Author: claimsbot

1. A seismic survey network comprising a plurality of data processing modules including data acquisition modules and a central data processing unit having a second clock module, each of said data acquisition modules having a first clock module and one or more seismic sensors with respective specific identities operatively connected thereto for transmission of seismic data to the respective data acquisition module; said data acquisition modules programmed to convert instants of seismic data values at predetermined time intervals to signal transmissions in the form of digital packets of seismic data that are respectively distinguished by a first timestamp corresponding to the first clock module time of the instant that the respective seismic data is received by the data acquisition modules; seismic data packets generated by a first data acquisition module being transmitted along a transmission routing means for receipt and retransmission of said seismic data packets by at least one other data acquisition module prior to receipt by said central data processing unit; said central data processing unit having means for transmitting synchronization signals including a second timestamp to said other data acquisition module; each of said second timestamps corresponding to the time value of said second clock module when a respective synchronization signal is first transmitted by said central data processing unit; said other data acquisition module having means for receiving and retransmitting said synchronization signal to said first data acquisition module along said transmission routing means in a transmission direction opposite from said seismic data packets; said data acquisition modules further having clock synchronization means for revising the present time value of a respective first clock module to the present time value of said second clock module by accounting for an expected synchronization signal travel time.
2. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein said first clock modules are internal subcombinations with at least some of said data acquisition modules.
3. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein another data processing module is a communication module.
4. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein another data processing module is a base line module.
5. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein another data processing module is a line tap unit.
6. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein said transmission routing means comprises a plurality of data transmission increments serially linking a plurality of data acquisition modules with said central data processing unit, each of said increments having a predetermined signal propagation time interval, the values of signal propagation time intervals along said data transmission increments linking each module and said central data processing unit being programmed in each module as reference data for determination of the expected synchronization signal travel time.
7. A seismic survey network according to claim 6 wherein each clock synchronization means accounts for the total of signal propagation time intervals of all data transmission increments between said central data processing unit and a respective data acquisition module, each synchronization signal being retransmitted by the respective data acquisition module unchanged.
8. A seismic survey network according to claim 6 wherein said clock synchronization means account for the signal propagation time interval along a data transmission increment between a prior data acquisition module and said other data acquisition module, revises the time value of a respective synchronization signal timestamp to the present time value of said second clock module and retransmits said synchronization signal with said revised second timestamp to the clock synchronization means of said first data acquisition module.
9. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein said central data processing unit comprises GPS receiver means for receiving transmissions of GPS time, said second clock module being linked to said GPS receiver means for synchronizing said second clock module time to said GPS time.
10. A seismic survey network according to claim 1 further having one or more global positioning system receivers associated with respective data processing modules.
11. A seismic survey network according to claim 1 further having one or more global, regional or local radio beacon receivers, suitable for receiving timing signals, associated with respective data processing modules.
12. A seismic survey network according to claim 1 wherein said seismic data packets generated by said data acquisition modules receive said timestamps from said first clock module which is synchronized to said second clock module by said synchronization signal.
13. A seismic survey network according to claim 1 wherein said other data processing module is equipped with second timestamp annotation means for revising the second timestamp value to account for the synchronization signal travel time from said central data processing unit and retransmitting said synchronization signal with said revised second timestamp value to said first data processing module.
14. A seismic survey network as described by claim 1 wherein said second clock module has an accuracy of 0.001 PPM or greater.
15. A seismic survey network as described by claim 14 wherein said first clock module is an instrument of less precision than said second clock module.
16. A seismic survey network as described by claim 14 wherein said other data processing module comprises a third clock module of less precision than said second clock module.
17. A seismic survey network as described by claim 16 wherein said third clock module is an instrument of greater precision than said first clock module.
18. A seismic survey network as described by claim 16 wherein one or more of said other data processing modules includes a GPS receiver for receiving transmissions of GPS time, said third clock modules being linked to said GPS receiver for synchronizing third clock module time to said GPS time.
19. A seismic survey network according to claim 1 wherein each clock synchronization means accounts for the total travel time of synchronization signals from said central data processing unit to the respective data acquisition module which retransmits said synchronization signals as received to a further data acquisition module.
20. A seismic survey network according to claim 1 wherein each clock synchronization means accounts for the travel time of a synchronization signal from a prior data acquisition module, revises the time value of said second timestamp to the present time value of said second clock module and retransmits said synchronization signal with said revised second timestamp to the clock synchronization means of a further data acquisition module.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for managing, on a grid operably connected to a grid participant, power factor of an intermediate circuit having operably connected customer circuits with varying active and reactive loads behind customer utility meters, wherein said customer circuits are connected at common connections to said intermediate circuit, comprising:
providing energy management controllers to a connected plurality of said customer circuits to autonomously controllably switch or vary in real time controlled active and reactive load portions of said customer circuits, by autonomously connecting or disconnecting or varying said controlled active and reactive load portions in real time, whereby the controllers allow control of said power factor of said connected plurality of customer circuits in real time behind the utility meter;
wherein said controllers are downloadably connected to said grid participant so that said grid participant can download to the controllers grid participant rules for said grid participant’s desired outcome for said intermediate circuit;
wherein said controllers obtain measurements of power factor and power consumption of said connected plurality of customer circuits at said common connections in real time;
wherein each of said controllers is uploadably connected to said grid participant so that said grid participant can upload said measurements of power factor and power consumption of said connected plurality of customer circuits;

weighting said measurements of power factor by power consumption and then averaging to provide a weighted averaged measurement of power factor for said customer circuits of said connected plurality of said customers;
downloading to said controllers said weighted averaged measurement of power factor for said connected plurality of said customers;
wherein, in real time response to said weighted averaged measurement of power factor falling outside desired ranges, said controllers in a customer’s customer circuit autonomously connect and disconnect and vary said controlled active and reactive load portions to adjust said power factor of that customer circuit in real time behind said utility meter to contribute to meeting said grid participant rules, if said grid participant rules require, based on said weighted averaged measurement.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said reactive load portions comprises capacitive loads.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said capacitive loads comprise battery charging devices.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said reactive load portions comprises inductive loads.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said connected plurality of customer circuits is a majority of said customer circuits.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said connected plurality of customer circuits is a portion of said customer circuits that consumes the majority of power on that intermediate circuit.
7. A method for managing a grid participant’s active and reactive power provided to an intermediate circuit having operably connected customer circuits connected at a common connection, comprising:
connecting measuring devices to a connected plurality of said customer circuits at said common connection to measure a power characteristic of said connected plurality in real time;
averaging said measurements from said measuring devices to provide an averaged measurement of said power characteristic for said connected plurality;
reporting said averaged measurement to said grid participant;
adjusting said grid participant’s necessary active and reactive power output according to said averaged measurement by autonomously activating and deactivating and varying active and reactive loads connected to said intermediate circuit in real time.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said adjusting step is performed by autonomously activating and deactivating and varying active and reactive loads in real time that are behind said common connection of said customer circuits.
9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said power characteristic is selected from the group consisting of power factor, voltage, and frequency.
10. A method according to claim 7, wherein said connecting step is performed with measuring devices that are selected from the group consisting of energy management controllers and smart meters.
11. A method according to claim 7, wherein said averaging is weighted averaging, by power consumption of each customer circuit.
12. A method according to claim 7, wherein said connected plurality of customer circuits is a majority of said customer circuits.
13. A method according to claim 7, wherein said connected plurality of customer circuits is a portion of said customer circuits that consumes the majority of power on that intermediate circuit.
14. A method according to claim 7, wherein said customer circuits have varying active and reactive loads behind customer utility meters, wherein said measuring devices are energy management controllers that autonomously controllably switch or vary in real time controlled active and reactive load portions of said customer circuits, by autonomously connecting or disconnecting or varying said controlled active and reactive load portions in real time, whereby the controllers allow control of said power characteristic of said connected plurality of customer circuits in real time behind the utility meter;
wherein said controllers are downloadably connected to said grid participant so that said grid participant can download to the controllers grid participant rules for said grid participant’s desired outcome for said intermediate circuit;
wherein said adjusting step is performed by:
downloading to said controllers said averaged measurement of said power characteristic for said connected plurality of said customers;
wherein, in real time response to said averaged measurement of said power characteristic falling outside desired ranges, said controllers in a customer’s customer circuit autonomously connect and disconnect and vary said controlled active and reactive load portions to adjust said power characteristic of that customer circuit in real time behind said utility meter to contribute to meeting said grid participant rules, if said grid participant rules require, based on said averaged measurement.

1. A cosmetic composition for treating keratin fibers comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium,
at least one anionic fixative polymer comprising as monomers at least a vinyl lactam, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate whose alkyl moiety comprises at least 6 carbon atoms, and
at least one partially or fully neutralized sulphonated polymer comprising at least one unit derived from a sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
2. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is chosen from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid and crotonic acid.
3. A cosmetic composition according to claim 2, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid is acrylic acid.
4. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the vinyl lactam is vinylpyrrolidone.
5. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl acrylate or methacrylate comprising at least 6 carbon atoms is an acrylic or methacrylic ester comprising a C1-C18 alkyl radical.
6. A cosmetic composition according to claim 5, wherein the alkyl radicals of the acrylic or methacrylic esters are chosen from 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, lauryl and stearyl radicals.
7. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anionic fixative polymer comprises as monomers vinylpyrrolidone, acrylic acid and lauryl methacrylate.
8. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anionic fixative polymer is present in an amount ranging from 0.05% to 30% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
9. A cosmetic composition according to claim 8, wherein the at least one anionic fixative polymer is present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
10. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer is chosen from vinylsulphonic acid, styrenesulphonic acid, (meth)acrylamido(C1-C22)alkylsulphonic acids, N-(C1-C22)alkyl(meth)acrylamido(C1-C22)alkylsulphonic acids and also their partially or fully neutralized forms.
11. A cosmetic composition according to claim 10, where the sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer is chosen from acrylamidomethanesulphonic acid, acrylamidoethanesulphonic acid, acrylamidopropanesulphonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid, methacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid, 2-acrylamido-n-butanesulphonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2,4,4-trimethylpentanesulphonic acid, 2-methacrylamidododecylsulphonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2,6-dimethyl-3-heptanesulphonic acid and also their partially or fully neutralized forms.
12. A cosmetic composition according to claim 11, wherein the sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer is chosen from 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS) and also its partially or fully neutralized forms.
13. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is crosslinked.
14. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is partially or fully neutralized by an organic or inorganic base.
15. A cosmetic composition according to claim 14, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is at least 90% neutralized.
16. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is a poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) crosslinked and at least 90% neutralized.
17. A cosmetic composition according to claim 16, wherein the poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) crosslinked and at least 90% neutralized comprises, relative to the total weight of the polymer:
(a) from 90% to 99.9% by weight of units of formula (I):
in which X+ is chosen from a proton, an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation and an ammonium ion;
(b) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of crosslinking units originating from at least one monomer having at least two olefinic double bonds.
18. A cosmetic composition according to claim 17, wherein the crosslinked poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) comprises from 98% to 99.5% by weight of units of formula (I) and from 0.2% to 2% by weight of crosslinking units.
19. A cosmetic composition according to claim 17, wherein in the formula (I) the cation X+ is NH4+.
20. A cosmetic composition according to claim 16, wherein the poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) is crosslinked by trimethylolpropane triacrylate.
21. A cosmetic composition according to claim 16, wherein the crosslinked poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) exhibits a viscosity as measured in a Brookfield viscometer using spindle 4 at a rotary speed of 100 revolutionsminute in 2% aqueous solution at 25\xb0 C. of greater than or equal to 1000 cps.
22. A cosmetic composition according to claim 21, wherein the crosslinked poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) exhibits a viscosity as measured in a Brookfield viscometer using spindle 4 at a rotary speed of 100 revolutionsminute in 2% aqueous solution at 25\xb0 C. ranging from 50 to 400 poise (5000 to 40 000 cps).
23. A cosmetic composition according to claim 21, wherein the crosslinked poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) exhibits a viscosity as measured in a Brookfield viscometer using spindle 4 at a rotary speed of 100 revolutionsminute in 2% aqueous solution at 25\xb0 C. ranging from 65 to 350 poise (6500 to 35 000 cps).
24. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer further comprises at least one unit derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing no fatty chain.
25. A cosmetic composition according to claim 24, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing no fatty chain is chosen from (meth)acrylic acids; \u03b2-alkyl-substituted derivatives of (meth)acrylic acids; esters of (meth)acrylic acids obtained with monoalcohols or with mono- or polyalkylene glycols; (meth)acrylamides; vinylpyrrolidine; maleic anhydride; itaconic acid; and maleic acid, and mixtures of these compounds.
26. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is chosen from amphiphilic copolymers of AMPS and at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer comprising at least one hydrophobic moiety having 6 to 50 carbon atoms.
27. A cosmetic composition according to claim 26, wherein the at least one hydrophobic moiety comprises 6 to 22 carbon atoms.
28. A cosmetic composition according to claim 27, wherein the at least one hydrophobic moiety comprises 12 to 18 carbon atoms.
29. A cosmetic composition according to claim 26, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer is chosen from acrylates or acrylamides of formula (II):
in which
R1 and R3, which are identical or different, are chosen from hydrogen and linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl radicals;
Y is O or NH;
R2 is a hydrophobic hydrocarbon radical comprising at least 6 to 50 carbon atoms; and
x is the number of moles of alkylene oxide and ranges from 0 to 100.
30. A composition according to claim 29, wherein R2 is a hydrophobic hydrocarbon radical comprising 12 to 18 carbon atoms.
31. A cosmetic composition according to claim 29, wherein the hydrophobic hydrocarbon radical R2 is chosen from linear, branched or cyclic C6-C18 alkyl radicals; perfluorinated C6-C18 alkyl radicals; a cholesteryl radical; a cholesterol ester; and aromatic polycyclic groups.
32. A cosmetic composition according to claim 29, wherein the monomer of formula (II) further comprises at least one alkylene oxide unit (x\u22671).
33. A cosmetic composition according to claim 29, wherein the monomer of formula (II) further comprises at least one polyoxyalkylenated chain.
34. A cosmetic composition according to claim 33, wherein the polyoxyalkylenated chain comprises ethylene oxide units andor propylene oxide units.
35. A cosmetic composition according to claim 34, wherein the polyoxyalkylenated chain is composed solely of ethylene oxide units.
36. A cosmetic composition according to claim 29, wherein the number of oxyalkylene units ranges from 3 to 100.
37. A cosmetic composition according to claim 36, wherein the number of oxyalkylene units ranges from 7 to 25.
38. A cosmetic composition according to claim 26, wherein the sulphonated polymer is chosen from:
crosslinked or non-crosslinked copolymers comprising from 15% to 60% by weight of AMPS units and from 40% to 85% by weight of (C8-C16)alkyl(meth)acrylamide units or of (C8-C16)alkyl(meth)acrylate units, relative to the polymer;
terpolymers comprising from 10 to 90 mol % of acrylamide units, from 0.1 to 10 mol % of AMPS units and from 5 to 80 mol % of n-(C6-C18)alkylacrylamide units, relative to the polymer.
39. A cosmetic composition according to claim 26, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is chosen from:
non-crosslinked copolymers of partially or fully neutralized AMPS and n-dodecyl methacrylate, and
crosslinked or non-crosslinked copolymers of partially or fully neutralized AMPS and n-dodecylmethacrylamide.
40. A cosmetic composition according to claim 26, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is chosen from copolymers composed of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS) units of formula (I):
in which X+ is chosen from a proton, an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation and an ammonium ion,
and of units of formula (III):
in which
x is an integer ranging from 3 to 100;
R1 is chosen from hydrogen and linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl radicals; and
R4 is a linear or branched C6-C22 alkyl radical.
41. A cosmetic composition according to claim 40, wherein x is an integer ranging from 7 to 25.
42. A cosmetic composition according to claim 40, wherein R4 is a linear or branched C10-C22 alkyl radical
43. A cosmetic composition according to claim 40, wherein x is 25, R1 is methyl and R4 is n-dodecyl.
44. A cosmetic composition according to claim 29, wherein the units of formula (II) in the polymers are present in a percentage molar proportion ranging from 50.1% to 99.9%.
45. A cosmetic composition according to claim 40, wherein the units of formula (III) in the polymers are present in a percentage molar proportion ranging from 50.1% to 99.9%.
46. A cosmetic composition according to claim 44, wherein the percentage molar proportion of the units of formula (II) in the polymers ranges from 0.1% to 50%.
47. A cosmetic composition according to claim 45, wherein the percentage molar proportion of the units of formula (III) in the polymers ranges from 0.1% to 50%.
48. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is present in a concentration ranging from 0.05% to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition.
49. A cosmetic composition according to claim 47, wherein the at least one sulphonated polymer is present at a concentration ranging from 0.5% to 5% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
50. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition exhibits a viscosity ranging from 2 to 1000 poise at 25\xb0 C. (200 and 100 000 cps) and a shear rate of 1 s\u22121.
51. A cosmetic composition according to claim 50, wherein said composition exhibits a viscosity ranging from 8 to 3000 poise at 25\xb0 C. (800 and 30 000 cps) and a shear rate of 1 s\u22121.
52. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anionic fixative polymer and the at least one sulphonated polymer are present in a weight ratio of greater than 1.
53. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cosmetic adjuvant chosen from fixative polymers other than those disclosed in claim 1, dispersed, microdispersed or nanodispersed silicones in soluble form, non-polymeric thickeners, thickening polymers or gelling agents which are not sulphonated, cationic, anionic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants, ester-type conditioning agents, antifoams, moisturizers, emollients, plasticizers, water-soluble and fat-soluble silicone or non-silicone sunscreens, permanent dyes, temporary dyes, fragrances, peptizing agents, preservatives, ceramides and pseudoceramides, vitamins and provitamins, proteins, sequestrants, solubilizers, alkalifiers, anticorrosion agents, fatty substances, reducing agents or antioxidants, and oxidizing agents.
54. A cosmetic composition according to claim 53, wherein the at least one cosmetic adjuvant is present at a concentration for each ranging from 0.001% to 50% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition.
55. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetically acceptable medium is an aqueous, alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic medium.
56. A cosmetic composition according to claim 55, wherein the aqueous-alcoholic medium comprises C1-C4 lower alcohols, polyols, polyol monoethers and mixtures thereof.
57. A cosmetic composition according to claim 56, wherein the C1-C4 lower alcohol is ethanol.
58. A cosmetic composition according to claim 1, wherein said composition is packaged in a vaporizer, a pump flask or an aerosol device.
59. A cosmetic composition according to claim 58, wherein said composition is packaged in an aerosol device.
60. A cosmetic composition according to claim 59, wherein said aerosol device comprises at least one propellant chosen from air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, dimethyl ether, C3 to C5 alkanes, 1,1-difluoroethane and mixtures thereof.
61. An aerosol device formed by a container comprising a cosmetic composition and also a means of distributing the composition, wherein said composition comprises, in a cosmetically acceptable medium,
at least one anionic fixative polymer comprising as monomers at least a vinyl lactam, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate whose alkyl moiety comprises at least 6 carbon atoms, and
at least one partially or fully neutralized sulphonated polymer comprising at least one unit derived from a sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
62. A method of cosmetic treatment for hair, comprising applying to the hair a cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium,
at least one anionic fixative polymer comprising as monomers at least a vinyl lactam, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate whose alkyl moiety comprises at least 6 carbon atoms, and
at least one partially or fully neutralized sulphonated polymer comprising at least one unit derived from a sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and
optionally rinsing said hair.
63. A cosmetic treatment method according to claim 62, wherein the application of said cosmetic composition is not followed by rinsing.
64. A method for shaping andor retaining a hairstyle comprising applying to hair, in an amount effective to shape andor retain a hairstyle, a cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium,
at least one anionic fixative polymer comprising as monomers at least a vinyl lactam, an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an alkyl acrylate or methacrylate whose alkyl moiety comprises at least 6 carbon atoms, and
at least one partially or fully neutralized sulphonated polymer comprising at least one unit derived from a sulpho-functional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

We claim:

1. A substantially non-discoloring sizing composition for reinforcing fiber materials, comprising:
an emulsion comprising a grafted polyolefin;
two or more saturated fatty acids; and
one or more silane coupling agents.
2. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsion comprises an aqueous solvent.
3. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the grafted polyolefin comprises a homopolymer of polypropylene or a random copolymer of propylene and ethylene.
4. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the grafted polyolefin comprises a grafted portion selected from the group consisting of acid anhydride, carboxylic acid, hydroxyl, amino, amide, ester, isocyanate, double bonds, and epoxy.
5. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein said sizing composition is without a color compensating additive.
6. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the grafted polyolefin has a level of grafting between about 0.05% to about 15% by weight based on the total weight of the grafted polyolefin.
7. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the saturated fatty acids contain a C8-C36 saturated fatty acid.
8. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the saturated fatty acids comprise two or more saturated fatty acids selected from the group consisting of myristic acid, palmitic acid, pentadecanoic acid, margeric acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, and sebacic acid.
9. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the saturated fatty acids comprise an aqueous mixture of palmitic acid, sebacic acid, and stearic acid.
10. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the emulsion comprises a grafted polyolefin comprising an aqueous emulsion of a polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride.
11. The sizing composition of claim 1, wherein the silane coupling agent is an amino silane coupling agent.
12. The sizing composition of claim 1, further comprising an antifoaming agent.
13. The sizing composition of claim 1, having a viscosity of from about 8 cPs to about 150 cPs.
14. A fiber coated with the sizing composition of claim 1.
15. A composite comprising the fiber of claim 14.
16. A method of manufacturing a substantially non-discoloring reinforcing fiber material comprising:
a) preparing a sizing composition comprising an emulsion comprising a grafted polyolefin, two or more saturated fatty acids, and one or more silane coupling agents;
b) contacting a plurality of filaments of a reinforcing fiber material with the sizing composition; and
c) allowing the sizing composition to solidify on the surfaces of the plurality of filaments to form a substantially non-discoloring reinforcing fiber material.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of contacting comprises contacting said filaments with the sizing composition immediately after they are continuously formed from a fiber-forming bushing.
18. A method of making a fiber-reinforced composite having minimal discoloration, comprising:
a) applying a substantially non-discoloring sizing composition comprising an emulsion comprising a grafted polyolefin, two or more saturated fatty acids, and one or more silane coupling agents on the surfaces of a reinforcing fiber material to form a sized reinforcing fiber material; and
b) compounding and molding the sized reinforcing fiber material with a matrix resin to form a fiber-reinforced composite having minimal discoloration.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the matrix resin is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyacrylamides, polyimides, polyethers, polyvinylethers, polystyrenes, polyoxides, polycarbonates, polysiloxanes, polysulfones, polyanhydrides, polyimines, epoxy, polyacrylics, polyvinylesters, polyurethane, maleic resins, urea resins, melamine resins, phenol resins, furan resins, polymer blends, alloys, and mixtures thereof.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of compounding and molding the sized reinforcing fiber material is selected from extrusion molding, compression molding and injection molding.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein the composite further comprises a polyolefin as a matrix resin.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein the composite comprises a second coupling agent.