Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics having liquid barrier properties are provided. The nonwoven fabrics may include one or more nonwoven layers, in which one or more of the nonwoven layers may include a liquid-barrier-enhancing-additive (LBEA) comprising an amide. The nonwoven fabrics may be suitable for use in a wide variety of liquid barrier applications, including facemasks, surgical gowns, surgical drapes, lab coats, and barrier components of absorbent articles (e.g., barrier leg cuffs).

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics having desirable wiping properties while also providing pleasant tactile properties are provided. The nonwoven fabrics may include a first nonwoven outer layer, a second nonwoven outer layer, and a core layer located between the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven outer layer. At least one of the first nonwoven outer layer and the second nonwoven outer layer may include a plurality of blended filaments comprising a blend of a polymer and an elastomeric polyolefin.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics having desirable wiping properties while also providing pleasant tactile properties are provided. The nonwoven fabrics may include a first nonwoven outer layer, a second nonwoven outer layer, and a core layer located between the first nonwoven layer and the second nonwoven outer layer. At least one of the first nonwoven outer layer and the second nonwoven outer layer may include a plurality of blended filaments comprising a blend of a polymer and an elastomeric polyolefin.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabrics having liquid barrier properties are provided. The nonwoven fabrics may include one or more nonwoven layers, in which one or more of the nonwoven layers may include a liquid-barrier-enhancing-additive (LBEA) comprising an amide. The nonwoven fabrics may be suitable for use in a wide variety of liquid barrier applications, including facemasks, surgical gowns, surgical drapes, lab coats, and barrier components of absorbent articles (e.g., barrier leg cuffs).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for enhancing electron flow within a battery, such as a lead-acid battery. In one embodiment, a battery separator may include a conductive surface or layer upon which electrons may flow. The battery separator may include a fiber mat that includes a plurality of electrically insulative fibers. The battery separator may be positioned between electrodes of the battery to electrically insulate the electrodes. The battery separator may also include a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the fiber mat. The conductive material may contact an electrode of the battery and may have an electrical conductivity that enables electron flow on the surface of the fiber mat.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plate or electrode for a lead-acid battery includes a grid of lead alloy material, a paste of active material applied to the grid of lead alloy material, and a nonwoven fiber mat disposed at least partially within the paste of active material. The nonwoven fiber mat includes a plurality of fibers, a binder material that couples the plurality of fibers together, and a conductive material disposed at least partially within the nonwoven fiber mat so as to contact the paste of active material. In some embodiments, the nonwoven fiber mat may have an electrical resistant of less than about 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow on a surface of the nonwoven fiber mat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for enhancing electron flow within a battery, such as a lead-acid battery. In one embodiment, a battery separator may include a conductive surface or layer upon which electrons may flow. The battery separator may include a fiber mat that includes a plurality of electrically insulative fibers. The battery separator may be positioned between electrodes of the battery to electrically insulate the electrodes. The battery separator may also include a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the fiber mat. The conductive material may contact an electrode of the battery and may have an electrical conductivity that enables electron flow on the surface of the fiber mat.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat for reinforcing a plate or electrode of a lead-acid battery includes a plurality of glass fibers and an acid resistant binder that couples the plurality of glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes a wetting component that is applied to the glass fibers and/or nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat exhibits an average water wick height of at least 0.5 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787. The wetting component may be dissolvable in an acid solution of the lead-acid battery such that a significant portion of the nonwoven fiber mat is lost due to dissolving of the wetting component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for enhancing electron flow within a battery, such as a lead-acid battery. In one embodiment, a battery separator may include a conductive surface or layer upon which electrons may flow. The battery separator may include a fiber mat that includes a plurality of electrically insulative fibers. The battery separator may be positioned between electrodes of the battery to electrically insulate the electrodes. The battery separator may also include a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the fiber mat. The conductive material may contact an electrode of the battery and may have an electrical conductivity that enables electron flow on the surface of the fiber mat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for enhancing electron flow within a battery, such as a lead-acid battery. In one embodiment, a battery separator may include a conductive surface or layer upon which electrons may flow. The battery separator may include a fiber mat that includes a plurality of electrically insulative fibers. The battery separator may be positioned between electrodes of the battery to electrically insulate the electrodes. The battery separator may also include a conductive material disposed on at least one surface of the fiber mat. The conductive material may contact an electrode of the battery and may have an electrical conductivity that enables electron flow on the surface of the fiber mat.

Abstract: Glass-fiber mats for lead-acid batteries are described. The glass-fiber mats may include a plurality of glass fibers held together with a binder. The binder may be made from a binder composition that includes (i) an acid resistant polymer, and (ii) a hydrophilic agent. The hydrophilic agent increases the wettability of the glass-fiber mat such that the glass-fiber mat forms a contact angle with water or aqueous sulfuric acid solution of 70° or less. Also described are methods of making the glass-fiber mats that include applying a binder composition to the glass fibers, and including a hydrophilic agent in the glass fiber mat that increases the wettability of the mat. The hydrophilic agent may be added to the binder composition, applied to the glass-fiber mat, or both.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat includes between 10% and 50% by weight of a plurality of first glass fibers having an average diameter of less than 5 ?m and between 50% and 90% by weight of a plurality of second glass fibers having an average diameter of greater than 6 ?m. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes an acid resistant binder that binds the first and second glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat has an average pore size of between 1 and 100 ?m and exhibits an air permeability of below 100 cubic feet per minute per square foot (cfm/ft2) as measured by the Frazier test at 125 Pa according to ASTM Standard Method D737.

Abstract: Glass-fiber composites are described that include a substrate containing glass fibers and particles in contact with the glass fiber substrate. The particles may include an alkali-metal containing compound. In addition, batteries are described with an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The cathode may include alkali-metal containing nanoparticles in contact with glass fibers. Also describe are methods of making a glass-fiber composite. The methods may include the steps of forming a wet laid non-woven glass fiber substrate, and contacting alkali-metal containing particles on the substrate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat for reinforcing a plate or electrode of a lead-acid battery includes a plurality of glass fibers and an acid resistant binder that couples the plurality of glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes a wetting component that is applied to the glass fibers and/or nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat exhibits an average water wick height of at least 0.5 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787. The wetting component may be dissolvable in an acid solution of the lead-acid battery such that a significant portion of the nonwoven fiber mat is lost due to dissolving of the wetting component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an absorptive glass mat (AGM) battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonwoven fiber separator positioned between the electrodes. The separator includes a mixture of glass fibers having diameters between about 8 ?m to 13 ?m and glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 ?m and a silane sizing. An acid resistant binder bonds the glass fibers to form the separator. A wetting component is applied to the separator to increase the wettability such that the separator has or exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes. A conductive material is disposed on at least one surface of the separator such that when the separator is positioned adjacent an electrode, the conductive material contacts the electrode. An electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square enables electron flow about mat.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat for reinforcing a plate or electrode of a lead-acid battery includes a plurality of glass fibers and an acid resistant binder that couples the plurality of glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes a wetting component that is applied to the glass fibers and/or nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat exhibits an average water wick height of at least 0.5 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787. The wetting component may be dissolvable in an acid solution of the lead-acid battery such that a significant portion of the nonwoven fiber mat is lost due to dissolving of the wetting component.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plate or electrode for a lead-acid battery includes a grid of lead alloy material, a paste of active material applied to the grid of lead alloy material, and a nonwoven fiber mat disposed at least partially within the paste of active material. The nonwoven fiber mat includes a plurality of fibers, a binder material that couples the plurality of fibers together, and a conductive material disposed at least partially within the nonwoven fiber mat so as to contact the paste of active material. In some embodiments, the nonwoven fiber mat may have an electrical resistant of less than about 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow on a surface of the nonwoven fiber mat.

Abstract: Examples of the present technology may include a method of making a non-woven fiber mat. The wet nonwoven fiber mat may include a first plurality of first glass fibers and a second plurality of second glass fibers. The first plurality of first glass fibers may have nominal diameters of less than 5 ?m, and the second plurality of second glass fibers may have nominal diameters of greater than 6 ?m. The method may further include curing the binder composition to produce the nonwoven fiber mat. The nonwoven fiber mat may have an average 40 wt. % sulfuric acid wick height of between about 1 cm and about 5 cm after exposure to 40 wt. % sulfuric acid for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787, and the nonwoven fiber mat may have a total normalized tensile strength greater than 2 (lbf/in)/(lb/sq) fora sq (100 ft2).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plate or electrode for a lead-acid battery includes a grid of lead alloy material, a paste of active material applied to the grid of lead alloy material, and a nonwoven fiber mat disposed at least partially within the paste of active material. The nonwoven fiber mat includes a plurality of fibers, a binder material that couples the plurality of fibers together, and a conductive material disposed at least partially within the nonwoven fiber mat so as to contact the paste of active material. In some embodiments, the nonwoven fiber mat may have an electrical resistant of less than about 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow on a surface of the nonwoven fiber mat.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat includes between 10% and 50% by weight of a plurality of first glass fibers having an average diameter of less than 5 ?m and between 50% and 90% by weight of a plurality of second glass fibers having an average diameter of greater than 6 ?m. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes an acid resistant binder that binds the first and second glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat has an average pore size of between 1 and 100 ?m and exhibits an air permeability of below 100 cubic feet per minute per square foot (cfm/ft2) as measured by the Frazier test at 125 Pa according to ASTM Standard Method D737.