Abstract: A flexible textile or cloth is provided that can be hardened to a rigid or semi-rigid condition. The textile can incorporate reinforcement fibers to provide improved mechanical properties. The reinforcement fibers can be added in a various configurations without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the textile. Further, the textile can include at least one flap to facilitate readily joining the textile with another component such as another textile to create a composite construction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of strengthening existing structures containing the following steps. An existing structure made of concrete, steel, timber, masonry to be reinforced and a reinforcing sheet are provided, where the reinforcing sheet contains an alternating arrangement of reinforcement zones and slitting zones. The reinforcement zones contain unidirectional strengthening fibers in the warp direction of the reinforcement sheet and the slitting zones have an absence of strengthening fibers. The reinforcement sheet is slit through the slitting zones and the reinforcement zones are adhered to the existing structure.

Abstract: A process for forming a high efficiency filter containing the steps of forming a non-woven layer having pores from a plurality thermoplastic fibers having a median diameter of less than about 2 micrometers, saturating the non-woven layer in a wetting liquid, and drying the wetted non-woven layer.

Abstract: An acoustic composite containing at least a first acoustically coupled non-woven composite and a second acoustically coupled non-woven composite, each acoustically coupled non-woven composite containing a non-woven layer and a facing layer. The non-woven layer contains a plurality of binder fibers and a plurality of bulking fibers and has a binder zone and a bulking zone. The facing layer of the second acoustically coupled non-woven composite is adjacent the second surface of the non-woven layer of the first acoustically coupled non-woven composite.

Abstract: A consolidated nanofiber nonwoven comprising a plurality of roped fiber bundles having a length axis. The roped fiber bundles comprise a plurality of nanofibers having a median diameter of less than one micrometer, where at least 50% by number of the nanofibers are oriented within 45 degrees of the length axis of the roped fiber bundles. The nanofibers within the same roped fiber bundle are entangled together. The roped fiber bundles are randomly oriented within the nanofiber nonwoven and are entangled with other roped fiber bundles within the nanofiber nonwoven. At least a portion of the nanofibers are entangled with and adhered to other nanofibers within the same roped fiber bundle and at least a portion of the roped fiber bundles are entangled with and adhered to other roped fiber bundles within the consolidated nanofiber nonwoven.

Abstract: A nanofiber nonwoven comprising a plurality of roped fiber bundles having a length axis. The roped fiber bundles comprise a plurality of nanofibers having a median diameter of less than one micrometer, where at least 50% by number of the nanofibers are oriented within 45 degrees of the length axis of the roped fiber bundles. The nanofibers within the same roped fiber bundle are entangled together. The roped fiber bundles are randomly oriented within the nanofiber nonwoven and are entangled with other roped fiber bundles within the nanofiber nonwoven.

Abstract: An acoustic composite containing at least a first acoustically coupled non-woven composite and a second acoustically coupled non-woven composite, each acoustically coupled non-woven composite containing a non-woven layer and a facing layer. The non-woven layer contains a plurality of binder fibers and a plurality of bulking fibers and has a binder zone and a bulking zone. The facing layer of the second acoustically coupled non-woven composite is adjacent the second surface of the non-woven layer of the first acoustically coupled non-woven composite.

Abstract: An acoustically coupled non-woven composite containing a non-woven layer and a thermoplastic film. The non-woven layer contains a plurality of binder fibers and a plurality of bulking fibers and has a binder zone and a bulking zone.