass food grade gelatines, technical grade gelatines animal glues, bone glues or fish gelatine or fish glues.

[0053] Gelatines or fish glues derived from fish, especially gelatines from fish harvested in cold water seas, may have a different chemical composition and / or structure when compared to gelatines obtained from mammals. Thus fish gelatine and / or Fish glue may exhibit low Bloom values, e.g. as low as 0, when determined with the above described standard method for determining Bloom values.

[0054] Preferably, the mineral wool fibres are mixed with an aqueous protein containing binder composition comprising the at least one protein and the at least one crosslinker.

[0055] The protein containing binder composition preferably has a content of the at least one protein, preferably gelatine, of 40 to 97 wt.%, preferably 50 to 95 wt.%, more preferably 60 to 90 wt.%, based on the dry weight of the binder, Dry weight of the binder is defined as the weight of the content of the binder composition without water.

[0056] Collagen is a very abundant material in living tissue: It is the main component in connective tissue and constitutes 25-35 percent of the total protein content in mammals. Gelatine is derived from chemical degradation of collagen. Gelatine may also be produced by recombinant techniques. Gelatin is water soluble and has a molecular weight of 10.000 to 500.000 g / mol, such as 30.000 to 300.000 g / mol dependent on the grade of hydrolysis. Gelatine is a widely used food product and it is therefore generally accepted that this compound is totally non-toxic and therefore no precautions are to be taken when handling gelatine.

[0057] Gelatine is a heterogeneous mixture of single or multi-stranded polypeptides, typically showing helix structures. Specifically, the triple helix of type I collagen extracted from skin and bones, as a source for gelatine, is composed of two alpha 1 (1 ) and one alpha2(l) chains.

[0058] Gelatine solutions may undergo coil-helix transitions.

[0059] A type gelatines are produced by acidic treatment. B type gelatines are produced by basic treatment.

[0060] Chemical cross-links may be introduced to gelatine. For example, transglutaminase is used to link lysine to glutamine residues; glutaraldehyde may be used to link lysine to lysine; and / or tannins are used to link nucleophilic residues, such as lysine residues.

[0061] The gelatine can also be further hydrolysed to smaller fragments of down to 3000 g / mol. On cooling a gelatine solution, collagen like helices may be formed. Gelatine may form helix structures.

[0062] Thus, the cured binder comprising protein may comprise helix structures.

[0063] Preferably, the at least one protein is a low strength gelatine, such as a gelatine having a gel strength of 30 to 125 Bloom (at 6.67 wt%).

[0064] Alternatively, the at least one protein may be a medium strength gelatine, such as a gelatine having a gel strength of 125 to 180 Bloom (at 6.67 wt%).

[0065] Alternatively, the at least one protein may be high strength gelatine, such as a gelatine having a gel strength of 180 to 300 Bloom (at 6.67 wt%).

[0066] Proteins or gelatines, including technical grade proteins or gelatines, animal glues, bone glues or fish glues, may be used in the present invention and may exhibit a Bloom (at 12.5 wt%) of 0-250, such as 0-200, or preferably 0- 40 or 40-175.

[0067] In a preferred variant, the gelatine is preferably food grade and / or technical grade gelatine originating from one or more sources from the group consisting of mammal, bird species, such as from cow, pig, horse, fowl, and / or from fish, such as from scales, bones or skin of fish or animal glues, bone glues or fish glues.

[0068] The mineral wool mixture is cured to form a mineral wool product comprising a cured mixture of mineral wool fibres and the binder comprising a protein and a crosslinker.

[0069] Without wanting to be bound by any specific theory, the inventors of the present invention believe that the surprisingly good results at least partly due to a denaturation process of the at least one protein in the binders described. Denaturation is a process in which the proteins lose the quaternary structure, tertiary structure, and / or secondary structure which is present in their native state.

[0070] It is believed that the curing temperatures used according to the present invention make such a denaturation process feasible and this contributes to the excellent properties of the mineral wool products resulting from the present invention. Preferably, curing of the mixture of mineral wool fibres, the one or more protein(s) and the one or more crosslinker(s) is performed by comprising employing a temperature in the range of > 150 °C , such as 150 - 250 °C, such as up to 175 - 225 °C, such as up to 220 °C, such as up to 215 °C for the curing step. This provides a very advantageous combination of features of fast curing, low emission of harmful gases during the curing process and excellent mechanical properties of the mineral wool product according to the invention.

[0071] Additionally, the addition of the second fraction of water ( see further below) and / or steam to the uncured mixture of mineral fibres before the curing provides a mineral wool product with good mechanical strength properties. Without being bound to any particular theory, it is assumed by the inventors that the addition of the second fraction of water and / or steam reactivates the pre-dried protein binder composition, at least in the outermost parts or layers, such as the surface layer(s) of a mineral wool layer or product. The reduced pre-drying is believed to reverse, reduce or eliminate the pre-gelling, whereby the protein based binder is maintaining its adhesive properties until being cured, which provides a more uniform adhesion strength between the mineral wool fibres through the cured mineral wool product and resulting in improved delamination strength properties and / or improved compression strength properties. Additionally or alternatively, this reduced pre-drying could reduce or eliminate the pre-gelling, pre-setting and / or pre-curing long enough to avoid or at least reduce any formation of a cured surface in the mineral wool product which could form an impenetrable outer shell of the binder composition, which could hinder water from inside the to get out during curing can be avoided. The result is a more uniform curing of the mineral wool product which demonstrates consistent and satisfying mechanical strength properties.

[0072] Urea may be added to the binder compositions according to the present invention. The inventors have found that the addition of even small amounts of urea causes denaturation of the gelatine, which can slow down the gelling, which might be desired. The addition of urea might also lead to a softening of the product.

[0073] The carboxylic acid groups in gelatins may also interact strongly with trivalent and tetravalent ions, for example aluminum salts. This is especially true for type B gelatins which contain more carboxylic acid groups than type A gelatins.

[0074] The binder composition in the mineral wool mixture may comprise at least two proteins, wherein one protein is at least one selected from the group consisting of proteins from animal sources, including collagen, gelatin, hydrolysed gelatin, and protein from milk (casein, whey), eggs; proteins from jellyfish, proteins produced by microorganisms and / or by recombinant techniques; proteins from insects, such as silk worms, such as sericin, such as mussel foot protein; and another protein is at least one protein selected from group of proteins from vegetable sources, including proteins from algae, legumes, cereals, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruits, like protein from buckwheat, oats, rye, millet, maize (corn), rice, wheat, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, quinoa, soybeans (soy protein), lentils, kidney beans, white beans, mung beans, chickpeas, cowpeas, lima beans, pigeon peas, lupines, wing beans, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts, rapeseeds, cotton seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds.

[0075] In a variant of the invention, the protein containing binder composition does not comprise a protein from soybeans (soy protein).

[0076] The mixture of mineral wool fibres may also further comprise a hydrocolloid selected from the group consisting of pectin, starch, alginate, agar agar, carrageenan, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose, arabinoxylan, cellulose, curdlan, [3-glucan or combinations thereof. Preferably, the first hydrocolloid is a protein as discussed above. The protein may be gelatine which is present in an amount of 10 to 95 wt.-%, such as 20 to 80 wt.%, such as 30 to 70 wt.-%, such as 40 to 60 wt.-%, based on the weight of the hydrocolloids.

[0077] The least one protein may contain 50 to 400, such as 100 to 300 (hydroxy proline + proline) residues per 1000 amino acid residues.

[0078] The at least one the protein may contain lysine and / or cysteine and a mass ratio of lysine plus cysteine in the at least one protein to phenol and / or quinone in the at least one phenol and / or quinone containing compound present in the adhesive is from 1 : 5.78 to 1 : 0.08.

[0079] The protein containing binder composition preferably has a pH of 4.5 to 9.5, such as 6.0 to 8.0.

[0080] The protein containing binder composition may have a content of the at least one protein of 1 to 99 weight percent, such as 3 to 97 weight percent, such as 5 to 95 weight percent, such as 10 to 90 weight percent, such as 10 to 80 weight percent, based on the content of the crosslinker and the at least one protein.

[0081] Additives

[0082] The protein containing binder composition may further comprise one or more additives.

[0083] Preferably, the one or more additives used may comprise one or more pH adjusters, such as one or more organic or inorganic acids and / or one or more bases; one or more oxidisers, such as oxygen; air or tyrosinase one or more hardeners, such as a silane; one or more hydrophobic agents such as a silicone.

[0084] The protein containing binder composition may further comprise an additive selected from the group of and, a pH-adjuster, preferably in form of a base, such as organic base, such as amine or salts thereof, inorganic bases, such as lithium hydroxide and / or sodium hydroxide and / or potassium hydroxide, such as in an amount of 0.01 to 10 weight percent, such as 0.05 to 6 weight percent, based on the combined dry weight of crosslinker and protein, such as ammonia or salts thereof.

[0085] These additives may be hydrophobic components such as one or more reactive or nonreactive silicones and may be added to the protein containing binder composition. Preferably, the one or more reactive or nonreactive silicone is selected from the group consisting of silicone constituted of a main chain composed of organosiloxane residues, especially diphenylsiloxane residues, alkylsiloxane residues, preferably dimethylsiloxane residues, bearing at least one hydroxyl, acyl, carboxyl or anhydride, amine, epoxy or vinyl functional group capable of reacting with at least one of the constituents of the protein containing binder composition and is preferably present in an amount of 0.1 -15 weight- percent, preferably from 0.1-10 weight- percent, more preferably 0.3-8 weight- percent, based on the total binder solids. The addition of silicones may be omitted if producing a hydrophilic mineral wool product such as horticultural growth media, water management products or shock absorbing pads for sports fields, arenas or playgrounds.

[0086] Hardeners, such as silanes, such as aminosilanes are preferably present in an amount of 0.01 -5 weight- percent, preferably from 0.05-1.0 weight- percent, more preferably 0.1 -0.8 weight- percent, based on the total binder solids.

[0087] An emulsified hydrocarbon oil may be added to the protein containing binder composition. As already described above, many phenol containing compounds, in particular polyphenols, have antimicrobial properties and therefore impart antimicrobial characteristic to the binder. Nevertheless, an anti-fouling agent may be added to the protein containing binder composition.

[0088] An anti-swelling agent may be added to the protein containing binder composition, such as tannic acid and / or tannins.

[0089] The binder composition may contain additives in form of amine linkers and / or thiol / thiolate linkers. These additives in form of amine linkers and / or thiol / thiolate linkers are particular useful when the crosslinking reaction of the binder proceeds via the quinone-amine and / or quinone-thiol pathway.

[0090] The binder compositions according to the present invention may contain further additives in form of additives selected from the group consisting of PEG-type reagents, silanes, fatty acid esters of glycerol, and hydroxyl apatites.

[0091] Oxidising agents as additives can serve to increase the oxidising rate of the phenolics. One example is the enzyme tyrosinase which oxidizes phenols to hydroxyphenols / quinones and therefore accelerates the binder forming reaction.

[0092] In another variant, the oxidising agent is oxygen, which is supplied to the protein containing binder composition In one variant the curing is performed in ambient air or in oxygen-enriched surroundings so as to supply oxygen to the protein containing binder composition.

[0093] Additionally, or alternatively the protein containing binder composition may comprise one or more divalent metal cation M2+selected from the group of divalent cations of earth alkaline metals, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sn or combinations thereof. In one variant, the method according to the present invention is carried out such that the divalent metal cation containing compound comprises Ca2+.

[0094] The one or more divalent metal cation M2+containing compound(s) may be present in the protein containing binder composition in an amount of 0.1 weight percent to 10 weight percent, such as 0.2 weight percent to 8 weight percent, such as 0.3 weight percent to 5 weight percent, such as 0.4 weight percent to 4.3 weight percent, such as 1.0 weight percent to 4.3 weight percent, based on the combined dry weight of phenol containing compound and protein.

[0095] By providing at least one divalent metal cation M2+containing compound, the crosslinking effect can, according to the theory of the inventors, be modulated and the properties of the mineral wool products can be tailor-made. Similarly, since the addition of at least one divalent metal cation M2+containing compound may affect increase the water absorption in the mineral wool, the this property can, according to the theory of the inventors, be modulated according to the desired use of the mineral wool product.

[0096] Fatty acid ester of glycerol

[0097] The protein containing binder composition may further comprise at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol, wherein the content of fatty acid ester of glycerol is preferably 0.6 to 30, more preferably 2 to 10, more preferably 3 to 7.5 % by weight, based on the dry weight of the protein containing binder.

[0098] The at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is preferably selected from one or more components from the group consisting of linseed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil (ground nut oil), rapeseed oil, including canola oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil or combinations thereof.

[0099] A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated.

[0100] Glycerol is a polyol compound having the IIIPAC name propane-1 , 2, 3-triol.

[0101] Naturally occurring fats and oils are glycerol esters with fatty acids (also called triglycerides).

[0102] For the purpose of the present invention, the term fatty acid ester of glycerol refers to mono-, di-, and tri-esters of glycerol with fatty acids.

[0103] While the term fatty acid can in the context of the present invention be any carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, it is preferred that it is carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain having 4 to 28 carbon atoms, preferably of an even number of carbon atoms. Preferably, the aliphatic chain of the fatty acid is unbranched.

[0104] The at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is may be in form of a plant oil and / or animal oil. In the context of the present invention, the term "oil" comprises at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol in the form of oils or fats.

[0105] Preferably, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is a plant- based oil.

[0106] The at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is preferably used in in form of fruit pulp fats such as palm oil, olive oil, avocado oil; seed-kernel fats such as lauric acid oils, such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil, babassu oil and other palm seed oils, other sources of lauric acid oils; palmitic-stearic acid oils such as cocoa butter, shea butter, borneo tallow and related fats (vegetable butters); palmitic acid oils such as cottonseed oil, kapok and related oils, pumpkin seed oil, com (maize) oil, cereal oils; oleic-li noleic acid oils such as sunflower oil, sesame oil, linseed oil, perilla oil, hempseed oil, teaseed oil, safflower and niger seed oils, grape-seed oil, poppyseed oil, leguminous oil such as soybean oil, peanut oil, lupine oil; cruciferous oils such as rapeseed oil, mustard seed oil; conjugated acid oils such as tung oil and related oils, oiticica oil and related oils; substituted fatty acid oils such as castor oil, chaulmoogra, hydnocarpus and gorli oils, vernonia oil; animal fats such as land-animal fats such as lard, beef tallow, mutton tallow, horse fat, goose fat, chicken fat; marine oils such as whale oil and fish oil or mixtures thereof.

[0107] More preferred, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is in form of a plant oil, in particular selected from one or more components from the group consisting of linseed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil (ground nut oil), rapeseed oil, including canola oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil or mixtures thereof.

[0108] The at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol may be selected from one or more components from the group consisting of a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 136 to 178, such as a linseed oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 136 to 178, a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 80 to 88, such as an olive oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 80 to 88, a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 163 to 173, such as tung oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 163 to 173, a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 7 to 10, such as coconut oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 7 to 10, a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 140 to 170, such as hemp oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 140 to 170, a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 94 to 120, such as a rapeseed oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 94 to 120, a plant oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 118 to 144, such as a sunflower oil having an iodine number in the range of approximately 118 to 144.

[0109] In one variant the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is not of natural origin.

[0110] In one variant, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is a modified plant or animal oil. The at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol may comprise at least one transfatty acid.

[0111] Alternatively, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is in form of an animal oil, such as a fish oil.

[0112] In one variant, the binder results from the curing of a binder composition comprising gelatin, and wherein the binder composition further comprises a tannin selected from one or more components from the group consisting of tannic acid, sulfonated tannins, condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), hydrolysable tannins, gallotannins, el lag itannins, complex tannins, and / or tannin originating from one or more of oak, chestnut, staghorn sumac and fringe cups, preferably tannic acid, and the binder composition further comprises at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol, such as at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol selected from one or more components from the group consisting of linseed oil coconut oil, com oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil (ground nut oil), rapeseed oil, including canola oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil.

[0113] The present inventors have found that the parameter for the fatty acid ester of glycerol used in the binders according to the present invention of the amount of unsaturation in the fatty acid can be used to distinguish preferred embodiments. The amount of unsaturation in fatty acids is usually measured by the iodine number (also called iodine value or iodine absorption value or iodine index). The higher the iodine number, the more C=C bonds are present in the fatty acid. For the determination of the iodine number as a measure of the unsaturation of fatty acids, we make reference to Thomas, Alfred (2012) "Fats and fatty oils" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of industrial chemistry, Weinheim, Wiley-VCH.

[0114] Preferably, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol comprises a plant oil and / or animal oil having an iodine number of >75, such as 75 to 180, such as >130, such as 130 to 180.

[0115] Alternatively, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol comprises a plant oil and / or animal oil having an iodine number of <100, such as <25. The at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol may be a drying oil. For a definition of a drying oil, see Poth, Ulrich (2012) "Drying oils and related products" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of industrial chemistry, Weinheim, Wiley-VCH.

[0116] In one variant, the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is selected from one or more components from the group consisting of linseed oil, olive oil, tung oil, coconut oil, hemp oil, rapeseed oil, and sunflower oil.

[0117] The present inventors have found that particularly good results are achieved when the iodine number is either in a fairly high range or, alternatively, in a fairly low range. While not wanting to be bound by any particular theory, the present inventors assume that the advantageous properties inflicted by the fatty acid esters of high iodine number on the one hand and low iodine number on the other hand are based on different mechanisms. The present inventors assume that the advantageous properties of glycerol esters of fatty acids having a high iodine number might be due to the participation of the C=C double-bonds found in high numbers in these fatty acids in a crosslinking reaction, while the glycerol esters of fatty acids having a low iodine number and lacking high amounts of C=C double bonds might allow a stabilization of the cured binder by van der Waals interactions. The present inventors assume that the polar end of glycerol esters of fatty acids interacts with polar areas of the at least one protein while non-polar ends interact with non-polar areas of the at least one protein.

[0118] The content of fatty acid ester of glycerol may be 0.6 to 60, such as 0.5 to 40, such as 1 to 30, such as 1.5 to 16, such as 3 to 10, such as 4 to 7.5 wt.- percent based on the dry weight of the at least one protein and the at least one phenol containing compound.

[0119] Mineral wool fibres

[0120] The mineral wool fibres, also called man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), can have any suitable oxide composition. The fibres can be glass fibres, ceramic fibres, basalt fibres, slag fibres or rock or stone fibres. The fibres are preferably of the types generally known as rock, stone or slag fibres, most preferably stone fibres.

[0121] Stone fibres commonly comprise the following oxides, in percent by weight:

[0122] SiO2: 30 to 51

[0123] AI2O3: 12 to 25

[0124] CaO: 8 to 30

[0125] MgO: 2 to 25

[0126] Fe2O3 total: 2 to 15

[0127] Na2O+K2O: not more than 10

[0128] CaO+MgO: 10 to 30

[0129] Preferably, the MMVF have the following levels of elements, calculated as oxides in wt%:

[0130] SiO2: at least 30, 32, 35 or 37; not more than 51 , 48, 45 or 43

[0131] AI2O3: at least 12, 16 or 17; not more than 30, 27 or 25

[0132] CaO: at least 8 or 10; not more than 30, 25 or 20

[0133] MgO: at least 2 or 5; not more than 25, 20 or 15

[0134] Fe2O3 total: at least 4 or 5; not more than 15, 12 or 10

[0135] FeO+MgO: at least 10, 12 or 15; not more than 30, 25 or 20

[0136] Na2O+K2O: zero or at least 1 ; not more than 10

[0137] CaO+MgO: at least 10 or 15; not more than 30 or 25

[0138] TiO2: zero or at least 1 ; not more than 6, 4 or 2

[0139] TiO2+FeO: at least 4 or 6; not more than 18 or 12

[0140] B2O3: zero or at least 1 ; not more than 5 or 3

[0141] P2O5: zero or at least 1 ; not more than 8 or 5

[0142] Others: zero or at least 1 ; not more than 8 or 5

[0143] Glass fibres commonly comprise the following oxides, in percent by weight:

[0144] SiO2: 50 to 70

[0145] AI2O3: 10 to 30 CaO: not more than 27

[0146] MgO: not more than 12

[0147] Glass fibres can also contain the following oxides, in percent by weight: Na2O+K2O: 8 to 18, in particular Na2O+K2O greater than CaO+MgO B2O3: 3 to 12

[0148] Some glass fibre compositions can contain AI2O3: less than 2% .

[0149] The total amount of iron oxides is the sum of Fe2Os and FeO and expressed as Fe2Os.

[0150] Mineral wool products

[0151] A mineral wool product according to the present invention comprises a cured mixture of mineral wool fibres and a binder composition comprising a protein and a crosslinker as described above.

[0152] The density of the mineral wool product is preferably in the range of 10-1200 kg / m3, such as 20-800 kg / m3’, such as 10-600 kg / m3, or 30-600 kg / m3, such as 40-400 kg / m3, such as 50-250 kg / m3, such as 10-200 kg / m3or such as 40-200 kg / m3.

[0153] A variant of the cured mineral wool product has a density of 75-85 kg / m3and a compression strength at 10% a (kPa) according to EN ISO 29470:2020 - Second edition (2020-06-17). greater than or equal to 19 kPa and / or a delamination strength omt greater than or equal to 7.5 kPa according to EN 1607.

[0154] The mineral wool product may be a mineral wool insulation product, such as a mineral wool thermal or acoustical insulation product. Additionally or alternatively, mineral wool product is a granulate or a shaped product, such as a slab, a pad or a blanket, a rolled up blanket or a shaped item, such as a tubular segment.

[0155] Additionally or alternatively, mineral wool product the mineral wool product may be a horticultural growth media, a water management product, a water storage product, a filter media, or a shock absorbing pad for sports fields, arenas or playgrounds.

[0156] Preferably, the mineral wool product according to the present invention is an insulation product, in particular having a density of 10 to 200 kg / m3

[0157] The loss on ignition (LOI) of the mineral wool product according to the present invention is preferably within the range of 0.1 to 25.0 percent, such as 0.3 to 18.0 percent, such as 0.5 to 12.0 percent, such as 0.7 to 8.0 percent by weight or more preferred 3-7 percent by weight. The LOI is determined as specified in EN 13820 - First edition (2003-12-22).

[0158] The present invention also relates to a mineral wool product mineral wool product, obtainable by the method discussed below.

[0159] Method of producing a mineral wool product.

[0160] The present invention also provides a method of producing a mineral wool product by binding mineral fibres with the binder composition.

[0161] The method of producing a mineral fibre product according to the present invention comprises the steps of a) fiberizing a melt of raw materials by means of a fibre forming apparatus to form a cloud of mineral fibres, b) adding a binder comprising at least one protein and at least one crosslinker to the cloud of mineral fibres to obtain mineral fibres mixed with the binder, c) ensuring a water content of 10-400 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres and binder solids, and d) curing the mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder in a curing device.

[0162] By ensuring the water content the above mentioned pre-drying, pre-setting and / or pre-curing is avoided. When cured, mineral products obtained are obtained with excellent mechanical properties. The reduced pre-drying is believed to reverse, reduce or eliminate the pre-gelling, whereby the protein based binder is maintaining its adhesive properties until being cured, which provides a more uniform adhesion strength between the mineral wool fibres through the cured mineral wool product and resulting in improved delamination strength properties and / or improved compression strength properties.

[0163] Before curing, such as during transport to the curing device of the mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder composition, the mineral fibres mixed with the protein containing binder is preferably treated with cold water having a temperature of >4-5°C or water at elevated temperatures, such as 30-95°C or 40-75 °C such as 45-60 °C, and / or water steam in one or more sections of the transport route.

[0164] The inventors have found that the re-activation of the protein containing binder, such as the above discussed gelatine containing binder, is enhanced by adding water at elevated temperatures and / or by adding steam to the mixture of mineral wool and protein containing binder.

[0165] Preferably, the method according to the present invention comprises in step c) ensuring a water content of 10-400 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres, such as 20-375 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres , such as 50-250 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres, such as or preferably 40-200 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres or more preferred 50-150 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres. According to the method of the present invention, a first fraction of water may be added to the mineral wool as part of the binder composition and a second fraction of the water may be added separately as water and / or steam.

[0166] The second water fraction is preferably added to the mineral wool mixture in an amount of 5-100 kg water per ton wool mixture, or such as 5-75 kg water per ton mineral wool mixture, or such as 10-50 kg water per ton wool mixture. Hereby rehydrating the protein containing binder is obtained whereby the above mentioned pre-drying, pre gelling or presetting is elegantly avoided.

[0167] In a variant of the present method, all or at least a part of the second fraction of water is applied as steam, such as a wet steam or a saturated steam or a superheated steam.

[0168] The addition of steam to the mineral wool mixture may allow the steam to travel further into the web, shaped product, tuffs or a deposited layer of the mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder before the steam condenses into water. This may allow that the water is distributed more uniform through the layer in the mixture wetting of the mineral wool and / or at increased depth in a deposited layer of the mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder whereby the pre-drying, pre-setting and / or procuring may also be reduced in more central parts of a mineral wool web or a shaped product.

[0169] Additionally, the addition of at least a part of the second fraction of water may result in a low water uptake in the final product.

[0170] Preferably, at least a part the second fraction of water is added to the mineral wool mixture as wet steam or saturated steam and in an amount of 5-25 kg per ton mineral wool mixture, such as 8-15 kg per ton mineral wool mixture or such as 9-12 kg per ton mineral wool mixture. The steam applied to the mixture of mineral wool and the protein, such as gelatine, containing binder composition is preferably saturated steam applied at a temperature of 75-150 °C, such as 90-130°C and / or at a pressure of 1- 5 bar, such as 1-3 bar.

[0171] The method may further comprise depositing the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder on a support of a first conveying means to form a web of mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder.

[0172] Alternatively, the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder are fluidized in a carrier gas, such as air, during transport and wherein the water is added by spraying water and / or steam into the fluidized fibre mixture.

[0173] Subsequently, the web or fluidized fibre mixture or tuffs may be formed into a product shape, such as described further below.

[0174] The method according the present invention may further comprise that he web or fluidized tuffs or fibre mixture is / are treated in one, two or three or more sections of the transport path, wherein if the treatment is effected in one section, the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is preferably treated with water and / or stem in that section, if the treatment is effected in two sections, it is preferred that the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with water in both sections or the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with water in one section and treated with water steam in the other section, or the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with stem in both sections if the treatment is effected in three or more sections, it is preferred that the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with water in at least one section, such as at least two sections or at least three sections and / or istreated with water steam in at least one section, such as in 2 or three or more sections.

[0175] Preferably, in at least one, preferably in only one section of the transport path, the web is treated with water steam, wherein said at least one section of the transport path is preferably the furthest downstream section or a section which is closest to the curing oven.

[0176] The web is parefarably treated with water or water steam by spraying water or water steam on the upper side and / or the bottom side of the web. It is preferred that water is sprayed on the upper side of the web and / or water steam is preferably sprayed on the bottom side of the web.

[0177] Preferably, in each section the web is treated with water or water steam by means of a spray manifold bar positioned above and / or below the web, wherein each spray bar is preferably arranged across the direction of movement of the web..

[0178] Likewise, in each section the fluidized fibres or tuffs are treated with water or water steam by means of a spray manifold, wherein each spray manifold is preferably arranged with nozzles directed to spray water and / or steam into the flow or across the flow direction of the fluidized tuffs or fibres, e.g. by arranging the spray manifold in connection with the outer wall of a duct in which the fluidized fibres or tuffs flows.

[0179] Alternatively, or additionally, ensuring a certain water content in the mineral wool web with the protein containing binder mixture may be carried out by providing a cover , such as a tunnel covering or encapsulating the conveying means on a mineral wool production line, to provide controlled atmosphere with a humid environment. The humid controlled environment may be established by spraying or aerosolizing water into the air inside the cover or the tunnel and / or by releasing steam into the air under the cover or in the tunnel. The humid environment may have a relative humidity RH of 60-99 percent, such as 70- 95 percent, such as 80-92 percent. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature in the controlled humid atmosphere may be maintained at an elevated temperature, such as 45 to 60°C so as to further reduce or eliminate gelling of the protein moiety of the binder, such as gelatine.

[0180] Water may be sprayed / or aerosolized into the controlled atmosphere at as cold water, i.e. water at a temperature of >4-5°C or preferably at elevated temperature, such as at an elevated temperature of 30-95 °C or preferably 50-75°C.

[0181] When steam is applied to controlled atmosphere it is preferably saturated steam applied at a temperature of 75-150 °C, such as 90-130°C and / or at a pressure of 1-5 bar, such as 1 -3 bar.

[0182] The elevated temperature may be obtained or by the addition of the heated water and / or steam and / or by applying heating to the controlled atmosphere.

[0183] The method according to the invention may comprise employing a emperature in the range of > 150 °C , such as 150 - 250 °C, such as up to 175 - 225 °C, such as up to 220 °C, such as up to 215 °C for the curing step.

[0184] Further details on the method of producing a mineral wool product the mineral wool fibres can be made from a mineral melt. A mineral melt is provided in a conventional manner by providing mineral materials and melting them in a furnace. This furnace can be any of the types of furnace known for production of mineral melts for MMVF, for instance a shaft furnace such as a cupola furnace, a tank furnace, or a cyclone furnace. Any suitable method may be employed to form MMVF from the mineral melt by fiberization. The fiberization can be by a spinning cup process in which melt is centrifugally extruded through orifices in the walls of a rotating cup (spinning cup, also known as internal centrifugation). Alternatively the fiberization can be by centrifugal fiberization by projecting the melt onto and spinning off the outer surface of one fiberizing rotor, or off a cascade of a plurality of fiberizing rotors, which rotate about a substantially horizontal axis (cascade spinner).

[0185] The melt is thus formed into a cloud of fibres entrained in air and the fibres are collected, e.g. as a web on a conveyor or as a fibre mixture or tuffs which are fluidized. After spinning and applying the protein containing binder, the mineral fibre mixture carried away from the fiberizing apparatus.

[0186] After collecting, the fibre mixture is then consolidated, which can involve cross-lapping and / or longitudinal compression and / or vertical compression of a web; winding around a web around a mandrel to produce a cylindrical product for pipe insulation. Other consolidation processes may also be performed, such as producing granulates, .

[0187] The protein containing binder composition is applied to the fibres, preferably when they are a cloud entrained in air. Alternatively it can be applied after collection on the conveyor but this is less preferred.

[0188] After being consolidated, the consolidated fibre mixture is passed into a curing device to cure the binder.

[0189] The curing is defined as a process whereby the binder composition undergoes a physical and / or chemical reaction which in case of a chemical reaction usually increases the molecular weight of the compounds in the binder composition and thereby increases the viscosity of the binder composition, usually until the binder composition reaches a solid state. The cured binder composition binds the fibres to form a structurally coherent matrix of fibres.

[0190] The curing process may comprise drying by pressure. The pressure may be applied by blowing air or gas through / over the mixture of mineral fibres and binder.

[0191] Many fibre forming apparatuses comprise a disc or cup that spins around a substantially vertical axis. It is then conventional to arrange several of these spinners in-line, i.e. substantially in the first direction, for instance as described in GB-A-926,749, US-A-3,824,086 and WO-A-83 / 03092.

[0192] There is usually a stream of air associated with the one or each fiberizing rotor whereby the fibres are entrained in this air as they are formed off the surface of the rotor.

[0193] The protein containing binder composition and / or additives is preferably added to the cloud of fibres by known means. The amount of binder and / or additive may be the same for each spinner or it may be different.

[0194] A hydrocarbon oil may be added into the cloud of fibres.

[0195] As used herein, the term "collected web" is intended to include any mineral fibres that have been collected together on a surface, i.e. they are no longer entrained in air, e.g. the fiberized mineral fibres, granulate, tufts or recycled web waste. The collected web could be a primary web that has been formed by collection of fibres on a conveyor belt and provided as a starting material without having been cross- lapped or otherwise consolidated. Alternatively, the collected web could be a secondary web that has been formed by crosslapping, or otherwise consolidating a primary web, e.g. as described above. Preferably, the collected web is a primary web.

[0196] The mineral fibre mixture may be fluidized in an air flow to transport the mineral fibre mixture to a consolidation station, e.g. a granulation apparatus for making granulates of the mineral fibre mixture.

[0197] In a variant of the method, the protein containing binder may be mixed with the mineral fibres after the provision of the collected web in the following steps:

[0198] - subjecting the collected web of mineral fibres to a disentanglement process,

[0199] - suspending the mineral fibres in a primary air flow,

[0200] - mixing binder composition with the mineral fibres before, during or after the disentanglement process to form a mixture of mineral fibres and binder.

[0201] The disentanglement process comprises feeding the collected web of mineral fibres from a duct with a lower relative air flow to a duct with a higher relative air flow. In this variant, the disentanglement is believed to occur, because the fibres that enter the duct with the higher relative air flow first are dragged away from the subsequent fibres in the web. This type of disentanglement is particularly effective for producing open tufts of fibres, rather than the compacted lumps that can result in an uneven distribution of materials in the product.

[0202] According to a particularly preferred variant of the method, the disentanglement process comprises feeding the collected web to at least one roller which rotates about its longitudinal axis and has spikes protruding from its circumferential surface. The rotating roller will usually also contribute at least in part to the higher relative air flow. Often, rotation of the roller is the sole source of the higher relative air flow.

[0203] The mineral fibres and optionally the protein containing binder may be fed to the roller from above. It is also preferred for the disentangled mineral fibres and optionally the protein containing binder to be thrown away from the roller laterally from the lower part of its circumference. Preferably, the mineral fibres are carried approximately 180 degrees by the roller before being thrown off.

[0204] The protein containing binder may be mixed with the mineral fibres before, during or after the disentanglement process. It is preferred to mix the protein containing binder with the fibres prior to the disentanglement process. In particular.

[0205] It is also feasible that the protein containing binder be pre-mixed with a collected web of mineral fibres before the disentanglement process. Further mixing could occur during and after the disentanglement process. Alternatively, the protein containing binder could be supplied to the primary air flow separately and mixed in the primary air flow.

[0206] The mixture of mineral fibres and binder is collected from the primary air flow by any suitable means. The primary air flow is preferably directed into the top of a cyclone chamber, which is open at its lower end and the mixture is collected from the lower end of the cyclone chamber.

[0207] The mixture of mineral fibres and protein containing binder is preferably thrown from the disentanglement process into a forming chamber.

[0208] Having undergone the disentanglement process, the mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder is collected, consolidated and cured. Preferably, the mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder is collected on a foram inous conveyor belt having suction means positioned below it.

[0209] The method may be performed as a batch process. However, the preferred method is performed at a mineral wool production line feeding a primary or secondary mineral wool web to the consolidation step before curing, which provides a particularly cost efficient and versatile method to provide mineral wool products having favourable mechanical properties and thermal insulation properties in a wide range of densities.

[0210] The consolidated mineral wool is subsequently cured by a chemical and / or physical reaction of the protein binder components.

[0211] The curing takes place in a curing device, such as in a conventional curing oven for mineral wool production. The curing is preferably carried out at temperatures in the range of > 150 °C , such as 150 - 250 °C, such as up to 175 - 225 °C, such as up to 220 °C, such as up to 215 °C for the curing step.

[0212] The curing process may additionally or alternatively comprise drying by pressure. The pressure may be applied by blowing heated air or gas to the mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder.

[0213] The curing process may take place in a humid environment. The humid environment may have a relative humidity RH of 60-99 percent, such as 70- 95 percent, such as 80-92 percent. The curing in a humid environment may be followed by curing or drying to obtain a state of the prevalent humidity.

[0214] The mineral wool product can be in any conventional configuration, for instance a mat or slab, and can be cut and / or shaped (e.g. into pipe sections) before, during or after curing of the binder. The present invention also relates to the use of water, such as cold water having a temperature of >4-5°C or at elevated temperatures, such as 30- 95°C or 40-75 °C such as 45-60 °C, and / or wet or saturated steam having a temperature of 75-150 °C, such as 90-130°C and / or at a pressure of 1-5 bar, such as 1 -3 bar to reactivate a protein binder comprising at least one protein and preferably at least one cross-linker which has been partially gelled or set, wherein the protein binder is preferably in contact with mineral fibres, wherein the use is preferably in a method as described above.

[0215] The present invention also relates to a mineral wool product production plant for preparing a mineral wool fibre mixture according to the present invention or for carrying out the method according to invention, said production plant comprising i. a melting device for melting the raw materials of the mineral fibres, ii. a fibre forming apparatus to form the cloud of mineral fibres, iii. a first application device to add a binder composition comprising at least one protein and preferably at least one cross-linker, such as to the cloud of mineral fibres, and iv. at least one second application device, preferably a spray manifold or bar, to treat the web with water and / or water steam in one, two, three four or more sections of the transport route.

[0216] The mineral wool product production plant may further comprise collecting means, such as a conveyor on which the collected fibres form a web, and wherein each manifold is arranged above or below the web and across the direction of movement of the web.

[0217] Alternatively, fluidized fibres or tuffs are treated in each section with water or water steam by means of a spray manifold arranged in each section, and herein each spray manifold is preferably arranged with nozzles directed to spray water and / or steam into the flow or across the flow direction of the fluidized tuffs or fibres, such as by a spray manifold arranged in connection with the outer wall of a duct in which the fluidized fibres or tuffs flow.

[0218] The drawings

[0219] The present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings in which fig. 1 shows an apparatus for wetting the mineral wool according to the invention, and fig. 2 shows an alternative apparatus for wetting the mineral wool according to the invention.

[0220] Detailed description

[0221] Fig. 1 shows a first variant of an apparatus for producing mineral wool fibre products according to the invention and fig. 2 shows an apparatus for use in another variant according to the invention.

[0222] The production plant comprises a melting device for melting the raw materials of the mineral fibres; a fibre forming apparatus to form the cloud of mineral fibres, and a first application device to add a binder composition comprising at least one protein and preferably at least one cross-linker, such as to the cloud of mineral fibres. For simplicity these elements are not shown on the figures. The furnace can be any of the types of furnace known for production of mineral melts for MMVF, for instance a shaft furnace such as a cupola furnace, a tank furnace, or a cyclone furnace.

[0223] Any suitable method may be employed to form MMVF from the mineral melt by fiberization. The fiberization can be by a spinning cup process in which melt is centrifugally extruded through orifices in the walls of a rotating cup (spinning cup, also known as internal centrifugation). Alternatively, the fiberization can be by centrifugal fiberization by projecting the melt onto and spinning off the outer surface of one fiberizing rotor, or off a cascade of a plurality of fiberizing rotors, which rotate about a substantially horizontal axis (cascade spinner).

[0224] The melt is thus formed into a cloud of fibres entrained in air and the fibres are collected as a primary web on a conveyor and carried away from the fiberizing apparatus.

[0225] In the first zone, a first spray manifold 4a is arranged above the transport path of the primary web 2a, such as just after the fibre depositing means 1 and / or before the (not shown) cross lapping means. Water and / or steam is sprayed onto the upper and or lower surface(s) of the primary web so as to evenly distribute the sprayed water or steam across the upper and / or lower surface A of the primary web 2a. The number of nozzles 4b on the first spray manifold 4 depend on the type of nozzles and the width of the conveying means in the first zone. For example 3-15 slit nozzles per meter may be arranged on the manifold, which may be a pipe extending across the conveying means so as to ensure the water is distributed evenly across the web when applied.

[0226] The web of fibres is then preferably consolidated in a first conditioning zone to form a secondary web 2b, such as by cross-lapping by (not shown) cross lapping means.

[0227] Alternatively, the first spray manifold 4a is arranged above or below the transport path of the secondary web 2b, such as after the not shown cross lapping means, but before the second conditioning zone 8.

[0228] The secondary web exits the second then passes continuously into a curing oven ( not shown).

[0229] Prior to or during curing the secondary web 2b may be subjected to a second consolidation in a second consolidation zone 8, such as longitudinal compression and / or vertical compression between one or more plurality of pairs of opposed heated compression elements 6a, 6b, such as heated rollers, heated belts, heated plates or any suitable combination thereof.

[0230] Other consolidation processes (not illustrated in the figs.) may also be performed in the second consolidation zone 8, such as winding around a mandrel to produce a cylindrical product for pipe insulation.

[0231] Figure 2 shows a variant of the mineral wool production plant

[0232] . Features similar to the features discussed in relation to fig 1 will carry the same reference signs.

[0233] In the first zone, a first water spray manifold 4a is arranged above or below (not shown) the transport path of the primary web 2a, such as just after the fibre depositing means 1 and / or before the (not shown) cross lapping means, as discussed in relation to fig.1 .

[0234] The web of fibres is then preferably consolidated in a first conditioning zone to form a secondary web 2b, such as by cross-lapping by (not shown) cross lapping means. In the second zone, a second spray manifold 5a with spray nozzles 5b is positioned above and / or below (not shown) the secondary web 2b, such that water or steam is applied onto the upper surface A and / or the lower surface B of the secondary web 2b web. Water or steam is applied onto the upper surface A and / or the lower surface B of the secondary web 2b so as to evenly distribute the applied water or steam across the upper surface A and / or the lower surface B. The number of nozzles 5b on the second spray manifold 5a depend on the type of nozzles and the width of the conveying means in the second zone. For example, the second manifold 5a may be identical or similar to the first manifold 4a.

[0235] The secondary web 2b then passes continuously into a curing oven optionally after being subjected to a 2b may be subjected to a second consolidation in a second consolidation zone 8, as described above in relation to fig. 1 .

[0236] Additionally or alternatively to the second zone, a third zone may be arranged to treat the secondary web with steam or water prior to the (not shown )curing device. In the third zone, a third manifold 7 with water steam application nozzles 7a, 11 a is positioned preferably below the secondary web 2b, such that steam or water is applied onto the upper surface A and / or the lower surface B of the secondary web 2b web. The steam or water is applied to the upper surface A and / or the lower surface B of the secondary web 2b so as to evenly distribute the steam or water across the upper surface A and / or the lower surface B. The number of nozzles 7a, 11 a on the third manifold 7, 11 depend on the type of nozzles and the width of the conveying means in the second zone.

[0237] When steam is applied to the web in the first, the second or third zone , i.e. to the primary or secondar web, the steam manifold is preferably arranged below the web. The steam manifold 7, 11 then preferably arranged in a gap between conveying means, such as between rollers and / or belts in the lower conveying means 3 and / or 6b such as illustrated with the steam manifold 7. The steam manifold may be arranged prior to the second consolidation zone 8. Additionally, or alternatively a steam manifold 11 may be arranged after the second consolidation zone , such as in connection to the inlet to the curing device ( not shown). For example 3-15 nozzles per meter, may be arranged on the manifold, which may be a pipe extending across the conveying means so as to ensure the steam is distributed evenly across the web when applied.

[0238] In another embodiment, which is not shown in the drawings, the mineral wool product apparatus comprises collecting the fluidized fibres or tuffs are treated in each section with water or water steam by means of a water spray manifold or a steam manifold arranged in each of the first, second or third sections. The spray manifold(s) and / or steam manifold(s) is / are preferably arranged with nozzles directed to spray water and / or supply steam into the flow of fluidized or suspended fibres or tuffs or across the flow direction of the fluidized tuffs or fibres, such as by a spray manifold arranged in connection with the outer wall of a duct in which the fluidized fibres or tuffs flow.

[0239] In a variant of the method, the protein containing binder may be mixed with the mineral fibres, collected and fluidized, optionally after forming a primary web, and then subjecting the collected web of mineral fibres to a disentanglement process as discussed further above.

[0240] The fluidized tuffs or mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder is collected, consolidated and cured. Preferably, the mixture of mineral fibres and the protein containing binder is collected on a foram inous conveyor belt having suction means positioned below it or applied to moulds, such as to form shaped articles, e.g. pipe sections, and subsequently cured.

[0241] Examples

[0242] Experimental methods and definitions

[0243] General experimental methods

[0244] Technical gelatine (bone glue, 150 bloom (at 12.5wt%)) was obtained from CAM Moreu. Mimosa tannin (Seta Sun) was obtained from Baeck GmbH. Leindl Firnis linseed oil was obtained from OLI-NATURA. 40% silane (Momentive VS-142) was supplied by Momentive. 50% Silres BS 5140 and 50% Silres BS 5160 silicone resins was supplied by Wacker. All other components were obtained in high purity from Sigma-Aldrich or TCI. All components for which a concentration is not detailed above were assumed completely pure and anhydrous for simplicity.

[0245] Binder component solids content - definition

[0246] The content of each of the components in a given binder solution before curing is based on the anhydrous mass of the components. The following formula can be used:

[0247] Binder component solids content (%) binder component A solids g) + binder component B solids g) + ••• total weight of mixture g) x 100%

[0248] Mineral wool

[0249] Stone wool slabs were produced on a production line using external centrifugation spinners. The produced fibres have a geometric mean diameter of 1 -2 pm and a fibre composition expressed in percent by weight: SiO2: 30 to 51

[0250] AI2O3: 12 to 25

[0251] CaO: 8 to 30

[0252] MgO: 2 to 25

[0253] Fe2O3 total: 2 to 15

[0254] Na2O+K2O: not more than 10

[0255] CaO+MgO: 10 to 30

[0256] The melt was formed into a cloud of fibres entrained in air and an aqueous binder composition comprising protein and a crosslinker (see below) was added to the fibre cloud and collected as a web on a conveyor and subsequently consolidated, by cross-lapping and / or longitudinal compression and / or vertical compression to adjust the density of the web, see values for density in table 1 .

[0257] Binder compositions according to the present invention

[0258] Binder example

[0259] To a stirred solution of NaOH (4.0 kg) in water (577 kg) at ambient temperature was added mimosa tannin (60.0 kg; Seta Sun, Baeck GmbH). Stirring was continued until a deep-brown solution was obtained (pH 9.0).

[0260] A mixture of technical gelatin (175 kg; 150 bloom bone glue (at 12.5wt%), CAM Moreu) in water (741 L) was stirred at approx. 50 °C until all gelatin was dissolved (pH 5.4). Linseed oil (9.3 kg; Leindl Firnis, Oli-NATURA), sodium hydroxide (0.6 kg) and 40% silane (0.4 kg; Silquest VS 142, Momentive) were then added and stirring was continued at 50 °C (pH 6.3).

[0261] A final binder mixture was obtained by mixing the two above mixtures in a tannin mixture:technical gelatine mixture 1 :10 weight relation (pH 7). For the line trials, the mixing of the binder mixture was carried out in a separate tank under stirring. Alternatively, the components could be mixed in an in-line fashion.

[0262] Binder and additive dosing

[0263] The above binder mixture was diluted as appropriate / required with water at ambient temperature to 80 °C, (in the examples the temperature was approx.. 50 °C) and dosed to the cascade spinner. To decrease dust form the resulting stone wool product and to render the stone wool product suitably hydrophobic, impregnation oil (Process oil 815, Brenntag) and hydrophobizing agent (Silres 5140 or Silres 5160, Wacker) were each added in-line and / or separately in an amount that corresponds to 0.2% of the stone wool weight.

[0264] Spraying manifolds

[0265] In the below examples the following spray manifolds were positioned as follows:

[0266] Manifold 1 = spray beam (manifold with 10 slit nozzles) was placed over the primary web and before the primary web was consolidated by cross-lapping; temperature of water added via manifold 1 was 50-55°C, corresponding to position 4a in fig. 2.

[0267] Manifold 2 = spray beam (manifold with 10 slit nozzles) at the conveyor at the entrance to the compression zone. The water is sprayed from below towards the bottom of the wool at a temperature of 50-55°C. The position of the manifold 2 is corresponding to position 7a in fig. 2.

[0268] Manifold 3 = steam moistening manifold (with 25 nozzles), placed under the conveyor at the entrance to the compression zone (similar to Manifold 2) to supply wet or saturated steam with a temperature 120°C at a pressure of 2- 3 bar. The position of the steam manifold 3 corresponds to position to position 7a in fig. 2.

[0269] Curing

[0270] The stone wool product was cured in a conventional curing oven with air heated to a temperature above 230 °C which is blown through wool web and resulted in an surface temperature of the cured mineral wool exiting the curing oven in the vicinity of 200-230 °C.

[0271] Resu / ts

[0272] Production examples from different test productions of mineral wool products according to the present invention are given in Table 1 .

[0273] As density may vary slightly in the final product, the density was measured for each sample on which compression strength and delamination strength, respectively, were tested on the same test specimen where the mechanical strengths were tested.

[0274] Test 1 as listed in table 1 below is regarded as a comparative example whereas tests according to the present invention are listed as tests 2-8 in table 1 below. TABLE 1 : Test production examples

[0275] [a]Of protein.[b]Of protein + crosslinker.c]EN 13820 - First edition (2003-12- 22) M EN ISO 29470:2020 - Second edition (2020-06-17). EN ISO 29469:2022 - Second edition (2022-11 -15).[f]EN 1607 - Third edition (2013-

[0276] 04-16). tel EN ISO 29767:2019 Second edition (2019-06-20). Reference numbers

[0277] 1 . Fibre depositing means

[0278] 2. Continuous web a. Primary web b. Secondary web

[0279] 3. First conveying means

[0280] 4. First zone a. First spray manifold b. Spray nozzles

[0281] 5. Second zone a. Second spray manifold b. Spray nozzles

[0282] 6. Second conveyor belt a. Upper second conveyor b. Lower second conveyor

[0283] 7. Third zone, first possible position of a. Steam manifold b. Steam nozzles

[0284] 8. Compression zone

[0285] 9. Exit of second conditioning zone

[0286] 10. Entry area of curing device

[0287] 11 . Third zone, second possible position of a. Steam manifold b. Steam nozzles

[0288] A: Upper surface of web

[0289] B: Lower surface of web

Claims

Claims1. A mineral wool fibre mixture which comprises mineral wool fibres and a binder composition comprising at least one protein and at least one crosslinker, and where said mineral wool mixture further comprises 10-400 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres.2 A mineral wool fibre mixture, according to claim 1 wherein the mixture comprises 20-375 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres, such as 30-250 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres or preferably 40-200 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres or more preferred 50-150 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres.

3. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one protein is selected from the group consisting of proteins from animal sources, including collagen, gelatin, hydrolysed gelatin, and protein from milk (casein, whey), eggs; proteins from jellyfish, proteins produced by recombinant techniques; proteins from insects, such as silk worms, such as sericin; proteins from vegetable sources, including gluten, proteins from algae, legumes, cereals, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruits, like protein from buckwheat, oats, rye, millet, maize (corn), rice, wheat, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, quinoa, soybeans (soy protein), lentils, kidney beans, white beans, mung beans, chickpeas, cowpeas, lima beans, pigeon peas, lupines, wing beans, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, walnuts, rapeseeds, cotton seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds, proteins produced by recombinant techniques; mussel foot protein, or a combination thereof.

4. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the at least one crosslinker is selected fromA: at least one phenol or quinone containing compound which is selected from the group consisting of simple phenol compounds, such as hydroxybenzoic acids, phenolic aldehydes, such as hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, such as methyl or ethyl substituted hydroxybenzoic aldehydes,such as methyl vanillin or ethyl vanillin, hydroxyacetophenones, hydroxyphenylacetic acids, cinnamic acids, cinnamic acid esters, cinnamyl aldehydes, and cinnamyl alcohols; coumarins, such as isocoumarins; chromones; flavonoids; chaicones, such as dihydrochalcones; aurones; flavanones, such as flavanonols; flavans; leucoanthocyanidins; flavan-3-ols; flavones; anthocyanidins; deoxyanthocyanidins; anthocyanins; biflavonyls; benzophenones; xanthones; stilbenes; betacyanins; polyphenols and / or polyhydroxyphenols, such as lignans, neolignans (dimers or oligomers from coupling of monolignols such as p-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol), lignins (synthesized primarily from the monolignol precursors p-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol), tannins, such as tannates (salts of tannins), condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), hydrolysable tannins, gallotannins, ellagitannins, complex tannins, tannic acid, phlobabenes, such as phlorotannins; sulfonated phenolic containing compounds and / or combinations thereof; and / orB: at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13), protein disulfide isomerase (EC 5.3.4.1 ), thiol oxidase (EC 1.8.3.2), polyphenol oxidase (EC 1.14.18.1 ), catechol oxidase, tyrosine oxidase, phenoloxidase, lysyl oxidase (EC 1.4.3.13), peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) and / or combinations thereof.

5. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one protein comprises or is gelatine, and / or wherein the one or more phenol and / or quinone containing compound(s), comprises or is a tannin.

6. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the content of the at least one protein, preferably gelatine, is 40 to 97 wt.%, preferably 50 to 95 wt.%, more preferably 60 to 90 wt.%, based on the dry weight of the binder.

7. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the content of the at least one cross-linker, preferably the at least one phenol or quinone containing compound, in particular tannin, is in therange of 1 to 30 % by weight, more preferably 2 to 15 % by weight, most preferably 3 to 10 % by weight, based on dry weight of the least one protein.

8. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protein containing binder composition further comprises at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol, wherein the content of fatty acid ester of glycerol is preferably 0.6 to 30, more preferably 2 to 10, more preferably 3 to 7.5 % by weight, based on the dry weight of the protein containing binder composition.

9. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to claim 8 wherein the at least one fatty acid ester of glycerol is selected from one or more components from the group consisting of linseed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil (ground nut oil), rapeseed oil, including canola oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil or combinations thereof.

10. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more additives such as one or more pH adjusters, such as one or more acids and / or one or more bases; one or more hardeners, such as a silane; one or more hydrophobic agents such as a silicone, one or more divalent metal cation M2+containing compound(s), such as in an amount of 0.1 weight percent to 10 weight percent, such as 0.2 weight percent to 8 weight percent, such as 0.3 weight percent to 5 weight percent, such as 0.4 weight percent to 4.3 weight percent, such as 1 .0 weight percent to 4.3 weight percent, based on the combined dry weight of phenol containing compound and protein.

11. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the crosslinker is a combination of the one or more tannins and one or more hydroxybenzoic aldehydes, and wherein the content of the tannin(s), is in the range of 1 to 30 % by weight, more preferably 2 to 15 % by weight, most preferably 3 to 10 % by weight based on dry weight of the least oneprotein, and wherein the content of the one or more hydroxybenzoic aldehyde(s) is in the range of 0.01 -5% by weight, such as 0.01-2% by weight, or preferably 0.01-1 .0 % by weight, in particular 0.15-0.5% by weight based on the weight of binder solids.

12. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the previous claims, with the proviso that the binder composition does not comprise a protein from soybeans (soy protein).

13. A mineral wool fibre mixture according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a hydrocolloid selected from the group consisting of pectin, starch, alginate, agar agar, carrageenan, gellan gum, guar gum, gum arabic, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose, arabinoxylan, cellulose, curdlan, [3-glucan or combinations thereof.

14. A mineral wool product comprising a cured mixture of mineral wool fibres and a binder comprising a protein and a crosslinker according to any of the preceding claims.

15. A mineral wool product according to claim 14, wherein the density is in the range of 10-1200 kg / m3, such as 20-800 kg / m3’, such as 10-600 kg / m3, or 30-600 kg / m3, such as 40-400 kg / m3, such as 50-250 kg / m3, such as I Q- 200 kg / m3or such as 40-200 kg / m3.

16. A mineral wool product according to claim 14 or 15, wherein said cured mineral wool product has a density of 75-85 kg / m3and a compression strength at 10% a (kPa) according to EN ISO 29470:2020 - Second edition greater than or equal to 19 kPa and / or a delamination strength omt greater than or equal to 7.5 kPa according to EN 1607.

17. A mineral wool product according to any of claims 14-16, wherein the mineral wool product is a mineral wool insulation product, such as a mineral wool thermal or acoustical insulation product.

18. A mineral wool product according to any of claims 14-17, wherein the mineral wool product is a granulate or a shaped product, such as a slab, a pad or a blanket, a rolled up blanket or a shaped item, such as a tubular segment.

19. A mineral wool product according to any of claims 14-18, wherein the mineral wool product is a horticultural growth media, a water management or water storage product or a shock pad for sports fields, arenas or playgrounds.

20. A method of producing a mineral fibre product, which comprises the steps of a) fiberizing a melt of raw materials by means of a fibre forming apparatus to form a cloud of mineral fibres, b) adding a binder comprising at least one protein and at least one crosslinker to the cloud of mineral fibres to obtain mineral fibres mixed with the binder, c) ensuring a water content of 10-400 kg water per ton m ineral wool fibres, and d) curing the mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder in a curing device.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein, before curing, such as during transport to the curing device, of the mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder, the mineral fibres mixed with the protein containing binder is treated with cold water, such as having a temperature of >4-5°C, or preferably at elevated temperatures, such as water having an elevated temperature of , 30-95°C or 40-75 °C such as 45-60 °C, and / or wet or saturated steam at a temperature of 75-150 °C, such as 90-130°C and / or at a pressure of 1-5 bar, such as 1 -3 bar, in one or more sections of the transport route.

22. A method according to claim 20 or 21 , wherein, wherein in step c ensuring a water content of 10-400 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres , such as 20- 375 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres, such as 50-250 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres, such as or preferably 100-200 kg water per ton mineral wool fibres.

23. A method according to any of the claims 20-22, wherein a first fraction of water is added to the mineral wool as part of the binder composition and a second fraction of the water is added separately as water and / or steam.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein, the second water fraction is added to the mineral wool mixture in an amount of 5-100 kg water per ton wool mixture, or such as 5-75 kg water per ton mineral wool mixture, or such as 10-50 kg water per ton wool mixture.

25. The method according to any of the preceding claims 20-24, wherein all or at least a part of the second fraction of water is applied as steam, such as a wet steam or a saturated steam.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein, at least a part the second fraction of water is added to the mineral wool mixture as wet steam or saturated steam and in an amount of 5-25 kg per ton mineral wool mixture, such as 8-15 kg per ton mineral wool mixture or such as 9-12 kg per ton mineral wool mixture..

27. The method according to claim any of claims 20-26, further comprising depositing the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder on a support of a first conveying means to form a web of mineral fibres mixed with the protein binder.

28. The method according to claim any of claims 20-26, wherein the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder are fluidized in a carrier gas, such as air,during transport and wherein the water is added by spraying water and / or steam into the fluidized fibre mixture.

29. The method of any of the preceding claims 20-28 wherein the web or tuffs are formed into a product shape.

30. The method according to any of claims 20-29, wherein the web or tuffs is / are treated in one, two or three or more sections of the transport path, wherein if the treatment is effected in one section, the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is preferably treated with water and / or steam in that section, if the treatment is effected in two sections, it is preferred that the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with water in both sections or the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with water in one section and treated with water steam in the other section, or the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with stem in both sections if the treatment is effected in three or more sections, it is preferred that the mineral fibres mixed with protein binder is treated with water in at least one section, such as at least two sections and treated with water steam in at least one section, such as in 2 or three or more sections.31 . The method according to any of claims 20 to 30, wherein in at least one section of the transport path, the web is treated with water steam, wherein said at least one section of the transport path is preferably the furthest downstream section.

32. The method according to any of claims 20 to 31 , wherein the web is treated with water or water steam by spraying water or water steam on the upper side and / or the bottom side of the web, wherein water is preferably sprayed on the upper side of the web and / or water steam is preferably sprayed on the bottom side of the web.

33. The method according to any of claims 20 to 32, wherein in each section the web is treated with water or water steam by means of a spray manifold bar positioned above and / or below the web, wherein each spray bar is preferably arranged across the direction of movement of the web.

34. A method according to any of the claims 20-33, further comprising employing a temperature in the range of > 150 °C , such as 150 - 250 °C, such as up to 175 - 225 °C, such as up to 220 °C, such as up to 215 °C for the curing step.

35. A mineral wool product mineral wool product, obtainable by the method according to any one of claims 20-34.

36. A mineral wool product production plant for preparing a mineral wool fibre mixture according to any one of claims 1 to 19 or for carrying out the method according to any of claims 20-34, said comprising i. a melting device for melting the raw materials of the mineral fibres, ii. a fibre forming apparatus to form the cloud of mineral fibres, iii. a first application device to add a binder composition comprising at least one protein and preferably at least one cross-linker to the mineral fibres, iv. at least one second application device, preferably a spray manifold or bar, to treat a web or tuffs, such as fluidized tuffs or fibres, with water and / or water steam in one, two, three, four or more sections of the transport route.

37. A mineral wool product production plant according to claim 36, further comprising collecting means, such as a conveyor on which the collected fibres form the web, and wherein each spray manifold is arranged above or below the web and across the direction of movement of the web.

38. A mineral wool product production plant according to claim 36, further wherein fluidized fibres or tuffs are treated in each section with water or water steam by means of a spray manifold arranged in each section, and herein each spray manifold is preferably arranged with nozzles directed to sprayRECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EPwater and / or steam into the flow or across the flow direction of the fluidized tuffs or fibres, such as by a spray manifold arranged in connection with the outer wall of a duct in which the fluidized fibres or tuffs flow.

39. Use of water , such as cold water having a temperature of >4-5°C or water at elevated temperatures, such as 30-95°C or 40-75 °C such as 45-60 °C, and / or wet or saturated steam having a temperature of 75-150 °C, such as 90-130°C and / or at a pressure of 1 -5 bar, such as 1 -3 bar to reactivate a protein binder comprising at least one protein and at least one cross-linker which has been partially gelled or set, wherein the protein binder is preferably in contact with mineral fibres, wherein the use is preferably in a method according to any one of claims 20-34.RECTIFIED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP

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