Abstract: A fire-resistant material used in items such as sleeping bags, comforters, wearing apparel, upholstered furniture and mattress tops comprises a fiberfill batt and a layer of a fire-resistant aramid fiber contacting at least one side of the aramid fiber layer. The fiberfill batt may comprise synthetic fiber, which may be either polyester fiber or polyolefin fiber. Alternatively, the fiberfill batt may comprise natural fiber. The aramid fiber layer may comprise poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) fiber, poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fiber or a blend of poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) and poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fiber. The aramid fiber layer may be needle-punched, hydroentangled, or laminated to the fiberfill batt.

Abstract: An aramid article is disclosed having improved resistance to penetration by sharp implements. The article is woven with tough, low denier, aramid yarns in a tight plain weave configuration; and, when used in several layers, the layers are not stitched together.

Abstract: A composite web structure utilizing a thin first layer of material having a plurality of structural fibers arranged to lie essentially in a unidirectional orientation. A thin second layer of material is positioned adjacent the first layer and includes a plurality of structural fibers. First and second layers are impregnated with a matrix material for binding fibers within the first and second layers and for binding the first and second layers together. The web may be formed into a composite structure such as a honeycomb core for fabrication into a panel.

Abstract: This invention aims at providing a woven fabric having a structure suitable for bonding, so as to bond a so-called "tarpaulin sheet", which is bonded by sewing means and is obtained by coating a synthetic resin to a fiber base fabric, to a woven fabric such as a tape or a belt. The present invention further aims at providing a woven fabric having a structural portion enabling a woven fabric to be bonded to another woven fabric. A woven fabric 100 is divided in a longitudinal direction or in a transverse direction, or in both the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction, and either one, or both, of warps and wefts are woven more coarsely in at least one of the divided zones 22, 32 than the rest so as to form a mesh portion 2.

Abstract: An integrated structural composite panel and ceramic flame barrier which is a structural load bearing support member while exhibiting superior flame resistant characteristics. There is a first layer which is a structural polymer composite which defines the form of the finished supporting member. A second layer is a fiber reinforced film adhesive which binds the third layer to the first layer. The third layer is a polymer precursor of a ceramic matrix which exhibits polymeric properties at a lower temperature and ceramic matrix properties at a higher temperature. The three layers are co-cured in a one step process.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements to a composite member that has a plurality of plies. The improved composite member has (1) an interior ply which functions to dampen or resist sudden forces exerted on the composite member, (2) an intermediate load-carrying ply, and (3) an exterior abrasion-resistant ply. These plies have multiple, often intertwined fiber components disposed or imbedded with a matrix material, preferably Nylon-6 thermoplastic, to inhibit sharp edges during breakage. One or more of the plies typically has "bi-axial" or "tri-axially" braided fiber geometries wherein one or more fibers are helically wound about the circumference of the member. The helically oriented fibers are oriented at a selectively variable angle which influences the overall bending strength of the composite material.

Abstract: The invention relates to fiber structures in the form of refractory light-weight moldings. These fiber structures exhibit the advantage that they do not contain, or contain virtually no harmful fibers, and/or that such fibers that might still exist in the fiber structures can be readily decomposed by water or body fluids. Nevertheless, the fiber structures exhibit the advantageous thermal and mechanical properties of conventional light-weight moldings. The fiber structures according to the invention are manufactured using inorganic fibers, wherein at least 90% by weight of each fiber comprises 20-50% by weight of CaO and 50-80% by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. The rest comprises a maximum of 10% by weight of typical impurity oxides. Water or a water-containing liquid is used as the charge liquid, and conventional refractory additives may also be added to the mixture of fibers and water to be molded.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements to a composite member that has a plurality of plies. The improved composite member has (1) an interior ply which functions to dampen or resist sudden forces exerted on the composite member, (2) an intermediate load-carrying ply, and (3) an exterior abrasion-resistant ply. These plies have multiple, often intertwined fiber components disposed or imbedded with a matrix material, preferably Nylon-6 thermoplastic, to inhibit sharp edges during breakage. One or more of the plies typically has "bi-axial" or "tri-axially" braided fiber geometries wherein one or more fibers are helically wound about the circumference of the member. The helically oriented fibers are oriented at a selectively variable angle which influences the overall bending strength of the composite material.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composite material exhibiting high tensile strength, high fracture toughness and high-temperature oxidation resistance is produced by alternatively depositing multiple thin layers of ceramic material separated by very thin intermediate layers of fugitive carbon onto the fiber reinforcement prior to the subsequent densification with the ceramic matrix. The energy behind propagating matrix cracks in the resulting composite material are effectively dissipated by the progressive increase in crack deflection/branching and frictional slip through the successive ceramic layers of the multilayer fiber coating system. These energy release and arrest mechanisms sufficiently impede the driving force behind unstable crack propagation and render the cracks non-critical, thereby serving to blunt and/or divert propagating matrix cracks at or around the reinforcing fiber.

Abstract: An improved rigid composite of the type comprising a plurality of fibrous layers at least two of which are secured together by a securing means, said improvements comprising a securing means which comprises at least two adjacent paths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved wash-cloth having a plurality of pockets for the simultaneous insertion of soap and/or massaging utensils and other medicating items. The pockets can be secured so that any items inserted in the pockets will not be dislocated during use. In addition, the wash-cloth of this invention has gripping handles intergrally knit to the opposing ends of the main body. These handles are held so that wash-cloth can be safely and easily used, particularly by handicapped persons, to effectively clean and massage the back and other difficult to reach areas. One type of massaging utensil is shown and has two apertured balls, which are held together by knotting a length of material that passes through an apertured rod inserted through the aperture of the massaging balls.

Abstract: A cast lining fabric is prepared from hydrophilic synthetic material. The cast lining transports moisture from the skin and environment beneath a cast to the outside environment where the moisture is removed by evaporation providing a dry atmosphere beneath the cast. The resulting dry environment reduces the ill effects of bacterial, fungal and mildew growth, reduces odor, increases dryness and comfort, and allows the wearer to bathe and swim.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stampable sheet made of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin whose reinforcement is a glass fiber mat in which a non-oriented fiber layer and a unidirectional fiber layer are mechanically intertwined with each other. In the stampable sheet made of the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin according to the invention, a content of the glass long-fiber bundles forming the unidirectional fiber layer, in the glass fiber mat is 20 wt % to 80 wt %, and the glass fiber mat, in which a significant amount of glass long-fiber bundles among the glass long-fiber bundles forming the unidirectional fiber layer or a significant amount of glass long-fibers in the glass long-fiber bundles forming the unidirectional fiber layer is substantially under a relaxation condition, is used in an amount of 20 wt %.about.55 wt %. A molded article comprising at least one stampable sheet is also part of the invention.

Abstract: An improved reinforcing fabric that is woven of alternating fiber yarns of polyaramid, carbon and glass in both the warp and the weft directions such that a fabric of superior impact, tensile, compression and flexural properties is obtained.

Abstract: Thermoplastic based pavement marking sheets are disclosed. The marking sheets employ a conformant composite material including: polyolefin and a nonreinforcing mineral particulate; and/or a thermoplastic upper surface. Preferably, the sheet's thermoplastic upper surface is embedded with reflective elements and/or skid-resistant particles. A solventless process of embedding particles in thermoplastic pavement marking sheets is disclosed. Processes for preparing marking sheets are also disclosed. Conformant pavement marking sheets which may be applied in cooler conditions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-density resin impregnated ceramic article advantageously employed as a structural ceramic ablator comprising a fired preform of ceramic fibers. The fibers of the ceramic preform are coated with an organic resin film. The organic resin can be a thermoplastic resin or a cured thermosetting resin. In one embodiment, the resin is uniformly distributed within the ceramic article. In a second embodiment, the resin is distributed so as to provide a density gradient along at least one direction of the ceramic article. The resin impregnated ceramic article is prepared by providing a fired preform of ceramic fibers; immersing the preform of ceramic fibers in a solution of a solvent and an organic resin infiltrant; and removing the solvent to form a resin film on the ceramic fibers.

Abstract: A reinforcing fabric for reinforcing power transmission belts is comprised of a first fibrous web having minimal warp yarns and filler yarns oriented at a desired right lead. A second fibrous web is provided which has minimal warp yarns and filler yarns oriented at a desired left lead. The first and second fibrous webs are interconnected either mechanically, chemically, or both, so that an angle of between 178.degree. and 60.degree. is formed between the filler yarns of the first fibrous web and the filler yarns of the second fibrous web when viewed in the direction of tension on the power transmission belt. The resulting reinforcing fabric may be formed in the belt direction so that banner cutting is eliminated. This makes it possible to make an endless belt with only one splice.

Abstract: A flame barrier made of nonwoven fabric for use as a component of a planar multilayer structure, especially a vehicle or aircraft passenger seat. The flame barrier contains staple fibers made of phenolic resin, para-aramid, or melamine resin, alone or mixed with 20 to 60 wt % preoxidized polyacrylonitrile staple fibers. The nonwoven fabric barrier also contains 15 to 30 wt % vermiculite, which is distributed through the entire volume of the nonwoven fabric. The flame barrier possesses a mass per unit area of 100 g/m.sup.2 to 210 g/m.sup.2. The method of manufacturing the nonwoven fabric flame barrier makes use of water jet needling.

Abstract: The fabrics of this invention have a unique combination of liquid barrier properties and high air permeability and comprise at least one carded nonwoven web comprising at least 10% by weight, based on the total weight of cardable fibers, of cardable polyolefin fibers having a fiber fineness of about 0.5 to about 1.2 decitex. Preferably the polyolefin fibers are hydrophobic polyolefin fibers, and the nonwoven material is thermally bonded. Laminates comprising at least one layer of the fabrics of this invention and at least one layer of another nonwoven material have the same unique combination of properties.

Abstract: A heat resistant cloth for fire fighting comprises a rubber layer, a bonding layer containing a flame retardant, a polyester film with a metallic (e.g. aluminum) film deposited on both sides thereof, a bonding layer containing flame retardant, and a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer film which are layered and bonded together on a substrate fabric. The flame retardant contained in the bonding layers provides excellent flame resistance.