Abstract: A novel, improved battery separator material particularly adaptable for use in maintenance free batteries. The battery separator material includes a diatomaceous earth filler, an acrylate copolymer binder and a combination of fibers comprising polyolefin, polyester and glass fibers.

Abstract: Novel, improved binders comprising a combination of heat reactive polymers. The novel binders are especially useful as saturants for fibrous sheet materials to provide high quality shoeboard materials.

Abstract: Novel, improved insole composites comprising a non-woven fiber batt needle-punched to one side of a woven polymeric scrim and which is subsequently impregnated or saturated with a curable or cross-linkable polymer.The invention also presents novel processes for producing the insole composites and for manufacturing footwear comprising the novel, improved insole composites.

Abstract: A high temperature resistant compressible sheet material has a thickness of 0.001 to 1 inch and includes a crosslinked elastomer as a binder and high temperature staple fibers. A major amount of a particulate filler which has been chemically modified to coreact with the crosslinked elastomer is incorporated into the sheet material. The binder preferably has incorporated therein an addition polymerized silane coupling agent. The sheet material is fabricated according to papermaking techniques. The sheet material is useful in the fabrication of gasketing and in heat shields.