Abstract: The invention is specifically concerned with an improvement in the process of manufacturing reinforced materials. The reinforced materials are conceived to include a wide variety of materials, the most notable being high density compressed gaskets. The improvement comprises mixing a cut solid (generally a cut fiber) with a body material to produce the reinforced materials. The solid is cut into particulates of highly variable size, the range in the size of the particulates being adjusted to optimize the characteristics of the resulting reinforced material. The cut solid is produced utilizing comminuting machines previously used for the recycle of waste products.

Abstract: The invention is specifically concerned with an improvement in the process of manufacturing reinforced materials. The reinforced materials are conceived to include a wide variety of materials, the most notable being high density compressed gaskets. The improvement comprises mixing a cut solid (generally a cut fiber) with a body material to produce the reinforced materials. The solid is cut into particulates of highly variable size, the range in the size of the particulates being adjusted to optimize the characteristics of the resulting reinforced material. The cut solid is produced utilizing comminuting machines previously used for the recycle of waste products.

Abstract: A conductive fiber is made by an electroless plating process which is used in conjunction with a wet spinning process. The polymer must be catalyzed before the wet gel is collapsed. The resulting filament has a conductive region which is at least partially coincident with the polymer structure.

Abstract: Upper and lower body cold weather garments are provided which have excellent warmth, moisture permeability, wind resistance, and water resistance. The garment comprises an interior lining fabric, such as a loosely knit nylon lining, an outer fabric, and a layer of preponderantly open cell (e.g. polyurethane) foam at least 1/2 inch thick (preferably about one inch thick) between the interior lining fabric and the outer fabric, the components connected together by stitching at the edges of the garment. The outer fabric has air permeability of less than 15, and preferably less than 10, cubic feet per minute per square foot at 0.5 inches head of water, and has moisture vapor transmission of at least 1,000 grams per square meter per 24 hours. The outer or shell fabric preferably is woven from a fine denier, multi-filament, polyester yarn.

Abstract: A conductive fiber is made by an electroless plating process which is used in conjunction with a wet spinning process. The polymer must be catalyzed before the wet gel is collapsed. The resulting filament has a conductive region which is at least partially coincident with the polymer structure.

Abstract: Filamentary vinyl polymer compositions are commonly prepared according to a procedure which includes the following steps:A. polymerizing a vinyl monomer in a concentrated aqueous inorganic salt solution to produce a vinyl polymer solution;B. spinning the resulting vinyl polymer solution through a spinnerette into a coagulating bath containing an aqueous solution of the same inorganic salt as that employed in the polymerization step, the concentration of inorganic salt in the coagulating bath being maintained at a level which affords precipitation of the vinyl polymer to form a coherent filamentary gel;C. washing the vinyl polymer filamentary gel so produced;D. recovering the concentrated aqueous inorganic salt solution from the washing and coagulation steps by concentrating the combined effluents thereof; andE. recycling the recovered concentrated aqueous inorganic salt solution into the polymerizing step.