Abstract: A method for forming shaped products by mixing a formaldehyde-free aqueous binder comprising A) a free-radically polymerized polymer containing from 5 to 100% by weight of units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated acid anhydride or from an ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid whose carboxyl group can form an anhydride group, and B) an alkanolamine having at least two hydroxyl groups, with fibers or chips to form a shaped article, wherein said binder has a property of drying at 50.degree. C. in 72 hours to a film from 0.3 to 1 mm in thickness and, following a subsequent 15 minute cure at 130.degree. C. in air, has a gel content of above 50% by weight, wherein the binder includes less than 0.1% by weight, based on A)+B), of a phosphorus-containing reaction accelerant with fibers or chips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to elastic laminate structures comprising an open cell polymeric mesh integrally thermal bonded between two fabric carrier layers and methods for manufacturing such laminates.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of manufacturing an optical connector according to which it is possible to adjust a projection length a bare optical fiber (7) projects from a connection end surface (3) of a ferrule (1). At a step (a), an optical fiber cored line (5) is inserted through and attached to an optical fiber insertion hole (4) of the ferrule (1), and the bare optical fiber (7) and the ferrule (1) are bonded to each other by hardening a heat-hardening adhesive (11) at a first hardening temperature. Next, at a step (b), the connection end surface (3) is ground so that the connection end surface (3) becomes flat and flush with a tip surface of the bare optical fiber (7). Following this, at a step (c), the heat-hardening adhesive (11) is heated again to be hardened at a temperature which is higher than the first hardening temperature, so that a tip of the bare optical fiber (7), causing pistoning due to the reheat hardening, projects from the connection end surface (3).

Abstract: A packaging material comprising a plurality of flexible strips of material intertwined with and bondably connected to one another so as to form a cohesive cushioning unit and method for forming same is provided. The strips of material have a bonding material disposed thereon for bondingly connecting the strips of material to one another and enabling the strips of material to be bondingly connected to a container and an article.

Abstract: A glass fiber mat for a stampable sheet includes long fibers and short fibers which will not separate even during forming and which are distributed uniformly to make the features of the respective fibers effective. A production system includes a double belt press type laminator which stacks the glass fiber mat, a thermoplastic resin melt and a film which is taken up and applies heat and pressure for impregnation, and cools while maintaining a pressure condition. A supply supplies the glass fiber mat into the laminator. A pair of pressure shearing rollers are arranged between the supply and an endless belt of the laminator for partially cutting the glass fibers into short fibers. The rollers are made of steel to apply line pressure to the glass fiber mat to shear the continuous fibers to uniformly distribute the short fibers in long fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a fiber-reinforced, three-dimensional product of a plastic material by using a mold in which the product is formed.

Abstract: A method of producing a membrane comprises providing a solution containing a plurality of polymers in a non-aqueous liquid solvent, at least one of the polymers (hereinafter referred to as the "first polymer") having been prepared by polymerizing at least one vinyl or acrylic monomer, at least one other of the polymers being a membrane-forming hydrophobic polymer (hereinafter referred to as the "second polymer"), the first polymer and the second polymer being mutually incompatible in said solution, and contacting the solution with an aqueous medium thereby to precipitate the polymers from the solution to form the membrane.

Abstract: A process is described for producing a bonded, non-woven fibrous batt by the use of a dry, solid, particulate, latent-cross-linkable, thermosetting, fiber-binder. This fiber-binder is an intimate mixture of a solid epoxy resin and a cross-linking agent. The epoxy resin has (a) terminal epoxy groups; (b) an epoxide equivalent weight of above about 500; (c) a glass transition temperature above about 40.degree. C.; and (d) a melting point above about 70.degree. C. In the process the fiber-binder contacts the fibers to form a raw batt with the fiber-binder loosely adhering to the fibers of the batt. Then the raw batt is heated to a cross-linking temperature above the melting point of the fiber-binder but below the scorching or melting point of the fibers thereby melting the fiber-binder. The fiber-binder flows to intersections of the fibers and subsequently reacts the cross-linking agent with the terminal epoxy groups of the epoxy resin. This converts the raw batt into a hot cross-linked batt.

Abstract: A method for producing a fibre reinforced three-dimensional product comprises depositing of long fibers in a mould consisting of a frame in which a carrier net for the fibers is suspended. The individual layers of a formed plane laminate are positioned in such a manner that only a first end is secured at a frame side. Said first ends are secured at different frame sides. In this manner it is possible, in a pressing procedure giving the product is three-dimensional shape, to obtain a virtually even distribution of the fibres, even in areas which are subjected to the longest move away from the plane original laminate. In this manner sound well-defined properties are obtained in the three-dimensional product formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning discontinuous fibers (F 101, 212) is described. A feeder apparatus (20, 120, 220, 220A) is used to align the fibers in a horizontal plane for feeding to the aligning apparatus (40, 140, 240, 240A) providing an electrical (E) field to orient the fibers in one preselected direction. A support or conveyor (70, 170, 270) receives the aligned fibers. The method and apparatus provides composite products having improved physical properties because of the alignment. The fibers can be of different lengths and a mixture of different types to make composites with controlled microstructure and properties. The composite materials can be in the form of non-woven, discontinuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic stampable sheets with controlled fiber orientation distribution. The composites are useful for a variety of goods.

Abstract: A process for producing a medical device having a branch includes the steps of: welding a bottom of the tubular member on a mounting surface of a constituent material of a main tube extruded under elevated temperature, welding firmly the bottom of the tubular member to the mounting surface of the main tube while aspirating the constituent material of the main tube from above the tubular member, forming a hole in the mounting surface of the main tube so as to communicate an interior of the tubular member with an interior of the main tube, and cutting the main tube, thereby assembling the medical device having the branch.

Abstract: For manufacturing filter material, a non-woven filter web is formed from electrostatically charged dielectric fibers. In order to give dimensional stability to the filter material without adversely affecting the permeability of the filter material, filaments or narrow strips are placed essentially at a distance from each other on at least one of the two sides of the filter web and fixed to the non-woven filter web.

Abstract: A method for assembling a linkage assembly for a 3-D Digitizing Probe Apparatus. A linkage assembly for incorporation into the probe apparatus includes a linkage and a joint member provided at each end of the linkage. Joint fixtures for receiving and holding the joints are provided at a desired distance and orientation apart. The joint members are loosely coupled to the linkage and are moved relative to the linkage so that the joint members fit in the joint fixtures and so that the linkage provides a desired length between the joints. The joint members are bonded to the linkage while the assembly is in the fixtures, thus fastening the components of the assembly together with minimal stress to the assembly and providing a precise linkage length and orientation of joints in the assembly.

Abstract: A process is described for producing pressed materials, particularly wood particle boards, by the hot compaction of raw materials containing lignocellulose which are mixed and/or impregnated with polyisocyanates as binders, with the use of latent, thermally activatable catalysts, wherein ammonium salts from the reaction of amines with malonic acid are used as catalysts.

Abstract: To minimise the risk of adhesive resin (20, 21) securing an optical fibre (11) in a silicon V-groove (13, 14) from filling the space under the fibre, which can lead to delamination effects resulting from thermal expansion mismatch, a controlled amount of the resin is dispensed into each of two reservoirs (31) located on either side of the groove from which the resin flows into the groove along feeder channels (32) linking the reservoirs to the groove.

Abstract: A repair fitting is provided for sealably connecting ends of a pipeline, when a damaged section of the pipeline has been removed. In a preferred embodiment, the pipeline ends are connected using the repair fitting with two stab fittings. The repair fitting includes a first and second piston and a first and second cylinder, wherein the first piston is slidable in the first cylinder and the second piston is slidable in the second cylinder. In an alternate embodiment, two fusion joints are used with the repair fitting to sealably connect the ends of the pipeline. A method is provided for making a repair fitting and a method is also provided for repairing a damaged section of a pipeline.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing a bonded nonwoven sheet from a lightly consolidated fibrous polyolefin sheet wherein the sheet is preheated on one or more preheating rolls, is bonded in one or more calendering nips, and is cooled on one or more cooling rolls. The process is used to make bonded polyolefin fibrous sheets that are smooth, are substantially impermeable to air and water, and are moisture vapor permeable.

Abstract: A cluster of twist-ties is formed by arranging twist-ties generally parallel to one another and interconnecting the twist-ties at a common end. The twist-ties are severed proximate the common end so that a person can pull on an opposite, free end of any twist-tie to remove it from the cluster.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a resin-impregnated structure reinforced by continuous fibers in which a practically endless continuous fiber bundle is dipped in a bath of molten resin and simultaneously passes through a space between a pair of opening pins. The opening pins can be positioned on sides of the bundle so that the continuous fibers are sandwiched by the pins without coming in contact with them. By doing so, the fibers of the bundle can be opened and can be impregnated with the resin. In addition, the foregoing continuous fiber-reinforced resin structure may be cut into pieces having a desired length to provide columnar products.

Abstract: The invention provides an adhesive system comprising a blend of resin and a co-adhesive conjugated triglyceride drying oil acting as a internal release agent which is mixed with fibers for bonding composite panels such as oriented strand board, particle board, plywood, MDF, hardboard, and similar panels. The resin is a fast acting bonding material which forms a mat of fibers into a self sustaining panel within a time limit during which a press may be economically utilized. The triglyceride acts slower so that, after the panel is formed, there is enough time to penetrate the fibers to a depth that results in a superior bonding. The conjugated drying oil is a release agent that provides an internal release agent that prevents the composite panel from sticking to the press that bonds it.

Abstract: A structural panel, board, or beam and method of making same, with straw that is oriented is provided. The straw is preferably oriented such that strands are parallel oriented in one or more directions. The straw strands are chopped, split, and a binder such as MDI is added.

Abstract: The process for manufacturing fractal hollow tubes is presented. In order to break through present engineering barriers it is necessary to greatly increase the strength-to-weight ratio of the materials used in construction. The present invention accomplishes this by a process in which the mass and atomic dimentions are minimized while order is preserved in accordance to the quantum atomic compressibility law, E=3 h.sup.2 /8 ml.sup.2. Hollow fibers are formed into tubes which are formed into hollow cylinders which form the walls of hollow columns, etc. In this way the energy available for material strength is realized so that support structures that are stronger than 10.sup.9 Pascals and less dense than 1/2 g/cc are built. This process of fractal microengineering will allow the construction of aircraft, and structures having performance capabilities that were not possible before.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an absorbent composite in a sanitary product wherein at least one liquid absorbing layer (14) is formed by the dry forming technique. The absorbing layer includes natural fibers, such as wood fibres, or natural fibers and plastic fibers mixed with one another, and superabsorbent material (15), and is bound by heat. At least one material layer (13) is dry formed on the absorbing layer (14), before the absorbing layer is bound by heat, from fibers crimping in connection with the binding taking place by heat.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing panels (7) of lignocellulose-containing particles (2). According to the invention, binder is continuously applied to the particles (2) which are continuously shaped to form a mat (4). The mat (4) is continuously precompressed and at the same time continuously preheated by the effect of a high-frequency high-voltage field. The mat (4), which is guided in a plane, is compressed to form the panels (7) under the effect of further heat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nonwoven fabric made from a nylon and polyethylene blend. The addition of polyethylene enhances specific properties such as softness, lower production cost, improved process capabilities, and ease of further downstream processing such as bonding to other fabrics or itself.

Abstract: Subjecting lignocellulosic components coated with an aqueous alkaline phenolic resole resin solution to carbon dioxide inhibits overpenetration of resin and improves bond strength when the coated components are heated to cure the resin by application of steam and pressure in the preparation of structural panels. Also, contact with carbon dioxide of high moisture resin coated lignocellulosic components accelerates the speed of cure and improves bond strength of panels cured under heat and pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a molded part made of completely biodegradable starch foamed material to be used for protecting transported articles and to a method for its preparation, wherein the starch foamed material is expanded to form starch foam profiled sections which are self-adhesive when moisture is applied and can be processed individually or so as to form single or multi-layer foam panels. The advantages reside in improved operating properties and minimized expenditure on packaging.

Abstract: A method of fabricating bamboo slats for bamboo blinds, including the steps of: i) cutting bamboo wood into bamboo strips subject to a predetermined length; ii) removing the skin and joints from both sides of the bamboo strips, then boiling the bamboo strips in a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution to prevent decay, and then polishing the bamboo strips after drying; iii) bonding the bamboo strips into a rectangular bamboo plate, then polishing the bamboo plate thus obtained; iv) splitting the polished bamboo plate thus obtained into raw bamboo slats subject to a predetermined thickness, then polishing the bamboo slats, and then coating the bamboo slats with a base coating and then with a face coating; v) punching two punch holes on the bamboo slats thus obtained for the insertion of a pull cord so that the finished bamboo slats thus obtained can be assembled with a pull cord into a bamboo blind.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a fabric, suitable for mailing a finished composite product, using one or more composite strands. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises at least one bushing for forming reinforcing fibers; supply equipment for supplying matrix fibers; at least one applicator for applying bonding size (i.e., bonding chemical treatment) to the fibers; a gathering mechanism for gathering the treated fibers into at least one composite strand; a pulling mechanism for pulling the at least one composite strand; and a fabric forming mechanism for forming a fabric using the at least one composite strand.

Abstract: A process for forming flexible cutting line for use in rotary vegetation trimmers of the type having two or more monofilament lines mounted on a common spool. The line produced by the process of the present invention defines two monofilament strands joined together in a side-by-side relationship by a severable bond. Each strand defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced and outwardly projecting vegetation cutting edges thereon, two of the edges on one of the strands being in parallel contact with two of the edges on the other strand so as to define a pair of parallel readily severable welds bonding the strands together in a side-by-side disposition.

Abstract: Compound threads (1) and the fabrics obtained therefrom are very inexpensive, of acceptable quality and preferably useable to make recyclable disposable garments. The threads (1) include a thin carrier thread (2) to which a web mass (3), coming from the carding of the fiber used, is adhered, preferably by use of a water-soluble glue or electrostatic means. The compound thread (1) has the possibility of making use, upon making the web (3), of the shortest fibrils that are usually disposed of. One of the fabrics obtained consists of a band or strip of web (3) that includes several carrier threads (2) placed parallel to each other and that can be cut to obtain compound threads (1.) Another fabric consists of weft thread and crossed warp thread of which all or some, depending on the different combinations, are compound threads (1.

Abstract: A concentric radial flow hollow fiber module includes internal and external annular-shaped spaced apart bodies disposed in a concentric arrangement and hollow fibers extending across an annular interspace extending through the module between the bodies and connected with the bodies. The internal body surrounds an inner space while the external body is surrounded by an outer space. Each body includes an annular wall made of a non-permeable plastic material having adhesive properties and an elongated strengthening element contained within and extending circumferentially about the annular wall. Each hollow fiber includes an tubular wall having spaced opposite inner and outer end portions encapsulated respectively in the internal and external bodies and open respectively to at least one of the inner and outer spaces.

Abstract: The method comprises straightening the threads of the fringe of a rug, carpet or the like, and applying a product on the fringe without displacing the straightened threads and causing the product to be engaged with the threads of the fringe, so that the threads stay evenly aligned.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-supporting laminate filter medium having an electret lofty spunbond web and an electret microfiber web, wherein the spunbond web has a density between about 0.01 g/cm.sup.3 and about 0.1 g/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a synthetic reinforcing strand of filaments in which the strand density is reduced by spacing the filaments apart along their length with heat expandable hollow particles such as plastic microspheres expanded into microballoons and the method of making such strands. Also embodied in the invention are methods utilizing such strands in processes for making composite structures.

Abstract: A thermally conductive film that includes a film of polymeric matrix material having a thickness t defined between a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of fibers, having a greater thermal conductivity than the polymeric matrix material, is disposed in the film and extends between the top surface and the bottom surface. Each of the fibers are oriented in the film to form a fiber-to-film surface angle .theta. relative to the top and bottom surfaces that is greater than about 45.degree. but is less than arctan t/d, where t is the thickness of the film and d is the diameter of the fibers in the direction of the angle .theta.. A shear/extruder apparatus is used to form the thermally conductive film from a sheet of composite prepreg material. An upper die block and a lower die block separated by a predetermined distance form an extrusion slot therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning discontinuous fibers (F 101, 212) is described. A feeder apparatus (20, 120, 220, 220A) is used to align the fibers in a horizontal plane for feeding to the aligning apparatus (40, 140, 240, 240A) providing an electrical (E) field to orient the fibers in one reselected direction. A support or conveyor (70, 170, 70) receives the aligned fibers. The method and apparatus provides composite products having improved physical properties because of the alignment. The fibers can be of different lengths and a mixture of different types to make composites with controlled microstructure and properties. The composite materials can be in the form of non-woven, discontinuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic stampable sheets with controlled fiber orientation distribution. The composites are useful for a variety of goods.

Abstract: A formable reinforcement bar, a process for producing a formable reinforcing bar and a supported structure including a formable reinforcement bar are provided. The reinforcement bar includes a body portion of a fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The process involves laminating multiple layers of thin strips or bundles of fiber reinforced thermoplastic to produce the formable rebar. The formable rebar may be produced at remote locations such as a construction site. The supported structure includes a composite material having a formable rebar embedded therein.

Abstract: A method of making an intravascular balloon catheter that has an elongated shaft defining an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen, as well as a balloon disposed near the distal end of the shaft. The method may include forming an inner shaft by coextruding a flexible plastic tube by bringing a molten outer plastic layer into contact with a molten inner plastic layer, thereby bonding the plastic layers together during the coextrusion process. The inner plastic layer may be more lubricious than the outer plastic layer.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric of superior uniaxial elasticity is provided. The nonwoven fabric comprises of conjugate filaments each of which is about concentric sheath-core type. Core component is composed of polyester and sheath component is composed of polyolefine. In the nonwoven fabric, heat bonded areas are interspersed by heat bonding the conjugate filaments one another by softening or melting the sheath component. The nonwoven fabric satisfies following four properties concurrently: (i) breaking elongation in cross direction is 150% or more, (ii) ratio of breaking elongation in cross direction to breaking elongation in machine direction is 5 or more, (iii) percentage of elastic recovery at the time of extending the nonwoven fabric by 50% in cross direction is 60% or more, and (iv) percentage of elastic recovery at the time of extending the nonwoven fabric by 100% in cross direction is 50% or more. A heat is partially applied to a filamentous web, thereby obtaining a filamentous fleece.

Abstract: A multi-layered composite building material is provided which allows effective utilization of forest resources by using so-called low quality materials such as small-diameter wood, old wood, pieces of wood produced as byproducts of lumbering, and/or bamboo. The material can meet various requirements and properties, and can be produced at a low cost. In a structural layer, an adhesive agent is applied to a plurality of finely split pieces which are formed by finely splitting a raw material such as wood or bamboo. The finely split pieces are arranging in parallel to a fiber direction. A shock/vibration-absorbing layer is formed by applying an adhesive agent to small pieces of wood and bamboo and the like. Structural layers and shock/vibration-absorbing layers are alternately arranged to provide a multi-layered structure. The structure is press-molded to a predetermined thickness and optionally heated such that the layers are adhered together to produce the composite multi-layered material.

Abstract: A process is described for producing a bonded, non-woven fibrous batt by the use of a dry, solid, particulate, latent-cross-linkable, thermosetting, fiber-binder. This fiber-binder is an intimate mixture of a solid epoxy resin and a cross-linking agent. The epoxy resin has (a) terminal epoxy groups; (b) an epoxide equivalent weight of above about 500; (c) a glass transition temperature above about 40.degree. C.; and (d) a melting point above about 70.degree. C. In the process the fiber-binder contacts the fibers to form a raw batt with the fiber-binder loosely adhering to the fibers of the batt. Then the raw batt is heated to a cross-linking temperature above the melting point of the fiber-binder but below the scorching or melting point of the fibers thereby melting the fiber-binder. The fiber-binder flows to intersections of the fibers and subsequently reacts the cross-linking agent with the terminal epoxy groups of the epoxy resin. This converts the raw batt into a hot cross-linked batt.

Abstract: A bulky and highly strong filament nonwoven fabric and method of manufacturing the filament nonwoven fabric which is made of conjugated filaments, whose intersections are melted and adhered, and which has a 15-35 cc/g specific volume and satisfies the following Formula (1) between strength and specific volume;Y.gtoreq.-1.25X+125 (1)wherein Y is a geometrical mean of vertical and horizontal strength per 5 cm wide and 1 g/cm.sup.2 nonwoven fabric ?unit: g/(g/m.sup.2 .multidot.5 cm!; Y=(MD.times.CD).sup.1/2 where MD is vertical strength ?unit: g/(g/m.sup.2 .multidot.5 cm! and CD is horizontal strength ?unit: g/(g/m.sup.2 .multidot.5 cm!; and X=specific volume of a nonwoven fabric ?unit: cc/g!; and wherein the conjugated filament is made of a low melting point polymer and a high melting point polymer with a difference in melting points of at least 15.degree. C., and has the low melting point polymer on at least one section of a filament surface and has crimps.

Abstract: Antiabrasion curved section made of reinforced curved plastic material and comprising in at least one of a lower portion and an upper portion an antiabrasion material. A plurality of antiabrasion sections are produced inside a profiled mold having a plurality of grooves in which is arranged the antiabrasion material of the lower faces. Reinforced filaments impregnated with a stabilizable resin are supplied to the mold and, finally, the antiabrasion material of the upper faces is applied. The mold is wound on a mandrel and the plastic material is stabilized before removing the mold sections which form a unitary assembly dividable particularly during the stranding of arm rings.

Abstract: A binder is applied to fibers to bind particles to the fibers. The fibers have hydrogen bonding functional groups. The particles have functional groups capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond. The binder comprises binder molecules, the binder molecules having at least one functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and at least one functional group that is capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the fibers. A substantial portion of the particles that are adhered to the fibers are adhered in particulate form by hydrogen bonds or coordinate covalent bonds to the binder, and the binder is in turn adhered to the fibers by hydrogen bonds. Fibers containing particles bound by this method are easily densified.

Abstract: A barrier fabric laminate for use as a coating for a gel filled article is provided. The barrier fabric laminate comprises a fluid impermeable film and a polyurethane nonwoven web which has a friction value of less than 200 g and a fabric hand of less than 200 g. The polyurethane web is formed of fibers of less than about 50 .mu.m on average and preferably is formed with a fluorochemical melt additive by sequentially melt blowing the polyurethane web on a heated collecting drum and laminated by a nip formed by a heated nip roller and the collecting drum.

Abstract: Consolidated composite wood products are produced by waferizing wet wood to produce wet green strands and processing the wet green strands by application of adhesive and formation of a lay-up mat for consolidation prior to drying. The lay-up mat is dried in mat form under conditions that maintain the applied adhesive to condition it for the subsequent consolidation step wherein heat and pressure are applied to form a consolidated composite wood product. Preferably, the mat will be formed by orienting the strands to have their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the product and then the product will be remaned to produce lumber products with the longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the product.

Abstract: A multi-density batt having a plurality of overlaid thermoplastic fiber web layers. Each of the web layers comprise a homogeneous blend of matrix fibers and binder fibers. The binder fibers have a relatively low predetermined melting temperature and the matrix fibers have a relatively high predetermined melting temperature. The binder fibers and matrix fibers are heat-fused together. The batt has a width defining a cross direction and a length defining a machine direction. At least one integrally-formed, relatively thick, high density region extends in both the cross direction and machine direction of the batt. At least one integrally-formed relatively thin, low density region extends in both the cross direction and machine direction. The batt can be used to form a cushion, such as a seat cushion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a mineral fiber product includes establishing a stream of mineral fibers, directing polymeric fibers toward the stream of mineral fibers to cause intermingling of the polymeric material, and applying heat to the polymer fibers so that some of them become softened to the extent that they lose their fibrous form and become attached to the mineral fibers as non-fibrous particles, whereas some of the polymer fibers retain their fibrous form.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat shrink clad core optical conduit and to an optical conduit having either a thermoplastic, thermoset or liquid, light transmitting core surrounded by, preferably a fluoropolymer cladding which is in turn surrounded by a tight-fitting, finish polymer jacket which may be either transparent or translucent, and is preferably made of a polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic or silicone material. Numerous fillers and inserts may be used in the finish jacket polymer and the finish jacket polymer may be formed into various shapes. Bondable jacket materials may be used. The preferred method of forming the manufacturing jacket around a heat shrinkable fluoropolymer cladding is by extruding a low extrusion temperature polymer over a heat shrink clad in its expanded form into which an increased interior pressure is maintained to prevent shrinkage during the extrusion process.