Abstract: A process of making a paper or nonwoven article is provide. The process comprising: a) providing a fiber furnish comprising a plurality of fibers and a plurality of binder microfibers, wherein the binder microfibers comprise a water non-dispersible, synthetic polymer; wherein the binder microfibers have a length of less than 25 millimeters and a fineness of less than 0.5 d/f; and wherein the binder microfibers have a melting temperature that is less than the melting temperature of the fibers; b) routing the fiber furnish to a wet-laid nonwoven process to produce at least one wet-laid nonwoven web layer; c) removing water from the wet-laid nonwoven web layer; and d) thermally bonding the wet-laid nonwoven web layer after step (c); wherein the thermal bonding is conducted at a temperature such that the surfaces of the binder microfibers at least partially melt without causing the fibers to melt thereby bonding the binder microfibers to the fibers to produce the paper or nonwoven article.

Abstract: A paper or nonwoven article is provided comprising a nonwoven web layer, wherein the nonwoven web layer comprises a plurality of fibers and a plurality of binder microfibers, wherein the binder microfibers comprise a water non-dispersible, synthetic polymer; wherein the binder microfibers have a length of less than 25 millimeters and a fineness of less than 0.5 d/f; and wherein the binder microfibers have a melting temperature that is less than the melting temperature of the fibers.

Abstract: Methods for preparing composite non-woven fibers-in-fibers, otherwise referred to as composite polymeric fibers having an island-in-sea morphology, are described. The composite polymeric fibers may be prepared by a method that includes melt-blowing a blend of a first polymer and an immiscible second polymer to form the composite polymer fibers. The first polymer forms a matrix that surrounds the second polymer. Typically, the second polymer forms nanofibers within the matrix of the first polymer. The composite polymeric fiber may be treated with a solvent that selectively dissolves the matrix of the composite polymeric fiber and that does not dissolve the nanofibers of the composite polymeric fiber, and the nanofibers then may be collected for further treatment or use.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical-modulation object, including birefringent island-in-the-sea yarns, whose island portions are grouped, based on two or more spinning cores, in a matrix. The optical-modulation object causes formation of an optical modulation interface between island portions and sea portions, thus maximizing optical modulation efficiency, as compared to conventional birefringent island-in-the-sea yarns.

Abstract: A method of making a biocompatible, implantable medical device, including a vascular closure device is disclosed. The method includes forming a biocompatible polymer into at least one fiber and randomly orienting the at least one fiber into a fibrous structure having at least one interstitial spaces. Polymeric materials may be utilized to fabricate any of these devices. The polymeric materials may include additives such as drugs or other bioactive agents as well as antibacterial agents. In such instances, at least one agent, in therapeutic dosage, is incorporated into at least one of the fibrous structure and the at least one fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed are water-dispersible fibers derived from sulfopolyesters having a Tg of at least 25° C. The fibers may contain a single sulfopolyester or a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water-dispersible or water-nondispersible polymer. Also disclosed are multicomponent fibers comprising a water dispersible sulfopolyester having a Tg of at least 57° C. and a water non-dispersible polymer. The multicomponent fibers may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the water-dispersible fibers, multicomponent fibers, and microdenier fibers. The fibrous articles include water-dispersible and microdenier nonwoven webs, fabrics, and multilayered articles such as wipes, gauze, tissue, diapers, panty liners, sanitary napkins, bandages, and surgical dressings. Also disclosed is a process for water-dispersible fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.

Abstract: Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240° C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.

Abstract: Blending of thermoplastic polyester with fiber-forming polyamide in the production of melt-colored melt-spun fibers results in improved color strength and aesthetics, and dimensional stability.

Abstract: A polymer alloy fiber that has an islands-in-sea structure of two or more kinds of organic polymers of different levels of solubility, wherein the island component is made of a low solubility polymer and the sea component is made of a high solubility polymer, while the diameter of the island domains by number average is in a range from 1 to 150 nm, 60% or more of the island domains in area ratio have sizes in a range from 1 to 150 nm in diameter, and the island components are dispersed in a linear configuration. A method for manufacturing the polymer alloy fiber includes melt spinning of a polymer alloy that is made by melt blending of a low solubility polymer and a high solubility polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are water-dispersible fibers derived from sulfopolyesters having a Tg of at least 25° C. The fibers may contain a single sulfopolyester or a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water-dispersible or water-nondispersible polymer. Also disclosed are multicomponent fibers comprising a water dispersible sulfopolyester having a Tg of at least 57° C. and a water non-dispersible polymer. The multicomponent fibers may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the water-dispersible fibers, multicomponent fibers, and microdenier fibers. The fibrous articles include water-dispersible and microdenier nonwoven webs, fabrics, and multilayered articles such as wipes, gauze, tissue, diapers, panty liners, sanitary napkins, bandages, and surgical dressings. Also disclosed is a process for water-dispersible fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.

Abstract: Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240° C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a luminance-enhanced film. The luminance-enhanced film includes an intermediate layer comprising a birefringent island-in-the-sea yarn and a sheet laminated on both sides of the intermediate layer, wherein the interface between the intermediate layer and the sheet has an air-gap area ratio of 5% or less, and is characterized in that it is substantially free of curling and does not contain bubbles, thus exhibiting considerably superior optical efficiency and adhesion force. A liquid crystal display utilizing the luminance-enhanced film also advantageously exhibits considerably improved luminance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical-modulation object, including birefringent island-in-the-sea yarns, whose island portions are grouped, based on two or more spinning cores, in a matrix. The optical-modulation object causes formation of an optical modulation interface between island portions and sea portions, thus maximizing optical modulation efficiency, as compared to conventional birefringent island-in-the-sea yarns.

Abstract: The object of the present utility model is to cope with the problems of large volume of the presently known cellpacking type of reactor and the poor effect of heat transfer, and to provide a shell-type reactor with radial baffle, which transfers heat well and reduce the volume of the reactor, comprising a shell (1) and an internal cold plate assembly (2), the internal cold plate assembly (2) fixed within the shell (1); wherein a gas radial distribution vessel (9) and a radial gas cylinder (10) fixed within the shell (1); the radial distribution vessel (9) and the radial gas cylinder (10) could counterchange according to the difference of the gas flow direction; several circles of radial baffling assemblies (12) are provided between the radial distribution vessel (9) and the radial gas cylinder (10), the radial baffling assemblies (12) consisting of several baffling components fixed in an interval mode, an axial baffling through groove or hole is provided between the adjacent baffling components.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided that contain at least one multi-component polymeric fiber. The multi-component polymeric fiber further contains at least two components of differing composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to multi-component fibers made of at least 40 weight percent, and preferably over 50 weight percent of one or more high chain length polyamides. The fibers have both a high tear strength and good tensile strength. The fibers can be used to produce woven and non-woven articles having excellent toughness.

Abstract: A woven or knitted fabric, formed from two types of yarns different in self-elongating property upon absorbing water and capable of facilitating the air-permeability when wetted with water, is constituted so that a ratio A/B of a mean length A of high water-absorbing, self-elongating yarns (1) to a mean length B of lower water-absorbing, self-elongating yarns (2) arranged in the same direction as that of the yarn (1) property is adjusted to 0.9 or less, the wetted fabric exhibits a change in roughness of 5% or more.

Abstract: A leather-like sheet excellent in stretchability which is obtained by integrating by entanglement of a woven or knitted fabric and an ultrafine fiber of 0.0001 to 0.5 dtex, wherein at least one face of the leather-like sheet is substantially composed of said ultrafine fibers, and said woven or knitted fabric consists of a conjugate fiber in which two or more kinds of polyester-based polymers, at least one of which consists essentially of polytrimethylene terephthalate, are stuck along the fiber length direction side-by-side, or a conjugate fiber in which two or more kinds of polyester-based polymers, at least one of which consists essentially of polytrimethylene terephthalate, forms an eccentric sheath-core type conjugate structure, and the fiber constituting the woven or knitted fabric has a twist coefficient of 20000 or below.

Abstract: A woven fabric made by using fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin strands produced by stretching a bundle of sheath-core type conjugated filaments at a temperature of the melting point of the sheath component or above but below the melting point of the core component while fusing the sheath component, wherein the sheath-core type conjugated fiber is a nontwist straight one whose sheath component has a melting point lower than that of the core component by 20° C. or above; and articles made by using the fabric.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a composite fabric material is disclosed, which includes: holding a bundle of fibers under tension, the fiber being continuous filaments of carbon fibers, aramid fibers, or glass fibers, etc.; placing a layer of a matrix material over and under the fiber bundle, the matrix material being a thermoplastic adhesive material such as polyamide resins, thermoplastic polyurethane, or polyester, etc.; heating the matrix material to melt it and applying a pressure on the layers while the fiber bundle is under tension; and cooling the layers, whereby the fibers are locked in place by the adhesive. Composite material layers produced by the above steps may be laminated and further processed or formed as desired. The composite fabric materials manufactured by this method have superior tensile properties, compression properties, impact properties, and impact dispersion and propagation properties compared to composite fabric materials made with conventional methods.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tape for polishing the surface of a substrate of a magnetic recording medium, and a thin-fineness filament obtained by dissolving a dissolving component of a dissolution-decomposition type composite yarn consisting of a nylon component and the dissolving component is used as piles of a flocked cloth, warps of a fabric, and webs of a nonwoven fabric. The polishing tape of the present invention can noticeably improve the surface roughness of the polished substrate.

Abstract: A fabric having worsted yarn fabric-like hand and appearance and a satisfactory stretchability, is obtained by melt-spinning two types of polyesters, different in intrinsic viscosity from each other, to produce a conjugate multifilament yarn; winding-up the yarn at a speed of 1,000 to 4,500 m/min; unwinding the wound yarn; unevenly drawing the yarn at a draw ratio lower than a natural draw ratio thereof to produce a thick-and-thin yarn; forming a fabric from the yarn; and applying a mass reduction treatment with an alkali to the fabric with a mass reduction of 3 to 30 mass %, to cause a plurality of cracks extending in a direction crossing the filament axis to be formed on the peripheries of individual filaments of the yarn.

Abstract: The invention discloses a textile laminate (1, 400, 450) with a first layer (5) comprising a waterproof and preferably breathable functional layer (10, 20) and a second layer (30) comprising at least a first component and a second component. The first component is stable to a first temperature and the second component melts at a lower second temperature. In one embodiment of the invention, the first component is polyester and the second component may be a thermoplastic such as copolyester, polyamide, copolyamide or polyethylene. The textile laminate (1) is particularly advantageous when two of such laminates (1, 400, 450) have to be joined or fused together. In this case a waterproof seam is created at the seam (500) between the two laminates (1, 400, 500).

Abstract: A fiber composition which comprises a blend of modified polypropylene and modified poly(ethylene oxide). This fiber composition can be melt-processed to make fibers useful in flushable personal care products. A process for making this fiber composition is also provided.

Abstract: A filter cloth comprising at least a base layer and a filtering layer, characterized in that the ratio T/L of the thickness (T) of the filtering layer to the length (L) of fibers of fiber bundles constituting the filtering layer is 0.02 to 0.7 and the sum of a projected area of the fibers onto the base layer surface is 8 to 350 times the area of the base layer surface and, a filter cloth characterized in being constituted with at least a base layer and a filtering layer mainly composed of fiber bundles of crimped fiber ratio over 5%.

Abstract: An improved composite material of high temperature and chemical resistant material and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is provided. The composite material incorporates a coherent strand of commingled filaments of fiberglass and PTFE which is far more resistant to flex, abrasion, and chemical attack than conventional materials. Preferably filaments of expanded PTFE tow yarn and filaments of PTFE are combined through a process of air-jet texturing. Fabrics made from the composite fibers are combined with thermosetting phenolic or epoxy resins to produce pleated cartridge filter elements exhibiting superior performance in high temperature and corrosive environments.

Abstract: Industrial fabrics which contain thermoplastic weft or filling filaments characterized by having at least one segment of the filament's cross sectional area consisting of a foamed polymer are described. The unfoamed segment or segments of the filament contribute axial strength while the foamed segment or segments of the filament contribute to radial compressibility. Industrial fabrics utilizing these filaments have reduced permeability, reduced weft denier, and improved fabric rigidity.

Abstract: A screen textile material for high precision and high density screen printing is made of a core and sheath type conjugate fiber in which a core component is formed of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester (A polymer) and a sheath component is formed by blending a flexible thermoplastic polymer (B polymer) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester (C type) with a blending ratio of the C polymer of 0.15 to 0.45. The core and sheath type conjugate fiber has a specific color specification values to perform high quality printing by prevention of halation.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is described having a woven fabric backing which includes staple fiber yarn and includes a twill weave with an inclination angle of 10.degree. to 70.degree. relative to the moving direction of the conveyor belt, and in which adjacent yarns have the same direction of lay. In the woven fabric backing the staple fiber yarn is provided as warp yarn, each of which has the same direction of lay in its longitudinal direction, and adjacent yarns of which are alternately S and Z twisted. Additionally, elements which support the tensile forces are arranged in the conveyor belt, the elements being arranged in a woven fabric or being sheathed as threads by staple fibers. Since the staple fiber yarn of the warp of the woven fabric backing extends diagonally over the entire width of the conveyor belt, an endless support results even when the belt runs over an edge, and an absolutely uniform vibration-free conveyor belt movement having a low noise level is achieved even when the belt passes over an edge.

Abstract: The invention relates to postcondensed paper machine felts comprising a polyamide base fabric and a polyamide coating needled thereon, the paper machine felts having a relative solution viscosity in sulfuric acid in accordance with the DIN 53,727 standard of 5 or more.The invention further relates to a method of increasing the molecular weight of paper machine felts which comprises impregnating the paper machine felts with a solution of postcondensation catalysts, followed by drying and thermally postcondensing the felts below the melting point of the polyamide in a solid phase by the exclusion of oxygen.

Abstract: A nubuck-like woven fabric comprising a two-layered structural yarn wherein ultra-fine polyester multifilaments are primarily disposed in a sheath portion and polyester multifilaments having a larger single fiber thickness are primarily disposed in a core portion, and having an apparent specific gravity of 0.35-0.7 and a shear rigidity of 0.5-1.2 gf/cm.multidot.deg. This woven fabric is produced by a method wherein a woven fabric of a two-layered structural yarn composed of (i) side-by-side type or islands-in-sea type composite multifilaments comprising (a) a readily soluble ingredient and (b) ultra-fine multifilaments-forming ingredient and (ii) highly shrinkable multifilaments, is subjected to a treatment for dissolving and removing ingredient (a) without substantial shrinkage of the two-layered structural yarn, then, the woven fabric is shrunk in a widespread state.

Abstract: Improvement in a hydrophilic function and in the strength of a cloth article obtained from a durable hydrophilic fibers is attained by the employment a durable hydrophilic fiber consisting of a fiber made of a thermoplastic resin to which 0.2 to 1.0% by weight of a mixture formed of the following surfactant (A),(B), (C), (D) and (E) is adhered:(A) 10 to 30% by weight of one or more compounds selected out of polyoxyalkylene additive of higher alcohol or higher alkylamine of carbon number 28 to 50, or amide formed of fatty acid of carbon number 30 to 50 and polyamine,(B) 10 to 30% by weight of a polyoxyalkylene additive of amide formed of fatty acid of carbon number 20 to 28 and polyamine,(C) 30 to 50% by weight of an amide formed of higher fatty acid of carbon number 16 to 28, and alkanolamine,(D) 10 to 30% by weight of polyoxyalkylene additive of alkylphosphate salt of carbon number 10 to 22, and(E) 2 to 10% by weight of alkylsulfonate salt of carbon number 12 to 16.

Abstract: A papermaker's fabric constructed from polymeric fibers with 15 percent or more of the fabric'fibers larger than 100 denier and multipolymeric, the multipolymeric fibers containing two or more distinct polymeric regions within their cross sections. The multipolymeric fibers may be constructed in a sheath-core, side by side, or islands in the stream form. The components of the multipolymeric fibers are each selected to provide a combination of properties not available from any single polymer fiber.