Abstract: A fire-critical aircraft or other component within a fire-risk zone includes a protective fire shield directly exposed to the fire-risk zone and separating the fire-critical component therefrom. The fire shield has an entirely composite construction composed of fiber cloth impregnated with a sacrificial resin which has a melting point that is below that of the fiber cloth. When exposed to fire, the fiber cloth remains substantially intact for at least the minimum period of time while the sacrificial resin is allowed to be at least partially consumed by the fire, such that the protective fire shield is partially sacrificed.

Abstract: Membranes suitable for microfiltration, ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) filters are provided. Such membranes may include a nanofibrous scaffold, optionally in combination with a non-woven substrate and/or a coating of a polymer and a functionalized nanofiller. Suitable membranes may also include a coating of a polymer and a functionalized nanofiller on a substrate, which can include a non-woven membrane, a nanofibrous scaffold, or both.

Abstract: A water non-dispersible polymer microfiber is provided comprising at least one water non-dispersible polymer wherein the water non-dispersible polymer microfiber has an equivalent diameter of less than 5 microns and length of less than 25 millimeters. A process for producing water non-dispersible polymer microfibers is also provided, the process comprising: a) cutting a multicomponent fiber into cut multicomponent fibers; b) contacting a fiber-containing feedstock with water to produce a fiber mix slurry; wherein the fiber-containing feedstock comprises cut multicomponent fibers; c) heating the fiber mix slurry to produce a heated fiber mix slurry; d) optionally, mixing the fiber mix slurry in a shearing zone; e) removing at least a portion of the sulfopolyester from the multicomponent fiber to produce a slurry mixture comprising a sulfopolyester dispersion and water non-dispersible polymer microfibers; and f) separating the water non-dispersible polymer microfibers from the slurry mixture.

Abstract: A hose cover for a high pressure hose is disclosed. The hose cover includes an outer sheath and an inner sheath disposed within the outer sheath. The inner and outer sheaths have a woven construction, each have a plurality of warp threads, and a weft thread that is interwoven between the warp threads. The weft thread is woven between the warp threads of the inner and outer sheaths in a pattern such that weft thread is shared between the inner and outer sheath and the inner and outer sheaths are interwoven together.

Abstract: A pair of laminated panels are simultaneously manufactured in a single panel press. A thermal band is stacked between two panel sets and then the two panel sets are simultaneously heated and compressed together in a common stack with the band, with the band being separately heated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to SiC nanostructures, including SiC nanopowder, SiC nanowires, and composites of SiC nanopowder and nanowires, which can be used as catalyst supports in membrane electrode assemblies and in fuel cells. The present invention also relates to composite catalyst supports comprising nanopowder and one or more inorganic nanowires for a membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A security image and method of forming said image is disclosed wherein a substrate having an image or indicia thereon is coated with a dilute solution of pigment flakes in an ink or paint. The flakes are subsequently aligned in a magnetic field and are fixed after the field is applied. Most or all of the flakes in a region are aligned so as to be partially upstanding wherein their faces are essentially parallel. Coating the image with flakes yields a latent image which can be clearly seen at a small range of predetermined angles.

Abstract: An impact resistant clad composite armor which includes a ceramic core, and a layer of bulk amorphous alloy surrounding the ceramic core and preferably bonded chemically to the ceramic core and a method of manufacturing such armor is provided.

Abstract: In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material, said method including (a) providing a polymeric solution comprising a polymeric material; (b) collapsing at least a portion of the polymeric material about one or more precursor moieties; (c) cross-linking the polymeric material; (d) modifying at least a portion of said precursor moieties to form one or more nanoparticles and thereby forming a composite nanoparticle. In various embodiments, a non-confined nanoparticle can be produced by complete pyrolysis of the confined nanoparticle, and a carbon-coated nanoparticle by incomplete pyrolysis of the confined nanoparticle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a towel, specifically a low twist towel, comprising the following steps: Z twisting a thick yarn and separately Z twisting a fine count yarn; unevenly S twisting the Z-twisted yarns to make the volume of the thick yarn more than that of the fine count; weaving the yarn to produce a fabric; processing the fabric with hot water to reduce inner tension in the yarn and make the fabric become fluffy. Fabric produced by this method can solve the dependency on PVA, reduce energy consumption and material consumption, and prevent water pollution. This method for producing a low twist towel is environmentally friendly, healthy, and energy saving.

Abstract: A loop material for a hook and loop type fastener is a composite nonwoven. The composite nonwoven consists of a loop layer, a backing layer, and a plurality of bond regions. The loop layer may be a carded nonwoven of thermoplastic crimped staple fiber. The staple fiber may be between 1.5 to 6.0 dTEX. The loop layer may have a basis weight of between 10 and 35 g/m2. The backing layer may be a spunbond or spunmelt nonwoven having a basis weight of 5 to 30 g/m2. The loop layer may be superimposed face-to-face with the backing layer. The plurality of bond regions joins the loop layer to the backing layer and rendering said bond regions substantially air impermeable. The bond regions comprise between 35 to 55% of a surface area of the loop material.

Abstract: A woven preform used to reinforce a composite structure which includes a central portion having a plurality of inter-woven layers. The preform also includes first and second end portions having a plurality of independent woven layers that are integrally woven with the plurality of interwoven layers in the central portion and which extend along the entire length the preform. Interspersed between the plurality of independent woven layers in the first and second end portions are bias plies.

Abstract: A method of making a sandwich-type composite panel having a living hinge from a stack of material is provided. The stack includes first and second reinforced thermoplastic skins heated to a softening temperature and a thermoplastic cellular core disposed between the skins. The first skin is stretchable when heated to the softening temperature. A pressure is applied to the stack after the step of heating to form the composite panel. A portion of the composite panel is crushed at a predetermined location simultaneously with the step of applying to locally compact and separate the cellular core at the predetermined location to form two side portions of the panel and a crushed portion of the panel between the two side portions. The first skin stretches during the step of crushing while remaining intact between the two side portions. The skins bond together at the predetermined location to form the living hinge.

Abstract: A flash fire and chemical barrier composite fabric, comprising a flame resistant fibrous basic layer; a radiant heat and chemical permeation barrier, the barrier including a metalized polymeric chemical permeation resistant layer film; and a clear heat sealable outer film layer overlying the radiant barrier and forming a heat sealable outer surface of the composite fabric.

Abstract: A method and cleaning solution for cleaning electronic substrates, such as a semiconductor wafers, hard disks, photomasks or imprint molds. The method comprises the steps of contacting a surface of the substrate with a cleaning solution comprised of a polyphosphate, and then removing the cleaning solution from the surface. Additional optional steps include applying acoustic energy to the cleaning solution while the cleaning solution is in contact with the surface, and removing the cleaning solution from the surface by rinsing the surface with a rinsing solution with or without the application of acoustic energy. The cleaning solution comprises a polyphosphate, such as any of the water soluble polyphosphates. Depending on the application, the cleaning solution may also comprise a base and/or a quantity of suspended particles. Complexing agents, amines, biocides, surfactants and/or other substances, may also be added to the cleaning solution.

Abstract: A pattern forming method including: (a) forming a porous layer above an etching target layer; (b) forming an organic material with a transferred pattern on the porous layer; (c) forming, by use of the transferred pattern, a processed pattern in a transfer oxide film that is more resistant to etching than the porous layer; and (d) transferring the processed pattern to the etching target layer by use of the transfer oxide film as a mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible two component polyurethane and method for producing the polyurethane. The cured polyurethane is flexible, durable and weather resistant. The polyurethane is suitable for use as a protective layer on various substrates. The flexible polyurethane is the reaction product of solvent-free reaction components. The first component includes one or more polyols, optionally, one or more diols, and a catalyst. The second component includes a primary aliphatic isocyante crosslinker.

Abstract: A fabric can comprise yarns comprising less than about 30 denier total and less than about 10 denier per filament; a density of greater than about 177 yarns per cm2; and a thickness of less than about 3.2 mil. The fabric can further comprises a weight of less than about 60 g/m2. The fabric can have performance characteristics equivalent to or greater than those in conventional implantable fabrics. A method of making such a fabric can include twisting together filaments into a multifilament yarn; passing adjacent yarns into a loom in parallel so as to allow the yarns to be woven together more closely; maintaining a consistent tension on the yarns during placement of the yarns on a loom beam and during weaving; and or subjecting the fabric to increased heat and pressure so as to compress the yarns more tightly.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a structure of IC pad and its forming method. The structure is arranged in an insulation layer and is comprised of a lower electric-conduction layer, a compound layer structure and a pad layer. The lower electric-conduction layer is arranged at an appropriate position in the insulation layer and is connected to an electric potential. The compound layer structure is arranged on the insulation layer and is composed of at least one electric-conduction layer and at least one electric-conduction connecting layer, both are inter-overlapped to each other. The pad layer is arranged on the compound layer structure.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a structure of IC pad and its forming method. The structure is arranged in an insulation layer and is comprised of a lower electric-conduction layer, a compound layer structure and a pad layer. The lower electric-conduction layer is arranged at an appropriate position in the insulation layer and is connected to an electric potential. The compound layer structure is arranged on the insulation layer and is composed of at least one electric-conduction layer and at least one electric-conduction connecting layer, both are inter-overlapped to each other. The pad layer is arranged on the compound layer structure.