Abstract: A pneumatic tire containing a tread, a carcass having at least one belt ply disposed below the tread, and a cap ply located between the carcass and the tread. The cap ply comprises at least one layer of an open construction leno weave tape having a pair of warp yarns in the longitudinal direction and a weft yarn in the weft direction. The pair of warp yarns comprises a first warp yarn and a second warp yarn, where the second warp yarn has a force of elongation of between about 1 and 40% the force of elongation of the first warp yarn, where the second warp yarn is in tension, and where the second warp yarn has an elongation at break of greater than 2%. The leno weave tape is disposed in a flat pattern around the circumference of the carcass in the area of the belt ply. A method of making a pneumatic tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflatable automotive protective cushion and method of formation. The protective cushion includes a multilayer film coating with an adhesive layer and an overlying barrier layer. The adhesive layer is adapted to bond to a textile substrate and the barrier layer is adapted to block air permeability.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-stratified, or homogeneous, non-woven composite having (a) strength-imparting fibers of a relatively high denier and (b) binder fibers of a lower denier that adhere the composite together and that form a smooth, stiff skin on the outer surfaces of the composite. In one instance, the strength-imparting fibers are staple fibers and the binder fibers are bicomponent fibers having a low melt component. In a variation, the composite also contains a small percentage by weight (that is, less than 20%) of flame retardant fibers that impart flame resistant properties to the composite. Preferably, all of the fibers are comprised of the same polymeric material (e.g., polyester), so that the composite is recyclable. The resulting composite exhibits excellent flame retardance, strength, and stiffness, as well as having a smooth surface for attachment of a decorative fabric or other material. A process for manufacturing such composites is also provided.

Abstract: The warming article contains a heating element and a sensing system. The sensing system has a first sensor element being a temperature dependent variable resistor and a second sensor element having at least two resistors in series and corresponding jumpers for one or more resistors in the second sensor element. The first sensor element is linear and flexible and the second sensor element is used to adjust the total sensor resistance to a fixed value at a particular temperature.

Abstract: A multi-layered fiber including a core, a first layer, and a second layer. The core has an exterior surface portion containing polypropylene. The first layer is disposed on at least a portion of the core and contains a first polymer. The first polymer contains a polymer having at least 70% ?-olefin units and is characterized by a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the exterior surface portion of the core. The second layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first layer and contains a second polymer. The second polymer contains a co-polymer having at least 50% ?-olefin units and is characterized by a number-average molecular weight of about 7,000 g/mol to 50,000 g/mol, a viscosity of between about 2,500 and 150,000 cP measured at 170° C., and a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the exterior surface portion of the core. The viscosity of the second polymer is not greater than about 10 percent of the viscosity of the first polymer measured at 170° C.

Abstract: A flexible spike and ballistics panel having a strike surface and a rear surface. The panel contains a strike face grouping and a rear face grouping, where the normalized stiffness of each strike face layer is about 3 to 50 times greater than the normalized stiffness of each textile layer. The strike face grouping contains at least two strike face layers, each strike face layer having resin and high tenacity yarns, where the high tenacity yarns are in an amount of at least 50% by weight in each layer, where the high tenacity yarns have a tenacity of at least 5 grams per denier, and where the strike face grouping forms the strike surface of the panel. The rear face grouping contains at least ten layers of a spike resistant textile layer, each textile layer having a plurality of interwoven yarns or fibers having a tenacity of about 5 or more grams per denier, where at least one of the surfaces of the spike resistant textile layer contains about 10 wt.

Abstract: An inflatable automotive protective cushion and method of formation. The protective cushion includes a multilayer film coating with an adhesive layer and an overlying barrier layer. The adhesive layer is adapted to bond to a textile substrate and the barrier layer is adapted to block air permeability.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire containing a tread, a carcass having at least one belt ply disposed below the tread, and a cap ply located between the carcass and the tread. The cap ply comprises at least one layer of an open construction leno weave tape having a pair of warp yarns in the longitudinal direction and a weft yarn in the weft direction. The pair of warp yarns comprises a first warp yarn and a second warp yarn, where the second warp yarn has a force of elongation of between about 1 and 40% the force of elongation of the first warp yarn, where the second warp yarn is in tension, and where the second warp yarn has an elongation at break of greater than 2%. The leno weave tape is disposed in a flat pattern around the circumference of the carcass in the area of the belt ply. A method of making a pneumatic tire is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cementitious articles that are reinforced with a fabric made at least partially of high modulus polyolefin monofilament fibers. Preferably, the polypropylene monofilament yarns have a 3% secant modulus of elasticity of at least 100 g/denier. The high modulus polypropylene fabric has an intrinsic resistance to the alkaline conditions present in a cementitious composite, as well as a low elongation at break. The high modulus polypropylene may contain a nucleating agent to facilitate the process of obtaining desired draw ratio.

Abstract: A unitary, fiber-containing composite comprises (a) a first region comprising a plurality of first binder fibers and a plurality of bast fibers, (b) a second region disposed above the first region, the second region comprising a plurality of second binder fibers and a plurality of bast fibers, and (c) a transitional region disposed between the first region and the second region. The transitional region comprises concentrations of the first binder fiber, the second binder fiber, and the bast fiber. The concentration of the first binder fiber in the first transitional region is greatest proximate to the first region and least proximate to the second region, and the concentration of the second binder fiber and the bast fiber in the first transitional region is greatest proximate to the second region and least proximate to the first region. A method for producing a unitary, fiber-containing composite is also described.

Abstract: A method of making fabrics having first and second surfaces that exhibit different performance characteristics by virtue of having been treated with different chemical treatments is described. In addition, fabrics having first and second surfaces that exhibit different performance characteristics, such as one surface exhibiting oil and water repellency and optionally, soil release characteristics, and the opposite surface exhibits moisture transport characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to an impact resistant component comprising at least two composite sheets fused together, each composite sheet comprising an adhesive layer fused between two unidirectional sheets, wherein each unidirectional sheet comprises a plurality of monoaxially drawn fibers arranged substantially parallel to one another along a common fiber direction, the fibers comprising a base layer of a strain oriented polymer disposed between surface layer(s) of a heat fusible polymer, wherein the surface layer(s) are characterized by a melting temperature below that of the base layer to permit fusion bonding upon application of heat, and wherein the adhesive layer has a melting temperature below that of the base layer of the unidirectional sheet.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire has a tread, a carcass with belt plies disposed below the tread, and a cap ply layer between the tread and the belt plies of the carcass. The cap ply is a leno weave tape having warp yarn in the longitudinal direction and weft yarns in the weft direction. The leno weave tape is wound in a flat helically wound around the belt plies, and cover with a tread of the tire.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-stratified, or homogeneous, non-woven composite having (a) strength-imparting fibers of a relatively high denier and (b) binder fibers of a lower denier that adhere the composite together and that form a smooth, stiff skin on the outer surfaces of the composite. In one instance, the strength-imparting fibers are staple fibers and the binder fibers are bicomponent fibers having a low melt component. In a variation, the composite also contains a small percentage by weight (that is, less than 20%) of flame retardant fibers that impart flame resistant properties to the composite. Preferably, all of the fibers are comprised of the same polymeric material (e.g., polyester), so that the composite is recyclable. The resulting composite exhibits excellent flame retardance, strength, and stiffness, as well as having a smooth surface for attachment of a decorative fabric or other material. A process for manufacturing such composites is also provided.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced core panel having a first side and an opposing second side. The core panel contains a series of adjacent low density strips having at least three faces and having a length to width aspect ratio of at least 5:1. The longitudinal axis of the low density strips are substantially parallel and the cross-section of each strip has a major face, a first edge face, and a second edge face. The major face of each strip is disposed within the first or second side of the core panel and the major face of each strip is disposed within an opposite face of the core panel than the major face of the adjacent strips. The core panel also contains a continuous fibrous reinforcement sheet which is threaded through the low density strips such that the fibrous reinforcement sheet is disposed between adjacent strips and adjacent to the major faces of the low density strips.

Abstract: A puncture resistant composite comprises a first textile layer and a second textile layer, each of which comprises a plurality of yarns or fibers having a tenacity of about 8 or more grams per denier. The layers are stacked so that the upper surface of the second textile layer is adjacent to the lower surface of the first textile layer. At least one of the lower surface of the first textile layer and the upper surface of the second textile layer comprises about 10 wt. % or less, based on the total weight of the textile layer, of a coating comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 ?m or less. The coating can also comprise a binder. The composite can also be used in combination with other puncture resistant and/or ballistic resistant materials or components. A process for producing a puncture resistant composite is also provided.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite has a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness extending between the first and second surfaces. The nonwoven composite comprises a plurality of natural fibers, a plurality of binder fibers, and a VOC-absorbing material. The binder fibers are bonded to or interlocked with the natural fibers. The VOC-absorbing material is dispersed within the nonwoven composite in such a manner that the density of the VOC-absorbing material in the nonwoven composite is greatest adjacent to the second surface of the nonwoven composite. A method for producing a nonwoven composite is also described.

Abstract: Provided herein are flexible, low friction innerduct structures configured to contain at least one cable within a conduit. The innerduct structures, or conduit inserts, include one or more strip-shaped panels of flexible material that are joined to define at least one channel through which a cable can extend. The innerduct structures preferably are formed from a woven textile fabric having warp yarns that are monofilaments and fill yarns that are an alternating pattern of monofilament yarns and multifilament yarns. Such construction increases the flexibility of the fabric, as compared to previous innerduct fabrics, resulting in a reduction of the pulling force required to draw the cable through the innerduct and into position.

Abstract: An airbag fabric has a finish on a surface thereof, the finish comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 ?m or less. A process for producing a coated airbag fabric comprises the steps of (a) providing an airbag fabric, (b) contacting at least one surface of the airbag fabric with a coating composition comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 ?m or less, and (c) drying the fabric treated in step (b) to produce a finish on the airbag fabric.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag fabric which is woven in such a manner as to possess a cover factor of less than about 1900 but which simultaneously, through the presence of a film (laminate) or coating, possesses an extremely low air permeability. The utilization of such a loosely constructed fabric within airbag cushions has heretofore not been possible, even with the application of standard airbag coatings (such as silicones) over the fabric surface since such coatings with not easily remain in contact over the loosely constructed fabric surface (i.e., the coating would leak through the fabric). The coupling of a low cover factor fabric with a laminate film (or with a coating wherein the cover factor is at least 1600), however, solves such a problem and permits the utilization of inexpensively produced woven fabrics within airbag applications.