Abstract: A light weight tear resistant fabric having a background fabric and reinforcing yarns selected such that the tensile strength of the reinforcing yarn is about two times that of the yarns of the background fabric and the elongation of the reinforcing yarns is at least two times that of the background fabric is described. The resulting reinforced fabric has at least 50% greater tear resistance than the background fabric as measured by the Elmendorf test.

Abstract: A conformable orthopaedic casting tape made with a combination of an elastic fiber and a non-elastic fiber is disclosed. The casting tape is capable of stretching 40% to 200% in the length direction and has a power of between 40 and 175 grams per inch width at 30% elongation. The elastic fiber is a blend of a cured or partially cured polyolefin rubber and a polyolefin resin.

Abstract: An aqueous latex contains a functionalized copolymer prepared by emulsion polymerization. The copolymer can be applied to textile nonwoven materials and to various cellulosic substrates, and when utilized as a binder imparts enhanced properties thereto such as wet tensile strength, low temperature cure rates, and the like. The monomers generally forming the copolymer include at least two functional type monomers, one of which contains an activatable ester group, and at least one latex forming monomer.

Abstract: A self-supporting laminate formed from an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane material and a coated metal mesh material is described that is self-supporting and can be formed into a pleated filter member.

Abstract: A synthetic yarn made from a blend of base fibers selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon 6 and nylon 66, and 1-12 weight percent of a heat activated binder fiber having a melting point within the range of 165.degree.-190.degree. C., said binder fiber being made from a copolyamide which is derived from a mixture of 50 to 85 wt. % caprolactam, 0 to 40 wt. % hexamethylenediamine adipate or a combination of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, and optionally a salt selected from the group consisting of hexamethylenediamine dodecanedioate, hexamethylenediamine azeleate, hexamethylenediamine sebacate and hexamethylenediamine terephthalate; and a chain terminator selected from at least one of the group consisting of a fatty acid and a fatty amines, wherein said fatty acid or fatty amine include at least 14 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A fiber blending system includes an apparatus and method of forming a mat of cellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers, as well as a mat thereby formed. The method includes the steps of fiberizing cellulosic material into cellulosic fibers in a fiberizer, volumetrically metering a metered amount of synthetic fibers, and injecting the metered amount of synthetic fibers into the cellulosic fibers. The cellulosic fibers are blended with the metered amount of synthetic fibers in a blending chamber to form a fiber blend. The fiber blend is dispersed through a fiber disperser having apertures of a preselected size and shape to provide a dispersed fiber blend. A third type of fiber may also be mixed with the dispersed fiber blend. The dispersed fiber blend is collected as a mat on a fiber collector to provide a mat of blended cellulosic and synthetic fibers. The mat may be thermobonded by a thermobonder and sandwiched between a facing sheet and a backing sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet; a curable resin coated onto the fabric sheet; and a plurality of microfiber fillers dispersed into the resin. The incorporation of microfiber fillers into the casting materials of the present invention adds substantially to the strength of the cured casting material, particularly when the fabric used therein is a non-fiberglass fabric, while not detracting from the handling properties of the uncured casting tape or bandage.The microfiber fillers useful in this invention are generally characterized as being short fibers having an aspect ratio greater than five to one. Blends of microfibers having different aspect ratios may be utilized in the casting tapes of the present invention. Preferred microfiber fillers or blends have an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 200:1, more preferably, the aspect ratio of the microfiber is between 5:1 and 50:1, and most preferably, the aspect ratio of the microfiber is between 10:1 and 30:1.

Abstract: An elongated pile article having a support strand for attachment to a plurality of yarn bundles, the yarn bundles including a dense portion with the filaments bonded to each other and bonded to the support strand, pile surface structure comprised of a plurality of elongated pile articles placed one next to the other, and a method and apparatus for making the elongated pile article.

Abstract: Semi-interpenetrating polymeric networks comprising a blend of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers wherein at least one of the polymeric components is crosslinked after blending to form a continuous network throughout the bulk of the material, and through which the uncrosslinked polymeric components are intertwined in such a way as to form a macroscopically homogeneous composition. The integrity of such networks persists even after absorption of solvent. These materials can be used to form durable, non-tacky, ink-absorbent, transparent coatings for graphical materials.

Abstract: A spunbonded elastic nonwoven fabric comprises a web of bonded thermoplastic filaments of a thermoplastic elastomer. The spunbonded fabrics of the invention are prepared in a slot draw spunbonding process operated at a rate of less than about 2000 meters per minute. The elastic fabric is used in absorbent products, such as disposable diapers, adult incontinence pads, sanitary napkins and the like, and as coverstock for absorbent personal care products.

Abstract: An elongated pile article having a support strand for attachment to a plurality of yarn bundles, the yarn bundles including a dense portion with the filaments bonded to each other and bonded to the support strand, pile surface structure comprised of a plurality of elongated pile articles placed one next to the other, and a method and apparatus for making the elongated pile article.

Abstract: High loft durable nonwoven material comprising facing and base components and corresponding process for preparation thereof and process for obtaining by(a) forming and compiling a facing component comprising one or more facing web(s) of staple fiber and/or fibrillated film;(b) lightly bonding the formed and compiled facing webs, utilizing a low density bonding pattern having a small bonding area relative to the corresponding surface area of said facing component;(c) laying a web comprising staple fiber and/or fibrillated film onto the lightly bonded facing component under conditions favoring arrangement in general cross or transverse direction relative to machine direction of the facing component; and(d) bonding said cross or transversely laid web to form a base component to said facing component, utilizing a substantially greater bonding density then employed for said facing component, to obtain the desired nonwoven material.

Abstract: A microfibrous sorbent article is provided. The microfibrous sorbent article comprises an elongate boom having a substantially oval cross-section. The boom is formed of multiple adjacent microfibers layers, the layers being bonded to each other by entanglement of fibers between adjacent layers. The boom further contains ion exchange resin, selectively absorbent particulate material, catalytic agent or selectively reactive particulate material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an absorbent structure comprising first and second surge management layers and an absorbent layer located between said first and second surge management layers. The first surge management layer comprises synthetic polymeric fibers and the second surge management layer comprises hydrophilic fibers. The density of the absorbent layer is greater than the density of the first and second surge management layers.

Abstract: An implantable porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils wherein a surface of the material has been modified by the removal of fibrils from the surface so that under magnification the surface has the appearance of freestanding node portions not interconnected by fibrils but rather having open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions. Unmodified material beneath the surface maintains the original microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils. The modification is preferably done by exposing the surface to radio frequency gas plasma discharge with a reactive etching gas for a lengthy amount of time such as about ten minutes. The depth of fibril removal from the surface is substantially a function of the duration and amount of energy applied to the surface.

Abstract: Flexible base web of a construction covering comprises a main layer extending at least over the greatest part of the thickness of the web and is constituted of a non-woven mineral fiber mat containing predominantly discontinuous mineral fibers. Said mat contains further blend fibers. The mat is manufactured using a dry method by means of an air stream whereby said blend fibers have become blended inside the mat during the dry method forming of the mat. The portion of said blend fibers is greater in the proximity of one of the surfaces of the mat than in the middle due to subsequent needling of the mat.

Abstract: Aqueous polymer composition for application to synthetic polymeric materials to improve wettability of same by polymer matrices and bond strength therebetween, which includes a polymer containing vinyl groups, in at least one and preferably two fluorocarbon surfactants and water. The composition also optionally, and preferably includes a copolymerizable surfactant and ethoxy silicone. Synthetic polymeric materials treated with the aqueous polymer composition are disclosed primarily as reinforcing materials in structural composites, either alone or in conjunction with other reinforcing materials. Composites utilizing the pretreated reinforcing materials are also included.

Abstract: A method of reducing the adsorption of protein by a polymeric fabric; e.g., a polyolefin fabric, which involves providing a polymeric fabric having a surface, applying to the surface of the polymeric fabric a composition including water and a surfactant adapted to reduce the adsorption of protein by the polymeric fabric, and treating the fabric to which a surfactant has been applied by air corona discharge at a corona energy density of from about 10 to about 280 kilojoules per square meter. The surfactant is present on the fabric in an amount sufficient to reduce the adsorption of protein by the fabric. The coated fabric is especially suited for incorporation in such disposable absorbent articles as diapers; feminine care products, such as sanitary napkins and tampons; incontinent care products; training pants; and wipes.

Abstract: A water-dispersible, antimicrobial and deodorant-finished product for fabrics comprising fine particles of an antimicrobial Schiff base derivative of an aminoglycoside as the active ingredient and a polyoxy-ethylenepolyalkylsiloxane for improving the resistance to washing.By using the antimicrobial and deodorant-finished product of the present invention, antimicrobial and deodorant fabrics having higher safety, more excellent antimicrobial and deodorant effects and longer duration of the effects than those of the conventional products can be obtained.

Abstract: A reinforced fabric composed of a background fabric and a reinforcing grid that is joined to the background fabric so that the grid reinforced fabric is at least 20% stronger than a fabric into which reinforcing yarns of the same type and weight percent as that of the grid have been integrally woven.