Abstract: An elasticized retaining panel for an absorbent garment has a stretch axis and a cross axis normal to the stretch axis, the panel including an outer web, an inner web overlying the outer web, and an elastic web disposed between the outer and inner webs and bonded thereto. The elastic web includes a plurality of stretch strands extending parallel to the stretch axis and a plurality of support strands extending parallel to the cross axis. The support strands and stretch strands define a plurality of intersection points at which the support strands and the stretch strands are joined together. The stretch strands are elastically extendible along the stretch axis and are extended relative to the outer and inner webs parallel to the stretch axis for exerting an elastically contractile force on the outer and inner webs. The support strands are generally unextended relative to the inner and outer webs parallel to the cross axis.

Abstract: A nonwoven laminate fabric includes first and second nonwoven webs formed of spunbonded substantially continuous filaments and a nonwoven web of meltblown microfibers having a basis weight between about one and twenty grams per square meter sandwiched between and bonded to the first and second nonwoven webs to form a composite nonwoven fabric. The meltblown web includes a plurality of thermoplastic microfine fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1.5 microns. The nonwoven laminate exhibits good barrier properties and can be used as a sterile wrap.

Abstract: A battery separator fabric comprising a nonwoven fibrous web of thermoplastic fibers having top and bottom surface fibers and inner fibers. The surfaces of the top and bottom surface fibers of the fibrous web are seared and fused together to form film-like surfaces having pores, while the surface fibers and inner fibers of the web remain substantially unaffected. Searing and fusing of the surface fibers are accomplished by simultaneously applying heat to the top and bottom surfaces of the fibrous web so as to sear the surfaces of the thermoplastic fibers, and pressure to ensure that the seared fibers make contact with each other to secure themselves together. As the seared fibers make contact with each other, film-like surfaces are formed with pores being created in the surfaces. The pores are created because a majority of spaces remain between the surface fibers.

Abstract: A battery separator fabric comprising a nonwoven fibrous web of thermoplastic fibers having top and bottom surface fibers and inner fibers. The surfaces of the top and bottom surface fibers of the fibrous web are seared and fused together to form film-like surfaces having pores, while the surface fibers and inner fibers of the web remain substantially unaffected. Searing and fusing of the surface fibers are accomplished by simultaneously applying heat to the top and bottom surfaces of the fibrous web so as to sear the surfaces of the thermoplastic fibers, and pressure to insure that the seared fibers make contact with each other to secure themselves together. As the seared fibers make contact with each other, film-like surfaces are formed with pores being created in the surfaces. The pores are created because a majority of spaces remain between the surface fibers.

Abstract: Novel phosphorus compounds of the general formula ##STR1## contain up to 22% or more of phosphorus and impart an effective level of flame retardancy to a variety of natural and synthetic materials.

Abstract: Additives can be permanently incorporated into melt spun fibers by cold drawing the fibers under conditions that generate a network of interconnecting microvoids within the fiber. The microvoids are formed in the presence of specified liquid or vapor media which fill the microvoid network. The temperature of the medium is below the effective glass transition temperature of the fibers containing said medium. The additive is either present in said medium or is applied to drawn fibers containing said medium.

Abstract: An improved method is provided to reproducibly obtain stannic oxide of a type suitable for polishing plastic lenses. The optical density, bulk density and color of the oxide are within specified limits.

Abstract: Additives can be permanently incorporated into melt spun fibers by cold drawing the fibers under conditions that generate a network of interconnecting microvoids within the fiber. The microvoids are formed concurrently with the drawing of the fiber in a non-solvent liquid or vapor media, which media fills the microvoid network. The temperature of the medium is below the effective glass transition temperature of the fibers containing said medium. The additive is either present in said medium or is applied to drawn fibers containing said medium.