Abstract: Provided herein is a non-stratified, or homogeneous, non-woven composite having (a) strength-imparting fibers of a relatively high denier and (b) binder fibers of a lower denier that adhere the composite together and that form a smooth, stiff skin on the outer surfaces of the composite. In one instance, the strength-imparting fibers are staple fibers and the binder fibers are bicomponent fibers having a low melt component. In a variation, the composite also contains a small percentage by weight (that is, less than 20%) of flame retardant fibers that impart flame resistant properties to the composite. Preferably, all of the fibers are comprised of the same polymeric material (e.g., polyester), so that the composite is recyclable. The resulting composite exhibits excellent flame retardance, strength, and stiffness, as well as having a smooth surface for attachment of a decorative fabric or other material. A process for manufacturing such composites is also provided.

Abstract: An endless belt for use in digital imaging systems is provided having edge to edge uniform flatness, and precise circumferential and edge to edge thickness. The layers comprising the belt may be tailored as desired for use in either image recording, image transfer or sheet transport operations. In one embodiment, the belt includes an elastomeric base layer, a reinforcing support layer, and an elastomeric surface ply. The belt is preferably manufactured by building the layers on a workpiece and then curing the layers.

Abstract: Ballistic resistant fabrics and articles that retain superior ballistic resistance performance after exposure to liquids such as sea water and organic solvents, such as gasoline and other petroleum-based products. The fabrics are formed from high performance fibers coated with a nitrile rubber binder polymer having an acrylonitrile content of from about 15 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, and are optionally coated with a binder that is a blend of a nitrile rubber and a fluorine-containing material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to multicomponent fibers. The fibers may be in a side-by-side, sheath-core, segmented pie, islands-in-the-sea configuration, or any combination of configurations. Each component of the fiber will comprise destructurized starch and/or a thermoplastic polymer. The present invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the multicomponent fibers. The nonwoven webs may also contain other synthetic or natural fibers blended with the multicomponent fibers of the present invention.

Abstract: A non-woven flame retardant barrier can be prepared from low denier, charring fibers and substantially free of polymers made from halogenated monomers. The charring fibers can be modified viscose fibers, for example Visil®. The blend of low denier fibers can be, for example, a blend of 1.5 denier fibers and 3.0 denier fibers.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric containing a polyvinyl butyral fiber is provided. In particular, continuous fiber nonwoven fabrics, such as a melt-blown nonwoven fabric and a spunbonded nonwoven fabric, are preferred. By laminating a plurality of layers via an adhering layer made of such a nonwoven fabric and then heating, a laminate is obtained by a simple process. In particular, an interior material in which an inorganic fiber layer, a foam layer and a surface material layer are adhered together via the aforementioned type of adhering layers is a desirable embodiment. Such an interior material is excellent in rigidity, sound absorbency and thermal deformation resistance, and therefore is useful as an interior material to be used for cars, railway vehicles, vessels, and the like.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a glass fiber package where a glass fiber aggregate which contains alkali-containing glass wool fiber of a very small diameter having an average fiber size of 5 ?m or less or, particularly, less than 1 ?m and containing 5% or more by weight or, particularly, 10% or more by weight of alkali metal oxide components is packed in a compressed state to give a form which is able to be handled as a freight, and in which, fiber breakage (lowering in the fiber length) and fiber adhesion caused by compression packing is hardly resulted even upon a long-term storage whereby the properties inherent to the glass fiber immediately after its manufacture is apt to be maintained; to provide a method for packing the glass fiber; and to provide a glass fiber product using the same.

Abstract: A method for producing a glass wool molded product includes the steps of processing a glass material into fibers so as to obtain a glass wool, gathering such glass wools to form a glass wool mat, and subjecting the glass wool mat to press molding, wherein the above described press molding is carried out, while supplying water so that the water content of the above described glass wool mat becomes 0.1% to 7.0% by mass, and while maintaining a temperature between 250° C. and 450° C.

Abstract: A dryer sheet substrate is provided having improved loft and reduced fuzz wherein the substrate comprises relatively low denier bicomponent fibers. The bicomponent fibers may comprise two or more polymers having different melting temperatures, with the relatively lower melting temperature polymer making up at least a portion of the outer surface of the fiber. Upon heating to a sufficient temperature, the lower melting temperature fibers may soften and melt, providing bonding at crossover points of the fibers in the laid web. The web indicates advantageous characteristics with respect to thickness (loft), fuzz factor and ability to absorb a fabric treating composition.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite has a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness extending between the first and second surfaces. The nonwoven composite comprises a plurality of natural fibers, a plurality of binder fibers, and a VOC-absorbing material. The binder fibers are bonded to or interlocked with the natural fibers. The VOC-absorbing material is dispersed within the nonwoven composite in such a manner that the density of the VOC-absorbing material in the nonwoven composite is greatest adjacent to the second surface of the nonwoven composite. A method for producing a nonwoven composite is also described.

Abstract: A leather-like sheet excellent in repulsive feeling is provided by a leather-like sheet substantially including a fibrous material which is a leather-like sheet in which a staple fiber nonwoven fabric (A) in which ultra-fine fibers of an average single fiber fineness of 0.0001 to 0.5 dtex and an average fiber length of 1 to 10 cm are entangled with each other and a woven or knitted fabric (B) including a conjugate fiber in which two or more polyesters are disposed in side-by-side or eccentric sheath-core relationship are laminated.

Abstract: A fibrous blanket material is provided having a first fibrous layer selected from a group of fibers consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, fiberglass, natural fibers, nylon, rayon and blends thereof and a layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers. In an alternative embodiment the blanket may also include a second fibrous layer made of the same material as the first layer where the layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers is sandwiched between the two fibrous layers.

Abstract: Composite fibrous constructs are made of combinations of inorganic-organic hybrid monofilament or multifilament yarns containing at least 6 weight percent of inorganic micro-/nanoparticles and organic monofilament or multifilament yarn with typical examples of the hybrid yarn matrix made of absorbable or non-absorbable thermoplastic polymers and final constructs being in the form of knitted or woven meshes and braided ligatures intended to perform under specific mechanically, biologically, and/or radiologically related functions.

Abstract: A grain-finished leather-like sheet having a fibrous substrate layer, a polyurethane non-porous layer and a polyurethane surface layer which are successively laminated in this order. The polyurethane surface layer contains a binder polyurethane and polyurethane fine particles having a particle size of 1 to 50 ?m. The total thickness of the polyurethane non-porous layer and the polyurethane surface layer is 150 ?m or more. The polyurethane surface layer contains the polyurethane fine particles in an amount of 10 to 40 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the binder polyurethane. The polyurethane fine particles are not exposed to the surface. The grain-finished leather-like sheet characterized by the above features has a smooth and luster surface, a good hand, and excellent scratch resistance, abrasion resistance and buckling wrinkle resistance. The sheet hardly damages or soils an object which is in contact with its surface by friction.

Abstract: A flame retardant cellulosic-based nonwoven fabric is provided having a synergistic blend of cellulosic and acrylic fiber that imparts unexpectedly enhanced flame retardant performance. The flame retardant finished nonwoven fabric can have at least about 15 wt % and no greater than about 35 wt % acrylic fiber and at least about 65 wt % and no greater than about 85% cellulosic fiber, where the nonwoven fabric has a char strength of at least 0.9 Newtons and exhibits a basis weight loss of no more than 7 wt % when exposed to a gas flame for 240 seconds. Bedding articles including the flame retardant finished nonwoven fabric are also provided.

Abstract: A polyester filament nonwoven ply is suitable for roofing and roof-sealing webs and has a latent shrinkage force which counteracts drafting forces which may subsequently occur as the result of stresses or during thermal processing operations. The roofing webs thus remain dimensionally stable even when exposed to heat. The shrinkage force is obtained according to the claimed process by drafting the ply accordingly in a drafting mechanism arranged after a dryer.

Abstract: A nonwoven fibrous web comprising a matrix of continuous meltspun fibers bonded to a coherent self-sustaining form, and separately prepared microfibers dispersed among the meltspun fibers. The microfibers may have median diameters less than one or two micrometers. A method for preparing such a nonwoven fibrous web comprises establishing a stream of continuous oriented meltspun fibers having a longitudinal axis, establishing a stream of meltblown microfibers that exit a meltblowing die at a point near the stream of meltspun fibers, the meltblown stream being aimed to merge with the meltspun stream and having a longitudinal axis that forms an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the meltspun stream, capturing the meltblown fibers in the stream of meltspun fibers, and collecting the merged stream as a web on a collector spaced near the intersection point of the meltspun and meltblown streams.

Abstract: A pliable reinforcement carrier membrane for use in a coated membrane composite includes a pliable non-woven fibrous mat of entangled polymeric fibers and a hydrophobic binder. The membrane is made so that a first surface of the mat has portions of a portion of the polymeric fibers of the mat protruding therefrom in extent and in sufficient amounts to give the first surface of the mat a fuzzy characteristic to facilitate adhesion of a coating material and a second surface of the fibrous mat has a generally smooth, non-fuzzy surface. A pliable waterproof composite, including the membrane, has a bottom surface formed by a filled asphalt, modified bitumen, or non-asphaltic polymeric coating that overlies and is adhered to the first surface of the mat to provide a barrier against liquid water transmission through the composite and a top surface formed by the second surface of the mat.

Abstract: The invention provides a sheet material comprising bicomponent filaments having first and second polymer components that are arranged in substantially distinct zones within the filaments, with the first polymer component formed of a relatively lower melting polymer and the second component formed of a relatively higher melting polymer. The filaments of the nonwoven fabric layer are densely arranged and compacted against one another to form smooth, substantially nonporous opposite outer surfaces, and the nonwoven fabric layer are calendered such that the lower melting sheath polymer is fused to the contacting surface portions of adjacent filaments to impart strength and coherency to the nonwoven fabric layer. The sheet material has excellent breathability and liquid barrier properties and may be useful in house wrap, medical garments, and envelope applications.

Abstract: A process is provided for issuing material from a nozzle in a rotor rotating at a given rotational speed wherein the material is issued by way of a fluid jet. The material can be collected on a collector concentric to the rotor. The collector can be a flexible belt moving in the axial direction of the rotor. The collected material can take the form of discrete particles, fibers, plexifilamentary web, discrete fibrils or a membrane.