Abstract: A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

Abstract: A fabric for welding is provided which has a welding portion integral with the fabric which extends partially or completely over the width of the fabric. The welding portion of the fabric comprises at least a warp or weft which melts under hot pressing to adhere the fabric to a substrate. The substrate may be a cloth sheet, a synthetic resin sheet, or the like. This enables one to attach the sheet to a column, a stake, a log, a building, a footing, etc., or to attach the welding fabric to another sheet.

Abstract: A burn through resistant nonwoven mat and cover film composite for use in a thermal and/or acoustical insulation blanket system, are, preferably, made up of non-respirable and/or biosoluble base fibers and capable of retaining their integrity and dimensional stability during 4 minutes of exposure to a fluctuating high pressure flame front at a temperature of 1100° C. examples of non-respirable base fibers which make up the nonwoven mat are quartz fibers; aluminosilicate, aluminoborosilicate or alumina ceramic oxide fibers; partially oxidized pitch based fibers; and partially oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers having mean diameters greater than 6 microns. Examples of biosoluble fibers are biosoluble glass fibers. Preferably, the nonwoven mats also include a lubricant sizing with a water repellent additive.