Abstract: Closed cells in a flexible foam structure and preferably a polyethylene foam sheet are opened, suitably by needle punching, to increase the oil sorbency of the pad. One embodiment uses needle punching which does not pass all the way through the sheet, thus blocking passage of oil therethrough. Another embodiment employs unpunched strips for prevention of migration of the oil or for buoyancy purposes.

Abstract: Fibrous web structures in which the individual fibers are uniformly felted in random orientation are produced by projecting a stream of solids suspended in air toward a moving porous collection surface. The fibers are maintained in a controlled condition uniformly dispersed in air during transit from the nozzle to the porous collecting surface and before the stream of air has spread to the point of disrupting the uniform fiber dispersion, the fibers are felted and collected on the porous support while air is continuously passed through the support to insure no gravity free fall of fibers. Liquid or dry adhesive binders may be incorporated into the structure at any convenient stage of the process but preferably before the web structure is formed on the moving support.

Abstract: A reinforced low density thermoplastic foam sheet is disclosed. The sheet is a laminate comprising outer laminae of low density thermoplastic foam and a thermoplastic film having about the same tackifying temperature as the foam and a central layer comprising a reinforcing net or net-like structure.

Abstract: Material comprising blends of polymeric and cellulosic fibers is disclosed which is particularly suited for removing oil from aqueous mixtures thereof. The fibers are binded into a web or mat-like structure or blended in an unbonded form and retained by a fine mesh net-like enclosure. The polymeric fiber may be a foamed fiber and a method for producing foamed polymeric fibers is disclosed.

Abstract: Fibrous web structures in which the individual fibers are uniformly felted in random orientation are produced by projecting a stream of solids suspended in air toward a moving porous collection surface. The fibers are maintained in a controlled condition uniformly dispersed in air during transit from the nozzle to the porous collecting surface and before the stream of air has spread to the point of disrupting the uniform fiber dispersion, the fibers are felted and collected on the porous support while air is continuously passed through the support to insure no gravity free fall of fibers. Liquid or dry adhesive binders may be incorporated into the structure at any convenient stage of the process but preferably before the web structure is formed on the moving support.