Abstract: An article of protective clothing comprising a durable multilayer fabric laminate formed from i) a first flame resistant knitted fabric made from yarns, the fabric having an average fabric modulus of 8 grams-force of greater; ii) a flame-resistant nonwoven fabric having a machine direction and a cross direction, and consisting of a plurality of continuous filaments having a diameter of less than 1000 nm, the filaments in the fabric being substantially oriented parallel with the machine direction and having stretch and recovery in the cross direction; and iii) a second flame resistant knitted fabric made from yarns, the fabric having an average fabric modulus of 8 grams-force of greater; wherein the nonwoven fabric is positioned between and coextensive with the first and second flame-resistant knitted fabrics; the nonwoven fabric being attached to the first knitted fabric by a set of first attachment points, the attachment points defining a first unattached area having a first effective diameter; the nonwov

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flame resistant thermal liner comprising a nonwoven sheet comprising nanofibers of a synthetic polymer having an limiting oxygen index of at least 21, a mean flow pore of 10 micrometers or less, a thickness air permeability of 25 to 6000 cubic feet per min?micrometers (12 to 2880 cubic meters per square meter per min?micrometers), and an average thickness T1; and a thermally stable flame resistant fabric attached to an outer surface of the nonwoven sheet, the fabric having an average thickness T2; a surface of the thermally stable fabric being in contact with a surface of the nonwoven sheet; wherein T1 and T2 are selected such that the ratio of T1 to T2 is less than 0.75. The invention also relates to a flame resistant composite fabric comprising the flame resistant thermal liner and a garment comprising this flame resistant composite fabric.

Abstract: An article of protective clothing comprising a durable multilayer fabric laminate formed from i) a first flame resistant knitted fabric made from yarns, the fabric having an average fabric modulus of 8 grams-force of greater; ii) a flame-resistant nonwoven fabric having a machine direction and a cross direction, and consisting of a plurality of continuous filaments having a diameter of less than 1000 nm, the filaments in the fabric being substantially oriented parallel with the machine direction and having stretch and recovery in the cross direction; and iii) a second flame resistant knitted fabric made from yarns, the fabric having an average fabric modulus of 8 grams-force of greater; wherein the nonwoven fabric is positioned between and coextensive with the first and second flame-resistant knitted fabrics; the nonwoven fabric being attached to the first knitted fabric by a set of first attachment points, the attachment points defining a first unattached area having a first effective diameter; the nonwoven

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nonwoven consisting essentially of a plurality of fibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nonwoven with enhanced properties is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flame resistant thermal liner comprising a nonwoven sheet comprising nanofibers of a synthetic polymer having an limiting oxygen index of at least 21, a mean flow pore of 10 micrometers or less, a thickness air permeability of 25 to 6000 cubic feet per min?micrometers (12 to 2880 cubic meters per square meter per min?micrometers), and an average thickness T1; and a thermally stable flame resistant fabric attached to an outer surface of the nonwoven sheet, the fabric having an average thickness T2; a surface of the thermally stable fabric being in contact with a surface of the nonwoven sheet; wherein T1 and T2 are selected such that the ratio of T1 to T2 is less than 0.75. The invention also relates to a flame resistant composite fabric comprising the flame resistant thermal liner and a garment comprising this flame resistant composite fabric.

Abstract: This invention provides a multi-layer article comprising a first electrode material, a second electrode material, and a porous separator disposed between and in contact with the first and the second electrode materials, wherein the porous separator comprises a nonwoven consisting essentially of a plurality of fibers of a fully aromatic polyimide. Also provided is a method for preparing the multi-layer article, and an electrochemical cell employing the same. A multi-layer article comprising a polyimide nonwoven with enhanced properties is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to separators for batteries and other electrochemical cells, especially lithium-ion batteries, having a shutdown mechanism. The separator is a laminate that contains a nonwoven nanoweb and a porous layer composed of a plurality of thermoplastic particles having particle size smaller than the mean flow pore size of the nanoweb. The shutdown layer melts and starts to flow at a desired temperature, and restricts the ion flow path, resulting in a substantial decrease in ionic conductivity of the separator at the desired shutdown temperature, while leaving the separator intact.

Abstract: This invention relates to separators for batteries and other electrochemical cells, especially lithium-ion batteries, having a shutdown mechanism. The separator comprises a nonwoven nanoweb comprising a coating composed of a plurality of thermoplastic particles having particle size larger than the mean flow pore size of the nanoweb. The coating flows at a desired temperature, and restricts the ion flow path, resulting in a substantial decrease in ionic conductivity of the separator at the desired shutdown temperature, while leaving the separator intact.

Abstract: A nanoweb that contains a plurality of nanofibers wherein the nanofibers contain a fully aromatic polyimide that is characterized by having a crystallinity index (CI) and a degree of imidization (DOI). The product of the DOI and the CI is between 0.08 and 0.25 or above a lower limit to obtain a desired tensile strength and/or toughness. The nanoweb may for example have a tensile strength per unit basis weight of greater than 15 kg/cm2 per gram per square meter unit of basis weight.

Abstract: A passive distributed vibration absorber that utilizes multiple discrete mass elements and a viscoelastic layer and that effectively attenuates vibration in modally dense structures excited by a broadband input noise excitation. and is tunable to multiple natural frequencies in such modally dense vibrating structures including low frequencies.

Abstract: An acoustically absorbent ceiling tile includes a core of acoustically absorbing material having two major surfaces, and a facing for covering the core on at least one major surface. The facing comprises a porous flash spun plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet having a coherent surface and comprising a plurality of pores having a pore diameter between about 100 nm and about 20,000 nm and a mean pore diameter of less than about 20,000 nm. The facing has highly diffuse reflectance of light, and a reflectance of greater than about 86%. The use of the facing improves the acoustic absorption of ambient sound at frequencies below about 1200 Hz. The facing provides a barrier to moisture and particles including microorganisms so that the ceiling tile is suitable for use in environments in which cleanliness is critical.

Abstract: An acoustic absorber includes a core of acoustically absorbing material having two major surfaces, and a facing for covering the core on at least one major surface. The facing comprises a porous flash spun plexifilamentary film-fibril sheet having a coherent surface and comprising a plurality of pores having a pore diameter between about 100 nm and about 20,000 nm and a mean pore diameter of less than about 20,000 nm. The use of the facing improves the acoustic absorption of ambient sound at a frequency below about 1200 Hz. The facing provides a barrier to moisture and particles including microorganisms so that the absorber is suitable for use in environments in which cleanliness is critical.

Abstract: A passive distributed vibration absorber that utilizes multiple discrete mass elements and a viscoelastic layer and that effectively attenuates vibration in modally dense structures excited by a broadband input noise excitation and is tunable to multiple natural frequencies in such modally dense vibrating structures including low frequencies