Abstract: A high-temperature fiber-reinforced carbon-carbon composite material of essentially uniform density, is fabricated by the following sequence of steps: (a) selecting a fiber/matrix material combination; (b) providing a fiber preform of desired shape and fiber placement; (c) selecting at least one low-viscosity pre-carbon monomer material that wets the surfaces of the fiber preform; (d) impregnating the fiber preform with the monomer; (e) polymerizing the monomer material in-situ in a single phase process into a pre-carbon polymer of desired molecular weight; (f) pryolyzing the pre-carbon polymer to form a carbon matrix material; and (g) repeating steps (d)-(f) to further densify the preform.

Abstract: A headliner made from a laminate comprising a core layer sandwiched between two stiffening layers to form an I-beam construction that provides the necessary strength for the headliner. The core layer is preferably a blend of nonwoven fibers including some fine denier fibers to provide improved sound absorption properties. The stiffening layers also comprise a blend of nonwoven fibers. Both the core layer and the stiffening layers include some binder fibers to bond together the various fibers within each layer and the layers to each other.

Abstract: A cation exchange membrane wherein a plain weave reinforced cloth is embedded in a fluorinated polymer having a sulfonic acid group and/or a carboxylic acid group, characterized by possessing therein a tubular path which is formed in a direction of a warp and a weft of the plain weave reinforced cloth and has a cross section flat to a direction of thickness of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to personal cleansing wipes articles which have superior softness, feel and cleansing properties. The wipes of the present invention comprise a substrate and an aqueous liquid cleansing composition which is coated onto or impregnated into said substrate to the extent of from about 100% to about 400% by weight of the substrate. The substrate is a single-layer, nonwoven substrate which is formed from hydroentangled fibers. Upon a substantial portion of a base surface comprising the substrate there exists a three-dimensional pattern comprising a plurality of discrete, raised fibrous regions. The raised fibrous regions have a density which is substantially the same as the density of the base surface. The raised fibrous regions are joined to the base surface by a fibrous transition region. The aqueous liquid cleansing composition comprises an effective amount of a cleansing surfactant.

Abstract: A wet cleaning sheet 1 comprises an aqueous liquid-retaining layer 4 having an aqueous liquid-containing polymer and a chemical-containing layer 2 or 9 containing a chemical which causes the polymer to release the aqueous liquid. The aqueous liquid-retaining layer 4 and the chemical-containing layer 2 or 9 are formed and/or arranged in such a manner that they are kept out of substantial contact under no load applied but brought into contact with each other with a prescribed load applied whereby the aqueous liquid is gradually released from the polymer by the action of the chemical.

Abstract: An ionizing wiper for removing static charge from an insulative surface. The wiper is made of wiping material with a high density of ionizing points being disposed along the surface of the wiper such that the air between the ionizing points and an object is sufficiently ionized to remove static charge from the object.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistive member is provided, including a corrosion-resistive face that is exposed to a corrosive gas causing ion bombardmemt. At least a part of the corrosion-resistive member is composed of a sintered silicon nitride body having an open porosity of not more than 5%. The sintered silicon nitride body constitutes the corrosion-resistive face, and if two auxiliary planes are formed by cutting the corrosion-resistive member to intersect vertically with the corrosion-resistive face and to be located vertically with respect to each other, the orientation index between the two auxiliary planes is in a range of 0.8 to 1.2, and the orientation index between the corrosion-resistive face and each of the auxiliary faces is at least 1.5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a web material useful as a tack pad comprising a non-woven cross-laid web which is needle-tacked and at least one of chemically or thermally-bonded and at least one major surface of which is impregnated with a tackifier. The invention also provides a dispenser that will accept a stack of tack pads. The dispenser is shaped to contain a stack of tack pads in position over an outlet opening in the bottom of the dispenser and to permit one access to one edge of the bottom pad of the stack. The edge is located inside the dispenser and the dispenser comprises an at least partially open front and a door mounted on the dispenser. The door may be pivoted between an open position and a closed position over the front. The door has turned-back side edges to fit around the dispenser to prevent dust from entering the dispenser. The bottom pad can be pulled downwardly away from the stack through the outlet opening.

Abstract: Disclosed are thin until wet materials that are suitable for use as acquisition members for absorbent articles (e.g., diapers, catamenial products, and adult incontinence devices). Preferred materials according to the present invention are either: 1) fibrous assemblies that utilize wet strength means to stabilize the material or 2) compressed regenerated cellulosic sponges so that, when the material is saturated with an aqueous fluid, it has an expanded wet density of between about 0.04 grams/cm3 and about 0.4 grams/cm3 and an expanded capillary desorption height of less than about 25 cm and a temporary binding means that helps maintain the material at a compressed dry density between about 0.06 grams/cm3 and about 1.2 grams/cm3 until the material is exposed to an aqueous fluid. The ratio of the compressed dry density to the expanded wet density is also greater than about 1.5:1. A suitable process for making the materials and absorbent structures using the materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a laminated sheet material, including, in order: (A) a substrate layer having an inner surface and at least a partially napped outer surface and including: an entangled nonwoven first fabric including ultrafine fibers having a fineness of not more than 0.01 decitex; and a first elastomeric polymer impregnated in the first fabric; (B) an adhesive layer; and (C) a substrate layer, including: an entangled nonwoven second fabric including fibers having a fineness of not less than 0.05 decitex; and a second elastomeric polymer impregnated in the second fabric; wherein at least a portion of the napped outer surface is covered with a third polymer, the third polymer being solid at a temperature of 20-25° C. and having a melting point not lower than 60° C. and having an elongation at break of not more than 10%. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a shoe upper, that includes the above-mentioned laminated sheet material.

Abstract: Tuftable primary backings comprise a closed-weave, woven tape fabric to which is affixed a coherent web layer comprising staple fibers with fibers oriented in at least two directions and a plurality of the fibers being fused. The web layer is affixed to the fabric by penetration of fibers from the web into the fabric. The backings have substantial weftline straightness and stability against deformations in the machine, cross and off-axis directions. Improved tufted goods and methods for making the composites and tufted goods are also provided.

Abstract: A bedding mat for supporting an exhaust gas catalyst in a metallic catalyst housing used to purify motor vehicle exhaust gases comprises a yarn processed to form a flat textile structure. The yarn comprises a plurality of voluminous, thermally stable filaments which are aligned parallel with each other in a bundle and a casing around the bundle which decomposes upon heating. An edge protection made of thermally stable threads is provided along the edges of the flat structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a powders-affixed nonwoven fabric prepared from a fiber web comprising powder materials and fine short fibers having a fiber diameter of 4 &mgr;m or less and a fiber length of 3 mm or less in a dispersed state in the powders-containing fiber web, the powders-containing fiber web being formed by a method other than a wet-laid method. Further, a process for manufacturing the powders-affixed nonwoven fabric, and a sheet material comprising the powders-affixed nonwoven fabric are also disclosed.

Abstract: A porous member for pneumatic bearings or the like provides a controlled gas flow rate across a porous ceramic body, which can be readily achieved by a facilitated treatment. The porous body has its outer surface portion covered by a surface layer comprised of fine silica particles which are impregnated in the porous body. The surface layer is subjected to a heat treatment to form restricted passages which are in communication with, and smaller in size than pores within the porous body.

Abstract: A vehicle carwash element of the type which contacts the vehicle made by needle-punching three layers of synthetic strand material such as polyester, polypropylene or other polymeric strands. The quantities of material are arranged in layers with similar colors on the outside and a contrasting color on the inside. The layers are then needle punched to physically integrate them to the point of producing a unitary sheet-like body but insufficiently to totally blend the colors such that a center stripe of contrasting color appears on the edges of the resulting body and on any smaller body which is cut from the sheet which is manufactured according to the process described above.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible abrasive article containing minimal releaseable amounts of physical and chemical contaminants that may be used to clean surfaces. The abrasive article is made of a foraminous substrate, at least one binder and abrasive particles. Methods of making such abrasive articles are also provided.

Abstract: A fabric for providing reinforcement and the like which is made from a two dimensional flat fabric which included woven and unwoven portions that allow the fabric to be folded to create a three dimensional structure without the need for cutting and darting.

Abstract: A composite sheet has a high total light transmittance over its entire region, the composite sheet including nonwoven fabric formed from thermoplastic synthetic resin fibers and a moisture permeable plastic film formed from an ester-based thermoplastic elastomer resin and joined by fusion to one surface of the nonwoven fabric. The composite sheet thus constituted has a total light transmittance of not less than 60% and not greater than 95%.

Abstract: An elastically stretchable composite sheet including an elastic sheet and a fibrous assembly. A fibrous assembly having an inelastic extensibility is bonded to at least one surface of an elastic sheet at intermittently arranged bond regions to form a composite sheet. Component fibers constituting the fibrous assembly are long fibers continuously extending and describing curves between each pair of adjacent bond regions.

Abstract: A disposable substantially damp cleansing article is disclosed having a cleansing composition impregnated onto a flexible substrate such as a non-woven cloth. The impregnated compositions include lathering surfactants and water, the compositions having a viscosity ranging from about 50 to about 300,000 centipoise. Amounts of water range from greater than 15% to no higher than about 40% by weight of the total article. Speed of lather formation and foam volume increases within the window of the stated viscosity and water range.