Abstract: Provided is a flame resistant drywall installation, especially those designed to meet ASTM E119. The installations comprise the use of fiberglass corespun flame resistant (FR) woven and fiberglass corespun stitchbonded nonwoven fabrics. The preferred forms of the woven and stitchbonded fabric used in this invention include: WOVEN FABRIC: A 3-8 opsy woven fabric consisting of fiberglass corespun yarns as described below. STITCHBONDED FABRIC: A 4-10 nonwoven batting of 100% cotton, 100% rayon, 100% lyocell, cotton/non-FR fiber blends, rayon/non-FR fiber blends or lyocell/non-FR fiber blends stitched with fiberglass corespun yarns as described below. Fiberglass corespun weaving and stitching yarns, for use in the invention, include those known in the textile industry as Alessandra® yarn (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,146,759; 6,287,690; 6,410,140; 6,606,846; 6,553,749 by McKinnon Land LLC) and Firegard® yarn (by Springs Industries).

Abstract: The invention relates to an inherently flame resistant (FR) stitchbonded nonwoven fabric for mattresses, boxsprings, upholstered furniture, top-of-the-bed, office panel, transportation seating or any end use application where a FR textile material is desired. Two of the preferred forms of this invention include: 100% cotton. 100% rayon, 100% lyocell, cotton/non-FR fiber blends, rayon/non-FR fiber blends or lyocell/non-FR fiber blend battings that are stitchbonded with flame resistant fiberglass core-spun yarn. 100% cotton, 100% rayon, 100% lyocell, cotton/non-FR fiber blends, rayon/non-FR fiber blends or lyocell/non-FR fiber blend battings that are stitchbonded with FR spun yarn.

Abstract: The invention relates to slickened or siliconized flame resistant fiber blends that are well suited for use in mattresses, boxsprings, upholstered furniture, fiber-filled bed clothing, transportation seating or any end use application where a soft materials are desired for flame resistant (FR) purposes. Some of the fibers in the blend are slickened. The FR fibers incorporated into these blends include both char forming FR fibers and oxygen depleting FR fibers. FR char-forming fibers are those which exhibit little shrinkage when exposed to direct flame and are not spun from polymers manufactured with halogenated monomers. Oxygen depleting FR fibers are spun from polymers manufactured with halogenated monomers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nonwoven highloft flame barrier well suited for use in mattress, upholstered furniture and other end use applications where a highloft nonwoven material is desired for flame barrier purposes. A preferred nonwoven highloft flame barrier of the invention comprises a blend of fibers, that are inherently fire resistant and essentially nonshrinking to direct flame, with melamine fibers being preferred either alone or in conjunction with, for example, viscose rayon based fibers, fibers extruded from polymers made with halogenated monomers and preferably low-melt binder fibers, which are thermally activated in a highloft manufacturing process to provide low bulk density, resiliency and insulation properties in the end use application. The preferred fiber blends are designed to withstand extended periods of time exposed to open flame with minimal shrinkage of the char barrier; thereby preventing a flames from “breaking through” the char barrier and igniting underlying materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nonwoven highloft flame barrier well suited for use in mattress, upholstered furniture and other end use applications where a highloft nonwoven material is desired for flame barrier purposes. A preferred nonwoven highloft flame barrier of the invention comprises a blend of fibers, that are inherently fire resistant and essentially nonshrinking to direct flame, with melamine fibers being preferred either alone or in conjunction with, for example, viscose rayon based fibers, fibers extruded from polymers made with halogenated monomers and preferably low-melt binder fibers, which are thermally activated in a highloft manufacturing process to provide low bulk density, resiliency and insulation properties in the end use application. The preferred fiber blends are designed to withstand extended periods of time exposed to open flame with minimal shrinkage of the char barrier, thereby preventing a flames from “breaking through” the char barrier and igniting underlying materials.

Abstract: Provided is a novel method of dyeing a corespun yarn which comprises an inorganic fiber core and at least a first sheath. The method comprises: (a) contacting the corespun yarn with a dye liquor; (b) heating the dye liquor to a dyeing temperature for a time effective to dye the yarn; (c) cooling the dye liquor at a controlled rate; and (d) rinsing the yarn with water or with a mixture comprising the dye liquor and water. The dyed corespun yarn has a strength retention of about 80% or more based on the undyed yarn. The methods in accordance with the invention allow for the formation of uniformly dyed, high strength corespun yarns. Also provided is a dyed, corespun yarn which can be made by the inventive method, a fabric formed from the corespun yarn, as well as a product upholstered with the fabric. The dyed yarns exhibit substantially no “grin through” and little to no yarn strength loss after dyeing.

Abstract: Provided is a fire resistant corespun yarn. The yarn includes a core of high temperature resistant continuous inorganic filaments; a first sheath of staple fibers surrounding the core, wherein the staple fibers comprise fibers of at least one fire resistant material selected from the group consisting of meta-aramids, para-aramids, fluoropolymers and copolymers, chloropolymers and copolymers, polybenzimidazole, polyimides, polyamideimides, partially oxidized polyacrylonitriles, novoloids, poly (p-phenylene benzobisoxazoles), poly (p-phenylene benzothiazoles), polyphenylene sulfides, flame retardant viscose rayons, polyvinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers, polyetheretherketones, polyketones, polyetherimides, polylactides, and combinations thereof; and a second sheath of staple fibers surrounding the first corespun yarn. This yarn may be woven and knit in fine, non-plied or plied form and extends the range of fineness of fabrics below heretofore achievable limits.

Abstract: Provided is a fire resistant corespun yarn. The yarn includes a core of high temperature resistant continuous inorganic filaments; a first sheath of staple fibers surrounding the core, wherein the staple fibers comprise fibers of at least one fire resistant material selected from the group consisting of meta-aramids, para-aramids, fluoropolymers and copolymers, chloropolymers and copolymers, polybenzimidazole, polyimides, polyamideimides, partially oxidized polyacrylonitriles, novoloids, poly (p-phenylene benzobisoxazoles), poly (p-phenylene benzothiazoles), polyphenylene sulfides, flame retardant viscose rayons, polyvinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers, polyetheretherketones, polyketones, polyetherimides, polylactides, and combinations thereof; and a second sheath of staple fibers surrounding the first corespun yarn. This yarn may be woven and knit in fine, non-plied or plied form and extends the range of fineness of fabrics below heretofore achievable limits.

Abstract: Provided is a fire resistant corespun yarn. The yarn includes a core of high temperature resistant continuous inorganic filaments; a first sheath of staple fibers surrounding the core, wherein the staple fibers comprise fibers of at least one fire resistant material selected from the group consisting of meta-aramids, para-aramids, fluoropolymers and copolymers, chloropolymers and copolymers, polybenzimidazole, polyimides, polyamideimides, partially oxidized polyacrylonitriles, novoloids, poly (p-phenylene benzobisoxazoles), poly (p-phenylene benzothiazoles), polyphenylene sulfides, flame retardant viscose rayons, polyvinyl chloride homopolymers and copolymers, polyetheretherketones, polyketones, polyetherimides, polylactides, and combinations thereof; and a second sheath of staple fibers surrounding the first corespun yarn. This yarn may be woven and knit in fine, non-plied or plied form and extends the range of fineness of fabrics below heretofore achievable limits.

Abstract: .epsilon.-Caprolactam is continuously recovered from carpet made from nylon 6 face fibers and a backing. The carpet is fed to a separator to prepare scrap containing nylon 6 and auxiliary materials. The scrap from the separator is fed to a depolymerizing reactor to produce an .epsilon.-caprolactam containing distillate and more auxiliary materials. The .epsilon.-caprolactam in the distillate is separated from other volatiles and purified. The auxiliary materials are also recovered or re-used.

Abstract: A process for recovering polyamide from composite articles that contain polyamide involves (a) subjecting at substantially nondepolymerizing conditions the composite article to a solvent for polyamide for a time sufficient to dissolve substantially all of the polyamide and leaving an insoluble fraction; (b) separating insoluble fraction of the composite article from the dissolved polyamide; and (c) precipitating the dissolved polyamide with appropriate precipitants.

Abstract: Process and system for reclaiming polymeric fibers (e.g., nylon) from post-consumer carpeting includes shredding the post-consumer carpeting into strips, dismantling the carpet strips to form a mixture of the fibers to be reclaimed and the backing material to be discarded, and then separating a substantial portion of the fibers from the backing material. Preferably, the carpet strips are dismantled by impacting the strips of carpeting against an anvil structure with hammer elements using, e.g., a hammermill. A secondary reclamation system is provided whereby the separated backing material which may contain some fibers bound thereto is subjected to secondary dismantling and separation operations. The fractions obtained from the primary and secondary separation operations containing predominantly the polymeric fibers may thus be combined so as to form a process discharge stream which can be pelletized and/or baled as desired.

Abstract: Hybrid and commingled yarns containing reinforcing fibers and thermoplastic matrix fibers when sized with a dispersion or emulsion having a dispersed phase containing a thermoplastic compatible with the thermoplastic of the matrix fibers but having a lower melting point allow preparation of thermoplastic matrix fiber reinforced composite structures at reduced consolidation temperatures, cycle times, and/or consolidation pressures without loss of composite physical properties.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed which are suitable for the preparation of thermoplastic syntactic foam intermediate and final products. These compositions comprise a slurry or putty containing thermoplastic particles, microballoons, and a non-solvent, optionally in the presence of suitable thickeners, binders, and surfactants. In a preferred embodiment, the composition contains particles of an engineering thermoplastic having a mean particle size less then about 100 .mu.m, microballoons, water as the non-solvent, and a thickener/binder which is a lightly crosslinked polyacrylic acid.

Abstract: An improved multifilamentary fibrous material is formed having solid particles of a matrix-forming thermosetting resin substantially uniformly dispersed among adjoining filaments in the absence of fusion bonding. The thermosetting resin particles initially are dispersed in an aqueous medium containing an effective amount of a dissolved polymeric binding agent and the viscosity of the medium subsequently is substantially increased to at least 50,000 cps. to form a gelled impregnation bath having a plastic flow characteristic with shear-thinning behavior wherein the thermosetting resin particles are substantially uniformly suspended. The resulting impregnation bath is caused to flow between the adjoining filaments of the multifilamentary fibrous material with a concomitant viscosity reduction which aids in the incorporation of the resin particles. The concentration of the aqueous medium in the product is controlled to yield a uniform, handleable, drapable, tacky, and highly stable product.

Abstract: An improved multifilamentary fibrous material is formed having solid particles of a matrix-forming thermosetting resin substantially uniformly dispersed among adjoining filaments in the absence of fusion bonding. The thermosetting resin particles initially are dispersed in an aqueous medium containing an effective amount of a dissolved polymeric binding agent and the viscosity of the medium subsequently is substantially increased to at least 50,000 cps. to form a gelled impregnation bath having a plastic flow characteristic with shear-thinning behavior wherein the thermosetting resin particles are substantially uniformly suspended. The resulting impregnation bath is caused to flow between the adjoining filaments of the multifilamentary fibrous material with a concomitant viscosity reduction which aids in the incorporation of the resin particles. The concentration of the aqueous medium in the product is controlled to yield a uniform, handleable, drapable, tacky, and highly stable product.

Abstract: A process for forming high free volume, asymmetric gas separation membranes having graded density skins and macrovoid-free morphology from a solvent system comprising a Lewis acid, Lewis base, and a Lewis acid:base complex which dissolve hydrophobic polymers. The dopes have high total solids, high viscosity and low coagulation (g) values which enhance rapid gelation without the formation of macrovoids and which minimize densification. The dope solvent system complexes are readily disassociated by the coagulation medium and the component molecules are miscible in the medium which provides for rapid desolvation of the formed membrane thus providing a membrane having low residual solvent retention.