Abstract: Decorative grasses having an appearance or texture simulating the appearance or texture of cloth are disclosed, as are methods for making such decorative grasses from materials wherein at least one surface of the material is modified to simulate the appearance or texture of cloth.

Abstract: A composite material has a laminated structure of fiber-reinforced resin layers and films of a shape-memory alloy. A predetermined strain has been applied to each film. A damage sensor has a film of an alloy of nickel and titanium. An electric circuit is bonded to the film, and strain gages are connected to the electric circuit. The damage sensor can be laminated to the resin layers in place of the film of the shape-memory alloy. Damage to the composite material is suppressed as follows: A current is applied to the films of the shape-memory alloy, to monitor change in electric resistance of the films. The damage is located in response to the change in electric resistance. Another current is applied to a film of the shape-memory alloy for which the change is larger than the other films to generate heat for deforming the film to generate shrinking stress or shear stress to the damage.

Abstract: The present invention relates an acoustical insulation material for sound attenuation containing a nonwoven web. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that an acoustical insulation material made from a nonwoven web of thermoplastic fibers having an average fiber diameter of less than about 7 microns, wherein the acoustical insulation has a thickness less than about 3 mm and a density of greater than about 50 kg/m3 is effective as a sound insulation material. The acoustical insulation is very effective as an acoustical insulation material, despite the low thickness and high density of the acoustical insulation. A method of attenuating sound waves passing from a sound source area to a second area using the acoustical insulation material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combustion chamber, in particular for a rocket drive, comprises at least one jacket made of a composite material with a ceramic matrix. The composite material contains a fibrous structure made of carbon-containing fibers, and the fibrous structure comprises layers of fibers that form a three-dimensional matrix.

Abstract: A thread or other element for bonding fibers in a fibrous reinforcement for use in a fiber composite is such that it is at least degraded in the course of the production of said fiber composite.

Abstract: An elastic composite is formed by securing an elastic member to a substrate along a securement path extending longitudinally of the substrate. The position of the elastic member on the substrate varies laterally along the longitudinally extending securement path in a generally periodic wave pattern having at least one period within the securement path. The periodic wave pattern is such that the elastic composite is more stretchable in the direction of the securement path than transverse to the securement path. In another embodiment, the securement path varies laterally as it extends longitudinally along the securement path. The position of the elastic member varies transversely within the securement path to at least partially define a width of the securement path.

Abstract: A friction material obtainable by molding and curing a material composition having a fibrous base, a binder, and a filler, wherein an amount of sulfate ions extracted from the friction material measured in accordance with JIS K 0127 is about 0.2 mg/g or smaller and the pH of the friction material is about 10.0 or higher and less than about 13.0.

Abstract: A material for making a conductive pattern, the material comprising a support and a heat-differentiable element, the heat-differentiable element comprising an outermost layer containing a polyanion and an intrinsically conductive polymer and optionally a second layer contiguous with the outermost layer, characterized in that the outermost layer and/or the optional second layer contains hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles in a weight ratio range with respect to the intrinsically conductive polymer in the range of 20:1 to 1:5, the hydrophobic thermocoagulable latex particles are capable upon heating of increasing the conductivity of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and/or changing the removability of the heated parts of the outermost layer relative to the unheated parts of the outermost layer and the heat-differentiable element does not comprise a di- or polyhydroxy organic compound or an aprotic compound with a dielectric constant, ?, ?15; a

Abstract: A fiber glass mat containing a novolac resin having an acid solubility of at least about 35 wt. percent is especially useful for bonding to a light weight fibrous or foam web or board, such as a polymer fiber web. A method of making the mat by wet laying a slurry containing the fiber and the novolac resin particles and then further adding an aqueous solution or slurry containing a crosslinking agent for the novolac resin and a laminate containing the fiber glass mat are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water repellant, water resistant, stain resistant fabric that feels like fabric rather than plastic. The fabric of the present invention is prepared by treating a fabric with at least one treatment composition comprising from about 5 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of fluorochemical(s), which is then backed with at least one polymeric film to provide a water repellant, water resistant, stain resistant fabric.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product in panel form, comprising a fiber-reinforced cementitious matrix, prepared from a sheet material by filtration on a screen of an aqueous suspension comprising at least one hydraulic binder, such as cement and at least one fibrous material and devoid of siliceous sand, thicknesses of said sheet material being superposed until the desired final thickness is obtained, in order to give a panel which is then autoclaved. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing the product.

Abstract: Method for the production of a laminate and bent product produced from such a laminate. The laminate is made up of at least two outer sheets of metal material with a layer of fibre-reinforced resin between them. During production the fibre layer is applied dry and the layer of resin material is applied around the fibre material only at a later stage. This can take place either by injection or by rendering fluid a layer of resin material that is applied adjoining the layer of fibre material in the laminate. In this way it is ensured that complete filling of the adjacent sheets of metal material with fibre-reinforced resin takes place even in bends.

Abstract: A stain resistant acoustical panel which incorporates within its structure a relatively small quantity of latex which forms an ultra thin coating within the panel such that water may pass through the inner structure of the panel. The panel may further include a primer coating applied to the facing side of the panel to prevent water stains. The coating contains a chelating agent which provides stain resistance to the coated face of the panel. Additionally, the panel may incorporate both latex within its structure and a primer coating comprising a chelating agent.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a body with a length, a width, an inside, and an outside. The body includes a rubber composition. The body further has a plurality of short fibers in the rubber composition. The plurality of short fibers may include a plurality of poly-p-phenylene benzobisoxazole fibers.

Abstract: Synthetic polymer reinforcing fibers provide dispersability and strength in matrix materials such as concrete, masonry, shotcrete, and asphalt. The individual fiber bodies, substantially free of stress fractures and substantially non-fibrillatable, have generally quadrilateral cross-sectional profiles along their elongated lengths. Preferred fibers and matrix materials having such fibers demonstrate excellent finishability in addition to dispersion and toughness properties.

Abstract: Scented decorative grasses having an appearance and/or texture simulating the appearance and/or texture of cloth are disclosed, as are methods for making such scented decorative grasses from materials wherein at least one surface of the material is modified to simulate the appearance and/or texture of cloth.

Abstract: A protective covering system having high-flexibility and low areal density characteristics. In one aspect of the invention, the protective system includes a plurality of metallic staples or wire elements secured to multi-layer matrix including woven fibers, the layers being oriented at cross angles to provide a grid-like pattern of protective elements. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements provide a coverage area of less than 90% and as little as 40% of total surface area. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements may be mechanically secured to a matrix by a puncture and crimp process. In another, wire elements may be attached or woven into one or more matrix layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to high quality composite materials from fibrous materials, in which the composite incorporates a polymer matrix embedding individual fibers. The matrix is derived from polymer particles which penetrate into a strand and substantially fill gaps between individual fibers. Such penetration can occur by exposing the strand to a stable emulsion of the polymer particles. The invention also relates to novel composite structures which incorporation of various types of fibrous segments. These composite structures allow the use of inexpensive and readily available scrap materials. The composites of the present invention are lightweight materials displaying enhanced strength and durability.

Abstract: This invention relates to a latent polymer composite which contains a heat-sensitive polymer material and a microwave sensitizer. The latent polymer material is inelastic in the latent state but can be made elastic with the addition of heat. The microwave sensitizer is a solid material blended uniformly into the latent polymer composite. The sensitizer absorbs microwave radiation and heats the heat-sensitive polymer material. The polymer composite becomes elastic under microwave radiation or thermal energy. The latent polymer composite can bonded to a fibrous sheet to form a latent laminate material. When exposed to microwave radiation, the latent laminate material becomes an elastic laminate. The latent polymer composite of the laminate shrinks and returns to an elastic state creating an elastic laminate material. The polymer composite of this invention has a rough surface created by the sensitizer particles.

Abstract: Nonwoven webs having substantially aligned fibers can be formed in an apparatus having a direction of motion corresponding to the direction of web formation. The web is formed in the presence of at least one secondary fluid stream that oscillates the filaments or resulting attenuated fibers to and fro generally in and against the direction of motion so that a majority of the collected fibers are aligned within ±20° of the direction of motion and fibers having lengths of about 1-10 cm can be teased from the web. The resulting nonwoven webs are especially useful for forming pleated filtration media having pleats generally transverse to the direction of motion.