Abstract: A fabric for thermal management including the cooling of an object, such as a person's skin. The fabric is formed of a plurality of materials including at least one liquid transport enhancing material and at least one evaporative transport impeding material. When the fabric is in use, the transport enhancing material is located near an object to be cooled, while the evaporation impeding material is spaced away from the object. The fabric is peached so that there is an entanglement of the two materials. Peaching is performed on both sides of the fabric, but initially on the side with the transport enhancing material such that a portion of the evaporation impeding material is pulled into the fabric core. A method of making the fabric is also described.

Abstract: A blade is made of a heat-treat-able and corrosion resistant steel, preferably 440C stainless, that has one or two sharp edges for resurfacing ice, such as at an ice rink with an ice resurfacing machine, such as a Zamboni® resurfacing machine. It uses at least one attached mounting bolt; and may have a removable safety cover mounted to it. The method of producing the blade includes: selecting a corrosion resistant metal; forming it to have one or two sharp edges; defining a receiver hole for receiving a threaded mounting bolt; heat-treating to a hardness of about 55; machining; and securing a mounting bolt through the blade to align with a mounting location. The blade may contain stiffening inserts. The blade may contain a bushing to secure and precisely locate the mounting bolt.