Abstract: An electrostatic filter includes a fibrous component including a mixture of wool and synthetic fibers and a resinous component including a perfluoroalkyl acrylate copolymer resin and a p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin, which resinous component is adhering to the fibrous component, both of the fibrous substrate component and the resinous component being in electrostatically charged conditions.

Abstract: An electret filter media includes an additive or mixtures thereof that enhance the charge stability of the media. The filter media achieves acceptable alpha values for a range of filtration challenges without significant decay in alpha values over time. Preferred charge additives include fatty acid amides, oleophobic fluorochemical surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A solvent mixture of a petroleum distillate and toluene is disclosed. The solvent is used to dissolve a hydrocarbon resin and block copolymers of styrene and isoprene or styrene and butadiene and the solution is applied to newly constructed basement walls to provide a water-resistant elastomeric coating on the walls.

Abstract: A film electret and an electret filter that contain a polar high-molecular weight compound and that provides a TSDC curve having a homocharge peak temperature of at least 95.degree. C. and a heterocharge peak temperature of at least 80.degree. C.

Abstract: A rotary splitting tool for splitting a web of plastic material to fabricate a fibrillated web, comprising a rotatable body having a plurality of transverse ridges provided on the periphery in a circumferentially equidistant relationship and extending generally parallel to the central rotation axis, and rows of cutting edges provided on the transverse ridges, respectively. Convex walls are provided on the periphery of the body between the adjacent transverse ridges. The convex wall means receives a web to be split so that oscillation of the web during repeated operations of the cutting edges can be minimized to reduce noise and prevent irregular slits.

Abstract: A porous hollow fiber of polysulfone suitable for use in filtration such as microfiltration and having a prolonged life, the hollow fiber having an inner surface of a network structure such that approximately circular openings having a minor axial length of 0.1 to 10 .mu.m are present in proximity to each other at intervals of not more than the average minor axial length of the openings, thus providing a surface fraction of openings of 50 to 90%, and/or an outer surface of a structure such that the outer surface region has undergone fibrillation to a high degree to form fibrils oriented in the fiber axial direction at intervals of 0.2 to 3 .mu.m, thus providing a surface fraction of openings of at least 50%. The hollow fiber is prepared by a process characterized in that a polymer substance having an extremely high molecular weight such as polyethylene glycol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone is added to the spinning solution of polysulfone, thereby improving the spinnability.

Abstract: A method for fibrillating carbonaceous fibers, which comprises contacting a tow of carbonaceous fibers to rotating surfaces of rollers for fibrillation, wherein at least two rollers are disposed so that the center axes of the rollers intersect the direction of advance of the tow of carbonaceous fibers and the rotating surfaces of the rollers are substantially alternately inclined in opposite directions, thereby to exert a shearing force to the tow in a direction transverse to the direction of advance of the tow.

Abstract: Novel porous fibers and filaments are prepared from normally solid, thermoplastic, orientable, organic polymers which have reactive or reactable groups pendent from the polymer chain, employing a process which involves reactions of said pendent groups while the polymer is in an oriented condition. One of the preferred polymers is a copolymer of ethylene/acrylic acid.

Abstract: Fibrillated films or flat netlike structures made of synthetic polymers and having a specific surface area of more than 12 m.sup.2 /g. the thickness thereof in microns are disclosed, as is use of said films or flat netlike structures as reinforcement for hydrosetting binders such as cement. A method of preparing the fibrillated films or flat netlike structures is also disclosed.

Abstract: Process for producing flexible PVC irrigation pipe by extruding a plasticized PVC composition containing a melt strength-enhancing aid and a chemical blowing agent and (a) the extruded melt being expanded by foaming thereof immediately on leaving the die into a substantially closed-cell extrudate of outer diameter greater than the die orifice with the extrudate surfaces being substantially unpunctured, (b) drawing down the extrudate in the atmosphere causing rupturing of the foam cell walls of the extrudate to form a substantially open-cell extrudate having punctured surfaces, and (c) when the extrudate has been drawn down to a degree which is prior to any cellular collapse which would lead to the formation of water-impervious pipe, cooling the extrudate by passing it through a cooling means in order to prevent said collapse. Preferably the extrudate passes through a tubular guide into a water bath in step (c).

Abstract: A fibrillated strand is made by a method wherein first a mass of a powder of a high polymer is compressed into a substrate having a density smaller than that of the high polymer and having a multiplicity of gas-filled voids. Then an intense heat beam is played on the substrate to melt the high-polymer powder and simultaneously heat the gas of the voids to explosively enlarge same while the beam and substrate are relatively displaced so that the substrate is melted along a path. The substrate is cooled at least at the path after irradiation by the beam to form a porous strand extending along the path in the substrate. This strand is separated from the substrate and is then at least uniaxially stretched. The beam is a CO.sub.2 TEM.sub.oo -mode laser beam and the method further comprises the step of focussing the laser beam on the substrate. The fused strand of the substrate is cooled so rapidly that it is normally not melted all the way through from top to bottom and from side to side.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and apparatus for manufacturing flat plastic net. Tubular plastic net is made by extruding plastic material through coaxial circular counter-rotating die members to form a net structure having a plurality of crossing strands. The angular displacement of successive longitudinally-aligned junctions of the crossing strands is controlled, preferably by controlling the relative counter-rotation of the extrusion die members, and successive longitudinally aligned junctions are cut longitudinally within each junction. The tubular net so cut is opened out to form flat net.The flat net so produced, the edges of which are characterized by successive longitudinal edge junctions, in which each edge junction is cut longitudinally within the junction, is particularly useful for fencing material, for example.

Abstract: A breathable fabric which comprises a structure woven from thermoplastic polymeric tapes, wherein the woven structure is coated with a foamed permeable coating. The tapes are preferably made from polyethylene having a density between 0.940 and 0.970 g/cm.sup.3. The coating is preferably a lace coating made from polyethylene having a density between 0.910 and 0.940 g/cm.sup.3. The fabric is useful for making breathable sacks.

Abstract: A fibrous assembly of many fibers, the individual constituent fibers being interconnected at random in a spaced-apart relationship so that when spread in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the fibers, said assembly can form a continuous integral reticulated structure; said individual fibers having asymmetrical irregularly-shaped cross sections of substantially different profiles and sizes from one another when said assembly is cut at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the fibers at an arbitrary point therealong; at least 40% of the entire cross-sectional area of each fiber consisting of at least two different polymer phases which are coalesced side-by-side as at least two irregular blocks; and each of the individual fibers of said assembly having a non-uniform cross-sectional shape along its longitudinal axis; fibrous structures prepared from a plurality of such fibrous assemblies; and a process for producing such fibrous assembly.

Abstract: A stiff, tear resistant woven polyethylene fabric is disclosed, which comprises a woven structure of monoaxially oriented polyethylene tapes laminated to an oriented polyethylene film with an adhesive synthetic thermoplastic polymer therebetween. The adhesive has a lace structure with a sufficient number of holes and of an average size to provide the fabric having a tear strength in at least one of the transverse and machine directions substantially greater than the tear strength of a similar fabric produced with a continuous homogeneous film of adhesive of the same synthetic thermoplastic polymer and of the same thickness as the adhesive portions of the lace adhesive. The ratio of the area of the holes in the lace structure to the total area of the lace structure is between about 0.4 and 0.85. The fabric is useful for sacks which are filled in automatic packaging operations.

Abstract: A non-woven fabric comprising an assembly of fibers of discrete length which are interconnected and, at least a portion of which are in contact with each other, said fibers comprising crystalline syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene (1,2 SBD).

Abstract: A non-woven rug, or the like, is formed by heat sealing a covering material at spaced intervals to a plastic backing and thereafter shrinking the backing to bulk the facing fabric. The heat sealing of the facing fabric to the backing causes a partial loss of orientation in the seal area therein bringing about a bulking or crinkling of the backing. The backing is preferably of a thermoplastic material having a foaming agent incorporated therein which is foamed after the completion of the heat sealing and heat shrinking procedures. Also included in the disclosure are the features of the backing fabric independently, i.e., incorporation of a foaming agent into a plastic which is extruded and thereafter heat sealed and/or stretch oriented and shrunk prior to the activation of the foaming agent to foam the fabric.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing thermoplastic sheets or webs suitable for use as surfacing materials.Sheets of thermoplastic polymers are known as surfacing materials and, when foamed, as substitutes for wood, but available materials do not closely resemble natural wood in appearance. The present invention provides a process whereby sheets or webs are obtained which can provide a wide variety of decorative finishes and which can approximate the appearance of such natural products as wood and marble.The process of the invention comprises the extrusion of a foamable mixture of immiscible thermoplastic polymers, one of which is crystalline and of higher melting point than another, stretching the resulting foamed extrudate, compressing the stretched extrudate and then cooling the stretched and compressed extrudate. The resulting product is substantially impermeable and has integral patterning and can be used as a surfacing material in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Self-bonded, balanced nonwoven fibrous fabrics having fibers uniaxially oriented and junction points of biaxially oriented film tissue and fibers in the plane of the fabric, the fibers being primarily oriented in the machine direction with the biaxially oriented film tissue being oriented in the cross direction. The nonwoven fabrics are produced by extruding a molten polymer radially from a circular die, quenching and then drawing the extrudate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stereo reticulated lace-like structure formed from a mixture of polymeric materials, which structure is formed by extruding a film of the polymeric mixture and simultaneously imparting a cellular or reticulate structure to said film by means of a blowing agent. The resultant stereo reticulated structure has the appearance of overlapping layers of fibers or fibrils with small interstices therebetween even though the structure is formed from a continuous film.

Abstract: The red color of fresh red meats is preserved by adding thereto a color preservative selected from the group consisting of sodium cyanate, acetylurea, sodium-5-acetylhydantoate, urethylane sodium carboxylate and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, these color preservatives are incorporated in a resinous polymeric film which is fibrillated to provide an open-celled, microporous structure having a large internal surface area. Such films can be used as an interleaf between layers of slices of freshly cut red meat and are effective for preserving the fresh color for several hours.

Abstract: Synthetic paper pulp is prepared by extruding a foam sheet of a synthetic thermoplastic fiber forming resin, which resin contains from 0.1 to 5.0 wt. % and preferably from 1 to 2 wt. % of a soap such as aluminum stearate, attenuating the foam sheet as it is extruded and applying either heat or a shearing action to the attenuated sheet to cause it to break down into short fibers containing numerous fibrils. This pulp is then either used directly or blended with natural pulp, wet laid to form a coarse paper and then formed into a final paper product by application of heat and pressure. The soap serves to improve the wettability of the resulting fibers.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are produced from oriented foam fibrillated webs contaning 50 to 98 wt. % polypropylene and 2 to 50 wt. % polystyrene. The webs are assembled in a plurality of layers and then bonded by heat and pressure either with or without the presence of an adhesive. In a preferred aspect films especially of polyethylene or ethylenevinyl acetate copolymers are used as the bonding agent.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are produced from polyolefin foam fibrillated webs. The webs are treated with an aqueous solution of a small amount of chromic acid in strong sulfuric acid to improve the adhesion thereof when they are laminated under heat and pressure to form a non-woven fabric.

Abstract: An oil or organic solvent-absorbent is prepared by extruding a molten thermoplastic resinous polymer blend of polystyrene and polyethylene containing a foaming agent through a die having a slit aperture of 0.1 - 1.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are produced from oriented foam fibrillated webs containing 75 to 98 wt. % polypropylene and 2 to 25 wt. % polyethylene. The webs are assembled in a plurality of layers and then bonded by heat and pressure either with or without the presence of an adhesive.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are produced from polyolefin foam fibrillated webs. The webs are treated with corona discharge to improve the adhesion thereof when they are laminated under heat and pressure to form a non-woven fabric.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are produced from oriented foam fibrillated webs containing 75 to 98 wt. % polypropylene and 2 to 25 wt. % of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing from 2 to 40 wt. % vinyl acetate and 60 to 98 wt. % ethylene. The webs are assembled in a plurality of layers and then bonded by heat and pressure either with or without the presence of an adhesive. In a preferred aspect films especially of polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers are used as the bonding agent.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of unopened sheet-formed and reticulated fibrous structures, which comprises:A. extruding a molten thermoplastic resin containing a foaming substance through a die with a slit clearance of 0.1 - 1.0mm;B. quenching the extrudate at a point less than 5mm away from the die surface to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the resin; andC. simultaneously drafting the extrudate at a draft ratio between the maximum draft ratio possible under the conditions and one-third thereof, thereby fibrillating the extrudate just as it leaves the die exit.

Abstract: High polyacrylonitrile polymers containing at least 85 percent acrylonitrile can be melt extruded into useful shaped articles when plasticized with a plasticizing system comprising a low boiling acetonitrile fraction and a high boiling fraction capable of plasticizing the polyacrylonitrile at extrusion temperatures.