Abstract: A barrier fabric with a nano-fibrous layer for mechanical retention of organic substances formed by a sandwich structure containing a basic material from unwoven fabric of “spunbond” type with areal weight of 15 to 50 g/m2 to which at least one nano-fibrous layer is arranged, selected from hydrophilic polymer, a hydrophobic polymer, or in the case of double-layer arrangement, a combination of the hydrophilic polymer in one layer and the hydrophobic polymer in the other layer. The nano-fibrous layer is equipped with a protective covering layer, and the individual layers of the sandwich are connected to each other. The nano-fibrous layer has an organic polymer material with areal weight of 0.05 to 0.3 g/m2 and thickness from 90 to 150 nm. The covering layer is selected from an unwoven fabric of “spunbond” type, “meltblown” type, cotton textile and/or a mixture of cotton and polyester.

Abstract: A method includes a providing a molten glass fiber core and disposing a plurality of nanoparticles that include a transition metal oxide on the molten glass fiber core at or above the softening temperature of the glass fiber core, thereby forming a nanoparticle-laden glass fiber. The plurality of nanoparticles are embedded at the surface of said glass fiber core. A method includes providing a mixture of molten glass and a plurality of nanoparticles. The plurality of nanoparticles include a transition metal. The method further includes forming nanoparticle-laden glass fibers, in which the plurality of nanoparticles are embedded throughout the glass fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a branched nanowire having parasitic nanowires grown at a surface of the branched nanowire, and a method for fabricating the same. The branched nanowire may be fabricated in a fractal form and seeds of the parasitic nanowires may be formed by thermal energy irradiation and/or a wet-etching process. The branched nanowire may effectively be used in a wide variety of applications such as, for example, sensors, photodetectors, light emitting elements, light receiving elements, and the like.

Abstract: A fluffy nano-material and method of manufacture are described. At 2000× magnification the fluffy nanomaterial has the appearance of raw, uncarded wool, with individual fiber lengths ranging from approximately four microns to twenty microns. Powder-based nanocatalysts are dispersed in the fluffy nanomaterial. The production of fluffy nanomaterial typically involves flowing about 125 cc/min of organic vapor at a pressure of about 400 torr over powder-based nano-catalysts for a period of time that may range from approximately thirty minutes to twenty-four hours.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an absorbent material and the fibers therein, having two or more layers including an upper surface layer which has on the outer surface of the layer one or more surface area zones which are more wettable zones and adjacent thereto one or more less wettable zones, where the more wettable zones have a greater hydrophilicity than the less wettable zone. The present invention is also directed to the fibers therein, which contain polyvalent cation-containing compounds and fatty acid containing compounds. The present invention also provides for methods of treating fibers or solid materials and processes of producing the hydrophobic materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite comprising carbon nanotubes coated with a polymer, wherein the polymer comprises at least one hydrophobic monomer unit. This invention also relates to a process for the production of a composite comprising a polymer and carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A fibrous columnar structure aggregate having excellent mechanical properties, a high specific surface area, excellent heat resistance, excellent pressure-sensitive adhesive properties under temperature conditions ranging from room temperature to a high temperature, and such pressure-sensitive adhesive property that its adhesive strength for adherends different from each other in surface free energy does not change (the aggregate is free of adherend selectivity). The fibrous columnar structure aggregate (1) includes fibrous columnar structures having a plurality of diameters, in which the distribution width of the diameter distribution of the fibrous columnar structures having the plurality of diameters is 10 nm or more, and the relative frequency of the mode of the diameter distribution is 30% or less.

Abstract: An impact resistant composite article has two or more layers of ballistic fabric and ionomer layers disposed between the fabric layers. The ionomer is highly neutralized so that it has essentially no melt flow. A process also for making such a composite article that involves deposition of an aqueous colloid of the ionomer onto the fabric, followed by drying.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a bulk carbon nanotube and metallic composite is provided. The bulk carbon nanotube and metallic composite includes a bulk carbon nanotube material layer including a plurality of carbon nanotubes, and a metal film applied across the bulk carbon nanotube material layer. The metal film penetrates into the interstices between individual carbon nanotubes to reduce an electrical resistance between the plurality of carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A self-decontaminating fabric is manufactured from fibers such as Tencel having high surface energy and low surface roughness. Novel scouring methods eliminate substantially all contaminants from the fibers, and a novel coating process applies an anti-pathogen coating such as a halogen compound to the fabric so as to provide rapid deactivation of pathogens on contact. Novel charging methods activate or reactivate the coating, typically by exposure to chlorine. The coating is substantially free of gap regions where pathogens can survive. The high surface energy of the fibers allows a high coating concentration and provides close contact between attached pathogens and the coating. The low surface roughness reduces the pickup of pathogens by the fibers. Multi-layer embodiments include an outer layer configured for maximum anti-pathogen coating concentration, and an inner layer configured for a reduced coating concentration that is compatible with skin contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ferromagnetic materials based on nano-sized bacterial cellulose templates. More specifically, the present invention provides an agglomerate free magnetic nanoparticle cellulose material and a method of forming such magnetic nanoparticle cellulose material. Further, the magnetic nonoparticles are physically attached on the cellulose material and evenly distribute.

Abstract: A tape that can be used to detect cracks in a structure to which it is attached is disclosed herein. The tape includes a plurality of structural fibers. The tape also includes an electrically-insulating binder at least partially encapsulating the plurality of structural fibers. The tape also includes quantities of electrically conductive particles, each quantity of electrically conductive particles connected with one of the plurality of structural fibers.

Abstract: A garment containing a breathable laminate that is optionally bonded to an outer layer fabric and an optional inner layer fabric. The breathable laminate is constructed from a microporous membrane situated in a face to face relationship with a nanoweb and optionally bonded thereto.

Abstract: A fiber of carbon nanotubes was prepared by a wet-spinning method involving drawing carbon nanotubes away from a substantially aligned, supported array of carbon nanotubes to form a ribbon, wetting the ribbon with a liquid, and spinning a fiber from the wetted ribbon. The liquid can be a polymer solution and after forming the fiber, the polymer can be cured. The resulting fiber has a higher tensile strength and higher conductivity compared to dry-spun fibers and to wet-spun fibers prepared by other methods.

Abstract: A nonwoven web of fibers that have a number average diameter of less than 1 micron. The web can have a Poisson Ratio of less than about 0.8, a solidity of at least about 20%, a basis weight of at least about 1 gsm, and a thickness of at least 1 micrometer.

Abstract: A flexible sheet of aligned carbon nanotubes includes an array of aligned nanotubes held in a polymer matrix material. The carbon nanotubes have an average length of between about 50 microns and about 500 microns. The polymer matrix has an average thickness of between about 10 microns and about 500 microns. The flexible sheet has a density of about 0.2 to about 1.0 g/cc and includes between about 98 to about 60 weight percent aligned carbon nanotubes and between about 2 and about 40 weight percent polymer. A tape of aligned carbon nanotubes, a method for producing a tape of aligned carbon nanotubes, a method of producing the flexible aligned carbon nanotube sheet material and a method of increasing unidirectional heat conduction from a work piece are also disclosed.

Abstract: Textile fabrics having a self cleaning and water repellent surface, constructed from A) at least one synthetic and/or natural textile base material and B) an artificial, at least partly hydrophobic surface having elevations and depressions comprising particles securely bonded to said base material A without adhesives, resins or coatings, obtained by treating said base material A with at least one solvent containing said particles in undissolved form and removing said solvent to leave at least a portion of said particles securely bonded to the surface of said base material A.

Abstract: A tackifier composition includes a carrier solvent, a resin material, and an inorganic filler. The tackifier composition may be deposited onto at least a portion of a woven fiber structure and then dried to remove the carrier solvent. The dried woven fiber structure may then be formed into a preform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a textile fabric having a coating composed of two layers of thermoplastic hot-seal adhesives of differing compositions applied one on top of the other, the second hot-seal adhesive, which is applied to the first, having a melting point of >135° C. and a melt flow index (MFI) value of 50 to 250 g/10 minutes (190° C./2.16 kg). The invention further relates to a method for producing a textile fabric, comprising the following steps: a) producing a textile fabric using a textile fabric manufacturing technique; b) applying a layer of a first hot-seal adhesive to the textile fabric; and c) applying a layer of a second hot-seal adhesive to the textile fabric so as to d) form a layer of the second hot-seal adhesive over the layer of first hot-seal adhesive, the second hot-seal adhesive used having a melting point of >135° C. and a melt flow index (MFI) value of 50 to 250 g/10 minutes (190° C./2.16 kg).

Abstract: Breathable, water resistant protective articles, such as garments, sleeping bags, and the like, which are readily packable into small volumes. The articles are constructed from an outer layer comprising a laminate of a textile bonded to a barrier layer, an insulation layer and an inner layer comprising an air permeable textile.