Abstract: The invention relates to a foil which includes polymeric fibres, the polymeric fibres of which are interwelded, more particularly heat welded, solvent welded, cold welded, ultrasonically welded and/or at least partly interfused or positively or nonpositively interconnected at the crossing points between the pores at least, a process for production thereof, and also use thereof.

Abstract: Adhesive compositions having a reduced cure time and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the adhesive composition can include a mixture of one or more phenolic-aldehyde resins and one or more cure accelerants. The one or more cure accelerants can be selected from the group consisting of: ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, one or more primary amines, one or more secondary amines, one or more tertiary amines, one or more alkanolamines, one or more aromatic amines, one or more polyamines, one or more amides, one or more polyamides, one or more compounds containing at least one amine functional group and at least one sulfur functional group, and any mixture thereof. In one or more embodiments, the adhesive composition can also include one or more hardeners.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hard wood strand product, comprising the steps of harvesting logs of eucalypts from plantation trees having an age between 8 years and 12 years, forming strands from the logs, adding a binder including a polymeric methane di-isocyanate resin and a wax to the strands, forming a mat with the strands, and pressing and heating the mat using a press to form the strand product.

Abstract: Non-woven electret fibrous webs including electret fibers, multicomponent fibers, and sorbent particles, and pleated filters made therefrom.

Abstract: A method with which a textile sheet having good mechanical properties in respect to relatively high values regarding tear propagation resistance can be produced. The textile sheets are used in areas that require relatively high tear propagation resistance. The textile sheets also have relatively high peak tensile values and/or elongation at break values. The method for the production of a tear propagation-resistant textile sheet comprises providing a starting textile sheet made of yarns, fibers or filaments formed of at least two elementary filaments and having an arrangement in cross-section like orange segments or pie slices with the segments or slices made of different polymers, and exposing the starting textile sheet to a compressing heat treatment, wherein the polymer segments are permeated and a substantially non-adhesive bond is achieved between the polymer segments. The textile sheet may comprise nonwoven materials having a specific tear propagation resistance of equal to or greater than 0.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for fabricating a core of a vacuum insulation panel, a core of a vacuum insulation panel, and a vacuum insulation panel having the core. The core is positioned at an inner side of an envelope of a vacuum insulation member, which is formed by bonding synthetic resin material fibers through thermal bonding.

Abstract: This invention relates to mineral wool fiber batting that is stabilized or bonded by a binder including polymers containing carboxyl groups and selected cross-linking agents. Said mats can be used as insulating material and are characterized by low formaldehyde emissions or the absence thereof.

Abstract: Described is a filter bag for a vacuum cleaner which may include a tubular bag with a closed free end area and an opposed, at least partially closed area as well as with a retaining plate. The bag is made from a bag material having at least one non-woven layer, and the at least partially closed area is folded forming a bottomPlies of the bag material which lie the one above the other are formed in areas, and is at least partially closed by a weld seam extending centrally in the bottom, the plies of the bag material which lie the one above the other being at least partially connected to one another.

Abstract: Discarded or recycled carpets or other textiles can be converted into wood-like materials, in sheets comparable to plywood. The carpets or textiles are shredded, combed, and layered across a conveyor to form a low-density mat, which is compressed and needle-punched to create a cohesive but flexible mat. An adhesive is applied to at least one and preferably two or more mats, by an applicator that spreads a liquid prepolymer onto one or more surfaces of the mat(s). The mat(s) travel through a press while the adhesive cures and hardens, and the use of foaming adhesives can ensure uniform permeation through dense fiber mats. The hardened sheets can be sawed, nailed, and otherwise handled like wood, and are strong, durable, and highly resistant to damage by water or insects.

Abstract: Rigid, non-woven fibre panels that are used as privacy screens, partitioning, room dividers or as workstation surrounds, for example, are described. The panels are strong and may be self supporting, have good acoustic properties, and preferably have a substantially smooth surface. They are made from a single, substantially homogeneous, layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres, of which a substantial proportion may be of recycled PET. The panels are generally produced by mixing PET fibres into a web, which is then carded, cross-lapped, needle punched, calendered and thermally bonded, preferably using a heated roller.

Abstract: A tufted nonwoven with improved stitch holding, a bonded nonwoven and methods for their manufacture are described.

Abstract: A process for binding particulate water-absorbing acid-functional polymers to a carrier material by means of compounds comprising amino groups, which comprises contacting the carrier material with particulate water-absorbing acid-functional polymers whose acid groups have been 0 to not more than 55 mol % neutralized with alkali metal and/or ammonium bases and then raising the degree of neutralization of these polymers to not less than 60 mol % by treatment with amino-containing compounds. The use of compounds comprising amino groups and selected from the group of the compounds consisting of the alkanolamines and compounds which contain ethyleneimine and/or vinylamine units to neutralize and bind particulate water-absorbing acid-functional polymers neutralized 0 to not more than 55 mol % with alkali metal and/or ammonium bases to a carrier material.

Abstract: The nonwoven fabric production process of the invention comprises a laminating step in which composite yarn, obtained by bundling a plurality of resin single filaments each having a core-sheath structure with a filamentous core resin surrounded by a sheath resin with a melting point of at least 20° C. lower than the core resin and fusing the sheath resin together, is laminated in at least the three directions of warp direction, slant direction and reverse slant direction, and a bonding step of heating the laminated filament bundles at a temperature lower than the melting point of the core resin and higher than the melting point of the sheath resin for bonding. According to the invention, it is possible to provide a nonwoven fabric production process and nonwoven fabrics with excellent plasticity and shape following property, as well as adjustable strength for adaptation to different purposes and required properties.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for producing a unitized composite material has been discovered. An assembly of loose fibers or fiber and fabric combinations is formed where at least one of the layered elements contains a bondable material such as a thermally sensitive bonding fiber. The un-bonded layered assembly is shaped into a wavy form having a repeating wave-like pattern of the desired amplitude and wavelength. The amplitude and wavelength of the repeating waves can be altered such as by changing the relative speeds of a transfer device and an oven wire and the height of the transfer device relative to the height of the oven wire using simple machinery control settings. The shaped assembly is subsequently bonded in an oven or other activation step preserving the wave-like shaping when cooled or removed from the activation effect.

Abstract: A method of forming a multilayer insulation material formed of an acoustical composite layer and a first thermal layer is provided. The acoustical and insulting layer is formed of a polymer based thermoplastic material and reinforcing fibers. Preferably the reinforcing fibers are wet use chopped strand glass fibers (WUCS). The acoustical composite layer may be formed by opening the WUCS fibers, blending the reinforcement and polymer fibers, forming the reinforcement and polymer fibers into a sheet, and then bonding the sheet. A first thermal layer formed of one or more polymer based thermoplastic organic materials is then positioned on a first major surface of the acoustical composite layer. A second thermal layer of polymeric fibers may be optionally positioned on a second major surface of the acoustical composite layer. The multilayer acoustic material may be utilized in semi-structural and acoustical applications.

Abstract: The polypropylene-based thermoplastic fibers are uniform in cross-section, not having any degraded surface skin, and they are heat-weldable at a pressure at a temperature which is lower than the melting temperature, by virtue of internal heating due to the effect of said pressure. They are made of a first constituent with high crystallinity and at least one second constituent, compatible with the first constituent, and of crystallinity that is lower than that of the first constituent. They have a quantity of primary oxidation inhibitor lying in the range 350 ppm to 1000 ppm. Such fibers are made by spinning under conditions that avoid molecular degradation by thermal oxidation at the periphery of the fibers, in particular with cooling that is rapid immediately on leaving the extrusion head. The non-woven fabric obtained by heat-bonding such fibers is characterized by weld points that are in the form of a polymer laminate that is uniform and transparent.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using discarded carpet segments or other recycled textiles to make wood-like material in sheets that are comparable to plywood. The carpet segments or other recycled materials are shredded, then layered across a slow-moving conveyor to form a thick, low-density belt of fibers. This belt is compressed between rollers, and then needle-punched, using needles with surface barbs that pull fibers downward and upward. This needle-punching causes fibers inside the mat to be pulled into vertical alignment (i.e., perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces of a horizontal mat), to form a needle-punched mat that will hold together without chemical adhesives. A binder material is then applied to at least one and possibly both surfaces of the mat, by means such as spreading or spraying a liquid binder on either or both surfaces of the mat, or stretching a continuous film of the binder material across either or both surfaces of the mat.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns nonwoven fabrics containing filaments of at least two different cross sections. The subject invention further pertains to methods used to produce these fabrics. In an embodiment specifically exemplified herein, the nonwoven fabric of the subject invention is made of nylon.

Abstract: An absorbent wiping cloth can be made by hydraulic bonding of hydrophilic fibers with a prebonded spunbond filament layer. A further spunbond filament layer can be provided on the fiber side of this laminate.

Abstract: A substantially formaldehyde-free duct liner is manufactured from at least one fiber component that may be mineral or organic fibers blended with at least one non-liquid substantially formaldehyde-free binder. The fiber component may comprise virgin textile glass fibers, virgin rotary glass fibers, organic fibers, or natural fibers. The non-liquid substantially formaldehyde-free binder may be plastic-containing bonding fibers, a powder binder, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A blinds slat has a major portion being strips of bamboo and a minor portion being one or more pairs of wooden strips that are located at or near opposite side extremities of the slat. The resulting composite bamboo and wooden slat as exemplary resistance to warping and other deleterious effects of exposure to sun and moisture. Also disclosed is a method for producing the slats that is particularly advantageous in avoiding environmental harm, in that only small amounts of wood are used.

Abstract: A method of forming a lap mat for use in a subsequent molding operation to form a headliner includes forming a first continuous particulate layer having a non-uniform composition; folding the first continuous particulate layer to form a plurality of first layers; and binding the first layers together wherein the first layers cooperate to define a first region having a first material composition, and a second region having a second material composition different than the first material composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a film-fabric composite (includinng a film-fabric laminate) wherein the fabric is characterized as having improved tensile elongation (without rupture). In particular, the invention pertains to a method of making a film-fabric laminate having structual elastic-like behavior wherein the fabric is a nonwoven thermally bonded fabric characterized as having improved high strain rate tensile elongation and comprises a plurality of fibers comprised of at least one polypropylene polymer and at least one ethylene polymer, wherein the method comprises stretching the laminate at a high strain rate. The improved farbic is characterized by higher high strain rate tensile properties and a broader bond window which is also shifted to substantially lower temperatures with regard to maximum tensile properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a laminated sheet comprising an alumina fiber precursor, which process comprises spinning out an alumina fiber precursor from a solution mainly comprising an aluminum compound, falling and stacking said alumina fiber precursor on the surface of an accumulator to form a thin lamina sheet of alumina fiber precursor, continuously pulling out said lamina sheet from the accumulator, transferring the resultant lamina sheet to a folding device, and folding the sheet by a predetermined width while stacking the folded sheet and continuously moving the stacking sheet in the direction orthogonal to the folding direction.

Abstract: A filter media having a synthetic microfiber polymer fine fiber web wherein the diameter of the fibers is between about 0.8 to about 1.5 microns. The filter media is acceptable for use in ASHRAE applications. Constructions with a low DP backing, support or prefilter layers of coarse fiber provide large area filter webs of high efficiency and a stale and high threshold value of alpha above eleven.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to reducing the build up or accretion of adhesive, alone or in combination with other materials, on the surfaces of equipment used to ultrasonically treat a workpiece (e.g., ultrasonically bonding various components or pieces to one another.) Thus the invention encompasses composites, absorbent products, and methods of making said composites and products where an adhesive composition having certain identified properties is used to reduce the build up or accretion of the adhesive on ultrasonic bonding equipment. In one embodiment of the invention, a composite includes an adhesive having a capillary-viscosity value of about 7 Pas.sec or greater and a Shore-OO-Hardness value of about 65 or greater, whereby the relative accretion value is less than about 1, and more particularly less than about 0.5.

Abstract: A method for not only preserving cellulose material from deterioration and from fire, but also for producing plywood, chip and particle aborad with an inexpensive and environmentally acceptable adhesive is described. The cellulose material is processed by spraying, immersing or being subjected to vacuum and pressure application in two steps. One step processes the cellulose material with a sodium silicate preservative solution. Another step processes the cellulose material with a gaseous carbon dioxide. Pressure application, moreover, can be varied in a range not to exceed 250 psi to improve product quality. Moistened cellulose material, treated in the foregoing manner, is coated with a comminuted protein, e.g. soybean meal, and pressed into a cellulose product, typically plywood and chip board.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a disposable worn article (P), comprises: a folding section (40) comprising a contact member (1) that contacts a web (W) for folding the web (W) in two so that opposite side edges (W1, W2) of the web (W) are in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to each other; a correcting section (1, 2) for correcting the positional relationship between the web (W) being carried to the folding section (40) and the contact member (1); a detecting section (41, 42) for detecting a reference portion of the web (W) to be used as a reference in the folding operation so as to output positional information regarding a position of the detected reference portion; and a controller (3) for controlling the correction of the positional relationship by the correcting section (1, 2) based on the positional information.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blank intended to constitute a shaped element in an absorbent product, such as a sanitary towel, an incontinence pad or a panty liner, which blank is made from a rigid material and initially has a plane and essentially elongate shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, two short sides and two long sides, two end portions and a central portion, one end portion being wider than the central portion and having a width which increases towards the short side of the blank and the other end portion having a cutout. The invention also relates to a shaped element produced from the blank, an absorbent product comprising such a shaped element, and also methods of producing a shaped element and an absorbent product comprising the shaped element.

Abstract: A durable, low-density, high performance insulating material is suitable for use as a high temperature thermal and acoustic insulation. The insulation includes fiber batting made with non-thermoplastic fibers or blends of fibers such as aramid fibers and ceramic fibers, which are bound within at least some interstices by high temperature non-flammable thermoplastic binder such as polyphenylene sulfide. In addition, a fireblocking layer can be provided on at least one surface of the insulation to further improve fire ablation or flame retardance.

Abstract: A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: A method of forming a headliner includes providing a lap mat including a first region having a first material composition, and a second region having a second material composition different than the first composition, wherein the second region is configured as at least one of an energy management region and a support region; positioning the mat between two mold sections of a mold; and moving at least one of the mold sections toward the other mold section to shape the mat into a desired shape. A method for forming the mat is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite nonwoven fabric is provided for use as a one-piece topsheet and barrier fabric for disposable absorbent articles including diapers, catamenial products, and adult incontinence products. The fabric is engineered to have a strikethrough region that is normally surfactant treated for receiving insults and transporting them to an absorbent core material for storage. The strikethrough region is bounded by liquid barrier regions that are suitable for defining containment structures, including diaper leg cuff. The barrier and strikethrough regions can be designed to have excellent low rewet characteristics and to have balanced properties comparable to or better than conventional spunbonded topsheet at comparable or lower basis weights.

Abstract: A batt of acoustical/thermal insulation for use in insulating appliances, compressors, machines and the like is disclosed. The batt comprises a fiberglass blanket and a release liner assembly. The liner assembly features a carrier sheet for supporting layers or coatings of adhesive on opposite broad surfaces thereof. One adhesive coated surface of the carrier sheet is releasably adhesively attached to a conventional release liner which is coated with an adhesive release agent. The other adhesively coated surface is joined to exposed fibers of a surface portion of the fiberglass blanket while the adhesive coating is in a heated, uncured, liquid state so as to immerse surface fibbers of the blanket in the adhesive. The carrier sheet adds stability to the resulting laminate structure and prevents surface fibers from being torn from the blanket when the release liner is removed from the carrier at the time of placement of the batt in service. A method for forming the batt is also disclosed.