Binder and fiber glass product from maillard reactants

1. A method of making a collection of matter bound with a melanoidin containing binder, comprising:

preparing an aqueous solution containing reactants for producing melanoidins, wherein the reactants include dextrose, citric acid, and ammonia;

disposing the aqueous solution onto the collection of matter;

volatilizing the water to form a dehydrated reactive mixture disposed upon the collection of matter, and

polymerizing the dehydrated reactive mixture to form melanoidins cross-linked with the citric acid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collection of matter consists essentially of glass fibers.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the glass fibers are present in the range from about 80% to about 99% by weight.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein (i) the ratio of the number of moles of the citric acid to the number of moles of the dextrose is from about 1:4 to about 1:15 and (ii) the dextrose, citric acid, and ammonia are mixed in proportions such that the aqueous solution has a pH of about 8 to about 10.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein melanoidin containing binder contains about 4 to about 5 percent nitrogen by mass as determined by elemental analysis.

6. A method of fabricating a fiberglass product, comprising:

spraying an aqueous solution onto a collection of glass fibers wherein, the aqueous solution includes ammonia, citric acid, and a reducing-sugar carbohydrate in proportions such that the aqueous solution has an alkaline pH;

dehydrating the aqueous solution while disposed on the collection of glass fibers to form a. fiberglass product; and

subjecting the fiberglass product to sufficient heat to turn the fiberglass product brown, wherein the heating forms melanoidins that are cross-linked with the citric acid.

7. A method of fabricating a fiberglass mat, consisting essentially of:

disposing an uncured mixture onto a collection of glass fibers; and

dehydrating the uncured mixture, wherein

(i) the uncured mixture includes an ammonium salt of a monomeric polycarboxylic acid and a monomeric reducing-sugar carbohydrate, and

(ii) curing, the uncured mixture results in a nitrogeneous polymer including melanoidin products cross-linked with ester linkages from the monomeric polycarboxylic acid.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ammonium salt, of the monomeric polycarboxylic acid is ammonium citrate and the monomeric reducing-sugar carbohydrate is dextrose.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the ratio of the number of moles of citrate to the number of moles of dextrose is from about 1:4 to about 1:15.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the uncured mixture has a pH of about 8 to about 10 prior to dehydration.

11. A method of making a collection of matter bound with a binder comprising:

preparing an aqueous solution comprising a carbohydrate reactant, an amine base reactant, and a polycarboxylic acid reactant,

disposing the aqueous solution onto the collection of matter,

volatilizing the water to form a dehydrated reactive mixture disposed upon the collection of matter,

curing the dehydrated reactive mixture to form melanoidin products, and

cross-linking the melanoidin products with the polycarboxylic acid reactant.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the collection of matter comprises a collection of glass fibers.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the collection of glass fibers comprises about 80% to about 99% by weight of the collection of matter bound with the binder.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the carbohydrate reactant, the amine base reactant, and the polycarboxylic acid reactant are mixed in proportions such that the aqueous solution has an alkaline pH.

15. A composition comprising a collection of matter and a binder, the binder comprising melanoidin products of a substantially dehydrated reaction between a carbohydrate and an amine base, the melanoidin products being cross-linked with a polycarboxylic acid.

16. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the collection of matter includes fibers selected from a group consisting of mineral fibers, aramid fibers, ceramic fibers, metal fibers, carbon fibers, polyimide fibers, polyester fibers, rayon fibers, glass fibers, and cellulosic fibers,

17. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the collection of matter includes glass fibers.

18. The composition of claim 17 , wherein the composition further comprises a corrosion inhibitor, wherein the corrosion inhibitor decreases the corrosivity of the glass fibers.

19. The composition of claim 18 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor is selected from a group consisting of dedusting oil, monoammonium phosphate, sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, melamine, tin (II) oxalate, and a methyhylhydrogen silicone fluid emulsion.

20. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the collection of matter includes cellulosic fibers.

21. The composition of claim 20 , wherein the cellulosic fibers are present in a cellulosic substrate selected from a group consisting of wood shavings, sawdust, wood pulp, and ground wood.

22. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the carbohydrate is selected from a group consisting of dextrose, xylose, fructose, dihydroxyacetone, and mixtures thereof.

23. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the carbohydrate is dextrose.

24. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the polycarboxylic acid is selected from a group consisting of citric acid, maleic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, succinic acid, and mixtures thereof.

25. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the polycarboxylic acid is citric acid.

26. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the composition further comprises a silicon-containing compound.

27. The composition of claim 26 , wherein the silicon-containing compound is selected from a group consisting of gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, n-propylamine silane, and mixtures thereof.

28. The composition of claim 26 , wherein the silicon-containing compound is gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane.