Abstract: A woven fabric comprising spun synthetic polyamide yarn woven in the warp direction and weft direction wherein the polyamide yarn in the woven fabric exhibits a formic acid relative viscosity of at least 60, a halide:copper molar ratio of at least 2.0 and a sodium content of no more than 25 ppm, and wherein the woven fabric exhibits a melt-through resistance at 450° C. of least 2.10 seconds. The invention also provides an airbag made the woven fabric, as well as a method of making the same.

Abstract: Multi-filament polyamide yarns characterized by high tenacity and low shrinkage are disclosed. Such yarns or fabrics made therefrom can be used in industrial applications in which such a combination of properties is desirable. Such yarns are particularly useful in the manufacture of automobile airbag fabrics. Also disclosed is a process for making such yarns. The yarn manufacturing process involves spin-drawing molten nylon, relaxing and controlling the yarn tension, and then winding the yarn. Yarns made according to this process exhibit linear density in the range of 110-940 decitex, tenacity equal to or greater than 80 cN/tex, and shrinkage, measured at 177° C., of less than 5%.

Abstract: Multi-filament polyamide yarns characterized by high tenacity and low shrinkage are disclosed. Such yarns or fabrics made therefrom can be used in industrial applications in which such a combination of properties is desirable. Such yarns are particularly useful in the manufacture of automobile airbag fabrics. Also disclosed is a process for making such yarns. The yarn manufacturing process involves spin-drawing molten nylon, relaxing and controlling the yarn tension, and then winding the yarn. Yarns made according to this process exhibit linear density in the range of 110-940 decitex, tenacity equal to or greater than 80 cN/tex, and shrinkage, measured at 177° C., of less than 5%.

Abstract: Short-cut synthetic or cellulose-based natural reinforcing fiber is provided for polymer composites in a form that feeds uniformly into a compounding process such as is carried out in a single or twin screw extruder or double armed batch mixer using conventional volumetric or gravimetric metering equipment. Upon being fed to the compounding process, the reinforcing fiber disperses and becomes uniformly distributed in a matrix resin. The reinforcing fibers are provided in the form of cut fiber bundles with a finish composition coating the fibers and forming fugitive inter-fiber bonds within each cut fiber bundle. This provides inter-fiber coherency such that the cut fiber bundles can be fed uniformly via a loss-in-volume or loss-in-weight screw feeder device to a compounding process. Upon mixing in the compounding process with a matrix polymer, the fugitive bonds break, and the cut fiber bundles disintegrate into separate individual fibers dispersed in the matrix polymer.