Abstract: A leather finishing process in which, in pertinent part, a warm water milling step is added after the base coat is applied to “crust” leather and cured. The warm water contains at least one dye fixation agent including but not limited to about 0.1-2.0% by weight of formic acid. Moreover, the base coat itself is an aqueous base coat containing at least two polymers such as an acrylic salt or a polyurethane salt. Between the polymeric constituents of the base coat, the acid fixation agent, and the use of the warm water milling step after the base coat has been applied and dried, a surprisingly natural feel to the leather is attained without loss of excellent adhesion, wear-resistance and other properties when the leather is completely finished.

Abstract: A leather finishing process in which, in pertinent part, a warm water milling step is added after the base coat is applied to “crust” leather and cured. The warm water contains at least one dye fixation agent including but not limited to about 0.1-2.0% by weight of formic acid. Moreover, the base coat itself is an aqueous base coat containing at least two polymers such as an acrylic salt or a polyurethane salt. Between the polymeric constituents of the base coat, the acid fixation agent, and the use of the warm water milling step after the base coat has been applied and dried, a surprisingly natural feel to the leather is attained without loss of excellent adhesion, wear-resistance and other properties when the leather is completely finished.

Abstract: A leather finishing process in which, in pertinent part, a warm water milling step is added after the base coat is applied to “crust” leather and cured. The warm water contains at least one dye fixation agent including but not limited to about 0.1-2.0% by weight of formic acid. Moreover, the base coat itself is an aqueous base coat containing at least two polymers such as an acrylic salt or a polyurethane salt. Between the polymeric constituents of the base coat, the acid fixation agent, and the use of the warm water milling step after the base coat has been applied and dried, a surprisingly natural feel to the leather is attained without loss of excellent adhesion, wear-resistance and other properties when the leather is completely finished.

Abstract: A procedure and a device for determining yield of usable pieces from a raw material when or before the usable pieces are produced. Determination of the area of raw material is automated, and pieces of raw material are encoded with a marking indicating the area and other pertinent information. The use of proximity sensors in combination with cutting dies permits the automation of yield calculation. The results of the yield calculation can be viewed on a real time basis and provide feedback to the production process, preventing low-yield production and facilitating balanced production of pieces. Indicators permit an operator to be signaled to increase production of underproduced pieces.

Abstract: A laminated composite in the form of a trilaminate and quadlaminate for use in the manufacture of a seat, particularly a vehicle seat, such as an automobile seat and a vehicle interior member. The laminated composite includes a seat cover material having a first adhesive applied to a first surface of the seat cover material. A sew pad is bonded to the seat cover material by the first adhesive. A second adhesive can be applied to the sew pad so that the sew pad can be bonded to a cushion by the second adhesive. The first adhesive can be a thermoplastic releasable polyolefin or polyester, and the second adhesive can be a polyurethane film so that the first adhesive forms a temporary releasable bond and the second adhesive forms a permanent bond. A method of manufacturing laminated composites is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present process yields superior leather materials from limed hides, without the use of chromium salts, by combining a series of essential method steps in a sequence which yields leather having a "chrome" character. The present chromium-free tanning process includes the method steps of pretanning a hide with a chromium-free tan until its shrinkage temperature is about 170.degree. to 185.degree. F., submerging the hide in an acidic brine, having a pH between 2.5 and 3.5, and adding (in sequence, and in amounts sufficient to yield specified concentrations of each) pretanning agents, syntans, vegetable extracts, neutralizing agents and retanning and finishing agents, all of which are free from chromium. This method of pretanning, tanning and retanning a hide with a specified sequence of particular concentrations of chromium-free reagents yields a leather product having the characteristics of chrome-tanned leather and which demonstrates superior shrink resistance, resilience and flexural strength.

Abstract: The present process yields superior leather materials from limed hides, without the use of chromium salts, by combining a series of essential method steps in a sequence which yields leather having a "chrome" character. The present chromium-free tanning process includes the method steps of pretanning a hide with a chromium-free tan until its shrinkage temperature is about 170.degree. to 185.degree. F., submerging the hide in an acidic brine, having a pH between 2.5 and 3.5, and adding (in sequence, and in amounts sufficient to yield specified concentrations of each) pretanning agents, syntans, vegetable extracts, neutralizing agents and retanning and finishing agents, all of which are free from chromium. This method of pretanning, tanning and retanning a hide with a specified sequence of particular concentrations of chromium-free reagents yields a leather product having the characteristics of chrome-tanned leather and which demonstrates superior shrink resistance, resilience and flexural strength.

Abstract: A disposable bandage, and a process for manufacturing it, which is prepared from a single sheet or strip of liquid permeable, flexible thermoplastic hydrophilic foam. The process includes coating the entire surface of one side of a foam sheet or strip with a layer of porous pressure sensitive adhesive, covering the same side of the laminate with a suitable release liner and heat compressing the laminate except in the area of the laminate intended for wound contact. The foam bandage so produced includes both a resilient absorbent pad and thin but absorbent adhesive-coated tabs and is suitable for use as an occlusive dressing. Optionally, the bandage may have a moisture vapor permeable, moisture impermeable skin thereon, to provide a water- andbacteria-proof protective outer layer for the foam bandage.

Abstract: A method of mechanically frothing and casting an aqueous ionic polyurethane dispersion to yield a mechanically frothed polyurethane foam. The method comprises admixing an aqueous ionic polyurethane dispersion with a stearate stabilizer and an optional aziridine crosslinking agent, and frothing the low viscosity admixture. The polyurethane dispersion contains particles having an average size of less than one micron, and contains between 35 and 70 percent by weight dispersed polyurethane solids. Preferably, each polyurethane particle in the aqueous dispersion is crosslinked. Before frothing, the low viscosity admixture contains between 33 and 87 percent by weight of the polyurethane dispersion, up to 33 percent by weight of an azirdine composition and between 13 and 50 percent by weight of a 33 percent aqueous dispersion of a stearate salt and has, as a result, a viscosity in the range of 100 to 200 centipoise. After frothing, the frothed admixture is knife-coated and cured into a flexible foam sheet.

Abstract: A method of mechanically frothing and casting an aqueous polyurethane dispersion yields a foam which, when rolled, wound or stacked, is self-releasing from the pressure sensitive adhesive layer co-cured therewith. The method includes admixing an aqueous ionic polyurethane dispersion with a stearate stabilizer and an optional aziridine crosslinking agent, frothing and casing the admixture, and co-curing the resultant foam sheet with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer. Before frothing, the polyurethane dispersion contains particles having an average size of less than one micron, and contains between 35 and 70 percent by weight of the polyurethane dispersion, between 13 and 50 percent by weight of a 33 percent by weight dispersion of a stearate salt, and up to 33 percent by weight of polyfunctional aziridine.

Abstract: A disposable bandage, and a process for manufacturing it, which is prepared from a single sheet or strip of liquid permeable, flexible thermoplastic hydrophilic foam. The process includes coating the entire surface of one side of a foam sheet or strip with a layer of porous pressure sensitive adhesive, positioning wound release material in the area of the sheet or strip intended for wound contact, covering the same side of the laminate with a suitable release liner and heat compressing the laminate except at the locus of the wound release material. The foam bandage so produced includes both a resilient absorbent pad and thin but absorbent adhesive-coated tabs. Optionally, the bandage may have a moisture vapor permeable, moisture impermeable skin thereon, to provide a water- and bacteria-proof protective outer layer for the foam bandage.

Abstract: A flexible continuous film is comprised of a physical admixture of a polypeptide, a plasticizer and a film-forming flexible polymer. When the film is moistened, the polypeptides exude therefrom.

Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable sheet material is comprised of a homogeneous admixture of a synthetic polymer material and a protein derivative. The sheet material is moisture vapor permeable and non-penetrable by liquid water. The sheet material additionally can have coated thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive which is comprised of a synthetic organic polymer adhesive and a soluble protein derivative in solid solution. Sheet material is formed by providing a homogeneous fluid solution of a soluble protein derivative and a synthetic organic polymer in a solvent. The protein derivative has a pH level compatible with the pH level of the organic polymer. Film is formed from the homogeneous fluid solution and the solvent is removed from the film to form the sheet material which is moisture vapor permeable. When the sheet material includes an adhesive, the adhesive is coated as a fluid solution in a solvent on one side of the sheet material.

Abstract: A flexible continuous film is comprised of a physical admixture of a polypeptide, a plasticizer and a film-forming flexible polymer. When the film is moistened, the polypeptides exude therefrom.

Abstract: A surface active agent is comprised of lignin sulfonic acids, and optionally, an alkylaryl sulfonic free acid with at least 10 carbon atoms and a polypeptide having a molecular weight of about 2,500 to about 15,000. In addition, a disperse dye composition is provided which includes solid particles of a dye or pigment which have a particle size of less than 2 microns with the surface active agent disposed at the surface of the particles.

Abstract: A method of forming a collagen-thrombin hemostatic composition is comprised of forming a homogeneous aqueous admixture of collagen and thrombin at a basic pH and lyophilizing the collagen-thrombin admixture to form a stable collagen sponge having thrombin therein. The collagen utilized in the process is absorbable when placed in vivo. Additionally, a lyophilized collagen product is comprised of collagen which is absorbable when placed in vivo and thrombin distributed within the collagen. The collagen product is storage stable.

Abstract: A moisture vapor permeable sheet material is comprised of a homogeneous admixture of a synthetic polymer material and a protein derivative. The sheet material is moisture vapor permeable and non-penetrable by liquid water. The sheet material additionally can have coated thereon a pressure sensitive adhesive which is comprised of a snythetic organic polymer adhesive and a soluble protein derivative in solid solution. Sheet material is formed by providing a homogeneous fluid solution of a soluble protein derivative and a synthetic organic polymer in a solvent. The protein derivative has a pH level compatible with the pH level of the organic polymer. Film is formed from the homogeneous fluid solution and the solvent is removed from the film to form the sheet material which is moisture vapor permeable. When the sheet material includes an adhesive, the adhesive is coated as a fluid solution in a solvent on one side of the sheet material.

Abstract: A surface active agent is comprised of lignin sulfonic acids, and optionally, an alkylaryl sulfonic free acid with at least 10 carbon atoms and a polypeptide having a molecular weight of about 2,500 to about 15,000. In addition, a disperse dye composition is provided which includes solid particles of a dye or pigment which have a particle size of less than 2 microns with the surface active agent disposed at the surface of the particles.

Abstract: A method of fining and clarifying alcoholic beverages is disclosed. The method includes admixing particulate native collagen with an alcoholic beverage subsequent to fermentation. The admixture is aged for a sufficient time to allow the collagen to complex haze causing material in the beverage, and the collagen complexed with the haze causing material is separated by filtration or the like to produce a clear alcoholic beverage.

Abstract: Macromolecular reconstituted collagen is prepared by treating natural insoluble collagen with an aqueous solution comprised of an alkali sulfate salt and an alkali metal hydroxide for at least 48 hours to saponify fats suspended within the natural insoluble collagen. The fat free collagen is then treated with an aqueous solution comprised of an alkali metal sulfate for at least four hours to stabilize the interfibular bonds between individual polypeptide chains. The collagen is then dissolved in an aqueous acid solution and frozen at a rate of -20.degree. C./hour. The frozen collagen is vacuum dried at 10.sup.-3 to 10.sup.-5 torr for at least 16 hours to produce a biologically active collagen article. Various biologically active materials may be added to the aqueous acid solution prior to freezing. The collagen product may then be implanted into an animal or the like and the medication slowly released.