Abstract: A stiff fabric comprises a woven synthetic fabric coated with a latex compound aerated to provide a weight upon application to the fabric of between 0.63-0.89 gms./ml. The compound is pressed into the fabric by a knife blade having a rounded convex lower edge whereby the compound applied to one side of the fabric passes into the interstices but remains substantially clear of the face side. The compound is cured on the fabric in an oven at approximately 149.degree. C. for 45-60 seconds.

Abstract: A woven or non-woven fibrous material has a substrate formed of first and second thermoplastic fibers. The fabric is passed through an oven at a temperature sufficient to melt the first fibers thereby fusing at least some of the first fibers and second fibers one to the other. The second fibers retain their discrete definition within the composite whereby the composite is provided such that, when cut for use, for example, to form a slat of a vertical blind or a wall panel, the composite retains its shape. A foam backing is provided and cured in the oven simultaneously with the melting of the first fibers.

Abstract: A non-woven substrate is combined with warps and wefts in a warp-knit, weft-insertion machine to form a decorative fabric and later combined with a foam backing. The substrate is substantially uniformly even over its entire surface and has an opacity sufficient to substantially preclude any visual perception of the substrate from the technical backside of the fabric.

Abstract: A stiff fabric comprises a woven synthetic fabric coated with a latex compound aerated to provide a weight upon application to the fabric of between 0.63-0.89 gms./ml. The compound is pressed into the fabric by a knife blade having a rounded convex lower edge whereby the compound applied to one side of the fabric passes into the interstices but remains substantially clear of the face side. The compound is cured on the fabric in an oven at approximately 149.degree. C. for 45-60 seconds.

Abstract: A woven or non-woven fibrous material has a substrate formed of first and second thermoplastic fibers. The fabric is passed through an oven at a temperature sufficient to melt the first fibers thereby fusing at least some of the first fibers and second fibers one to the other. The second fibers retain their discrete definition within the composite whereby the composite is provided such that, when cut for use, for example, to form a slat of a vertical blind or a wall panel, the composite retains its shape. A foam backing is provided and cured in the oven simultaneously with the melting of the first fibers.

Abstract: A fluid jet applicator is disclosed which senses orifice plate fluid pressure and the fabric substrate speed and electronically controls the flow of fluid by modulating fluid pressure in accordance with the speed and characteristics of the fabric substrate. In this fashion, a highly uniform solid shade is applied across the width of the fabric. The uniformity of the applied solid shade is limited only by the uniformity of the orifices in the applicator orifice plate. Additionally, by operating at higher fluid pressures than electrostatic fluid jet applicators, the present invention is significantly more productive than such electrostatic applicators.

Abstract: The electrostatic fluid jet applicator of the present invention achieves patterning effects with an applicator designed to provide a uniform solid application of liquid onto substrates. The applicator requires no digital memory device to store extensive image data defining patterns to be printed and includes a single ganged charging electrode which is utilized to simultaneously charge (or not charge) droplets emanating from a linear array of orifices. The applicator generates patterning effects primarily by controlling the application of charging voltage to the single electrode and by controlling the print time.

Abstract: Uniform application of a controlled relatively small liquid volume per unit area to a moving fabric substrate is obtained even though application is made using a liquid jet electrostatic applicator which employs random drop formation processes. Repetitive print times during which randomly formed droplets are passed onto the substrate along a linear orifice array are controlled so as to have a minimum duration sufficiently large as to average out expected random variation in droplet formation processes occurring along the orifice array. At the same time, the center-to-center spacing of each printed pixel (during which randomly formed droplets are intercepted so as not to fall onto the substrate) is controlled so as to maintain a desired relatively small controlled liquid volume per unit area within the fabric substrate section to be printed.

Abstract: The ultrasonically bonded point bonds of non-woven fabric are dyed by applying liquid dye to the contacting crossing points of the fibers before or at the same time that they are bonded by the application of ultrasonic energy, such energy being used not only to effect the point bonds but also to drive and fix the dye in such point bonds.

Abstract: Dyes are fixed in an indigo-dyed cellulosic fabric, such as denim, in order to improve its washfastness, by applying an aqueous solution of a fixative compound then drying and curing the thus treated fabric in the disclosed process. Suitable fixatives include colorless and colored dihalo-s-triazine reactive dyes. Cellulosic fabrics thus treated retain their original indigo color even after repeated launderings.

Abstract: Carboxy substituted aromatic chromophores are reactively linked to fibers containing alcoholic hydroxyl groups, amino groups or thiol groups, such as cellulosic fibers, with the linkage produced in the presence of a cyanamide compound, such as cyanamide or dicyandiamide.

Abstract: A process for producing space-dyed acrylic yarns is disclosed, wherein an acrylic yarn containing at least 50% by weight of basic-dyeable acrylic fibers has up to 80% the length thereof contacted with a resisting amount of an aqueous solution of a preferably divalent metal cation at a pH of about 2.5 to about 8.0. The yarn is then bulked by steaming to fix the ion on the fibers, and thereafter the yarn is dyed, with at least one basic dye, and the treated areas of the yarn resist the basic dye to produce a space-dyed appearance.The products of the present process may be used in knit and woven goods and the like whenever a space-dyed appearance is desired.