Abstract: In a method and apparatus for making a pile-surfaced thermoplastic material by a tack-spin technique the laminate of backing web and adhered pile is hauled off from the heated drawing surface over a rod or bar which fixes the point at which the laminate separates from the heated drawing surface and which directs cooling fluid from an aperture in the rod or bar and onto the back of the backing web and into the fibril-forming area.

Abstract: A process for making a pile-surfaced product comprises feeding a thermoplastic film and a backing between rollers, the roller which engages the thermoplastic being heated so as to cause the thermoplastic to adhere thereto, and subsequently separating the backing and the thermoplastic from the heated roller so that the thermoplastic is drawn into filaments. The nature of the pile is controlled by hauling off the backing and the thermoplastic over a rod or bar which fixes the point at which the thermoplastic separates from the heated roll, controls the path of the product as it moves away from the heated roll and guides a cooling fluid onto the back of the backing.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing sheet-like material having a thermoplastic pile surface includes a cylindrical roll having a heated surface, a feed arrangement for feeding a foundation layer and a thermoplastic material to the heated surface of the roll with the thermoplastic material located between and in contact with the surface and the foundation layer and a withdrawing arrangement for withdrawing the foundation layer and thermoplastic material from the heated surface in a manner such that the thermoplastic material is drawn into filaments which are attached to the foundation layer. In one embodiment the laminate is withdrawn from the roll over a tube or bar and a jet is provided for directing a jet of cooling fluid from the back of the foundation layer into the area where the filaments are formed. In another embodiment the laminate is withdrawn from the roll over a rod or bar which is inter-related with a front jet so that cooling fluid is deflected into the space between the bar and the roll.

Abstract: A fuel tank for a vehicle contains therein a flame arrestor comprising a thermally bonded, non-woven fibrous structure formed from fibers comprising at least 90% potentially adhesive conjugate fibers having a decitex within the range 6 to 35, the non-woven fibrous structure having a density of not more than 16 g per liter and a surface area of at least 0.35 m.sup.2 per liter, the fibers in the fibrous structure being thermally bonded to at least one other fiber.

Abstract: A resilient, thermally bonded, non-woven fibrous batt having a uniform compression modulus in one plane which is more than the compression modulus measured in a direction perpendicular to that plane, and a substantially uniform density across its thickness is obtained by preparing a batt comprising at least 20% by weight of crimped and/or crimpable conjugate fibres having or capable of developing a crimp frequency of less than 10 crimps per extended cm. and a decitex in the range of 5 to 30. The batt is thermally bonded by subjecting it to an upward flow of a fluid heated to a temperature sufficient to heat the batt to a temperature in excess of the softening temperature of the low softening component but below the softening temperature(s) of the other component(s) of the conjugate fibre to effect inter-fibre bonding. The thermally bonded batt is then cooled by an upward flow of cool air.