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: In order to preheat a particle mat having upper and lower faces and edges to a predetermined desired temperature for pressing into a pressed board air is conditioned to a temperature below 100.degree. C. and a moisture content together imparting to the conditioned air a dew point generally equal to the desired temperature. This conditioned air is simultaneously introduced from above and below at the same rate into the respective faces of the mat to produce in the mat a pair of horizontal and vertically approaching fronts at which moisture condenses out of the conditioned air. Introduction of the conditioned air into the mat is ended when condensed moisture and the conditioned air are forced out of the edges of the mat.

Abstract: A tubular fibrous blanket is formed using a rotary fiberizer which produces a tow of substantially continuous thermoplastic fibers and a suction chamber with an annular, vertically extending, collection surface spaced from and surrounding the rotary fiberizer. The fibrous tow is collected on the annular, vertical collection surface or on a foraminous backing sheet passing over the collection surface in a spiral of very low pitch with succeeding portions of the tow at least partially overlapping and preferably, substantially completely overlapping preceding portions of the tow to form the tubular blanket. The tubular fibrous blanket and the backing sheet, when used, can then be slit longitudinally and unfolded to form a flat blanket having continuous fibers extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blanket.

Abstract: A multilayered absorbent structure is disclosed. The absorbent structure has a plurality of absorbent planar regions defined by decreasing pore size with increasing depth into the region. Generally, each planar region has an absorbent layer having relatively large average pore sizes at the top, body facing surface, and relatively small average pore sizes at the bottom, garment facing surface. A subsequent absorbent region has a top body facing surface with an average pore size which is larger than the bottom, garment facing surface of the previous absorbent region. The top surface of each subsequent planar region is in fluid communication with the lower surface of the planar region above.

Abstract: There is provided a process which comprises the step of subjecting a just produced spunbond web to a high flow rate, heated stream of air across substantially the width of the web to very lightly bond the fibers of the web together. Such bonding should be the minimum necessary in order to satisfy the needs of further processing yet not detrimentally affect the web. The fibers of the web may be monocomponent or biconstituent and the web should be substantially free of adhesives and not subjected to compaction rolls.

Abstract: Bicomponent moulded article made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which, in the manner of the side-by-side type, is composed of two PTFE components which shrink under the effect of heat and differ in their hot-air shrinkage by at least 1%. A preferred embodiment is in the form of a fibre which can be crimped under heat treatment. (FIG.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein the module is fabricated utilizing superior hollow fiber materials, namely high molecular weight (i.e. molecular weight>500,000 Daltons) polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow fibers are fabricated from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UPE). An array of UPE hollow fiber membranes is contacted with an extrusion of molten thermoplastic polymer at a contact temperature which is higher than the UPE membrane polymer. This high temperature application of sealing polymer does not collapse or otherwise deform the lumen of the hollow fiber, while assuring that the polymer can thus be applied with sufficiently low viscosity to provide adequate penetration around the individual fibers of the array to form an integral seal thereabout.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent fibre layer (15), and an absorbent fibre layer. In the method, at least one material layer (16) consisting of a mixture of natural fibres, such as wood fibres, and plastic fibres is formed by a dry-forming technique, and at least one other material layer (17) consisting of natural fibres, or a mixture of natural fibres and plastic fibres, and superabsorbent material (18) is formed on said material layer. The fibre layer (15) is bonded with heat. The invention is characterized in that the superabsorbent material (18) is added to the second material layer (17) to be formed in connection with its dry-forming stage, after which the upper surface of the fibre layer is compacted and its lower surface is moistened and compressed by hot calendering in order to compress the material layer (16) comprising no superabsorbent material into a liquid-spreading layer.

Abstract: A fiber-cement trim board is formed by a fiber-cement core layer faced with a pair of fiber-cement surface layers of substantially equal thickness in the core layer and have a cement-to-wood ratio by weight of between 2 and 3.5 and at least 70% of the wood strands have a length longer than 10 min. Each of the surface layers is formed of a fiber-cement mixture containing wood strands, at least 80% of which have a length of less than 4 mm and a cement-to-wood ratio by weight of between 2 and 3.5. The board is covered at least on the two main faces by a water barrier coating.

Abstract: A nonwoven abrasive or scouring article having at least one major surface and an interior region comprises an open, lofty web of first and second crimped, staple organic thermoplastic fibers, wherein the first organic thermoplastic fiber comprises materials selected from the group consisting of polyamides, pololefins, and polyesters, and wherein said second organic thermoplastic fiber comprises at least two materials of different heat stability. The first and second organic crimped, staple thermoplastic fibers are melt-bonded together at least at a portion of points where they contact. At least a portion of the first and second fibers of one major surface of the nonwoven article have an abrasive coating bonded thereto, and at least a portion of the first and second fibers of the interior region have no abrasive coating bonded thereto, a structure which minimizes the amount of binder which must be used.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure (1) comprises a plurality of small tubes (2) bonded to each other along their sides. The small tubes (2) have a base body (4) made of a thermoplastic and which, at least on the outside, preferably on the outside and on the inside, carries a coating (5) made of an adhesively-active thermoplastic material. As a result of this coating (5), a good bonding of the small honeycomb tubes (2) to each other as well as to a cover layer (3) is possible.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making a fibrous laminated material wherein a first fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a fibrous laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin.

Abstract: A particle mat for pressing into a pressed board is heated by concurrently passing through the mat treatment air coming from an air-conditioning system and having a predetermined moisture content and dew point, heating the treatment air passing through the mat to a temperature which is greater by a dew-point differential than the dew point of the treatment air, and controlling the volume rate of flow of the treatment air and the moisture content of the treatment air such that the mat is preheated to a predetermined temperature while liquid in the treatment air is allowed to condense in the mat to at most a maximum liquid content.

Abstract: Laminated reinforced thermoplastic sheets are made by preparing first and second porous sheets, each having 20% to 60% by weight of reinforcing fibers having a high modulus of elasticity and 40% to 80% by weight of a thermoplastic material differing from the thermoplastic material in the other sheet and applying heat and pressure to cause the sheets to consolidate and adhere together to form the laminate.

Abstract: The present invention is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fiber with improved handling properties. Unlike previous expanded PTFE fibers, the fiber of the present invention employs a fiber of increased thickness so that the fiber is maintained in an unfolded orientation. The improved processing steps of the present invention create a fiber that has a number of improved properties, including more uniform dimensions along its length, improved compressibility and handling, and when woven into a fabric, the fabric is more easily processed, is of higher quality, and is more uniform.

Abstract: Process for the production of a homogenous polymeric monolith wherein an assembly of oriented thermoplastic polymer fibres is maintained under a contact pressure sufficient to ensure intimate contact at an elevated temperature high enough to melt a proportion of the polymer. The assembly is subsequently compressed at a compaction pressure higher than the contact pressure while still being maintained at the elevated temperature. The resulting polymeric products are useful, for example as orthodontic brackets, bone prostheses and in body armor.

Abstract: A multi-tubing ribbon wherein the side-by-side lengths of plastic tubing are ultrasonically welded together at spaced intervals along the length of the ribbon whereby to provide a multi-tubing ribbon having non-welded sections spaced along its length which renders it very adaptable for use in a variety of situations and a process and apparatus for fabricating same.

Abstract: A woven or non-woven fibrous material has a substrate formed of first and second thermoplastic fibers. The fabric is passed through an oven at a temperature sufficient to melt the first fibers thereby fusing at least some of the first fibers and second fibers one to the other. The second fibers retain their discrete definition within the composite whereby the composite is provided such that, when cut for use, for example, to form a slat of a vertical blind or a wall panel, the composite retains its shape. A foam backing is provided and cured in the oven simultaneously with the melting of the first fibers.

Abstract: A method of producing easily densified high bulk fibers that have adhered particulates. The high bulk fibers have hydrogen bonding or coordinate covalent bonding functionalities, and a binder is applied to the fibers to bind the particles to the fibers. The binder has a functional group that forms a hydrogen bond or a coordinate covalent bond with the particles, and a functional group that forms 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 method and assembly are disclosed for bundling wires utilized in a head gimbal assembly of a magnetic disk storage device. According to the method of the present invention, a number of wires are routed along a predetermined path on a surface of the arm of the head gimbal assembly. While the wires are maintained along the predetermined path, an adhesive is dispensed at selected locations along the predetermined path. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive is applied in a contiguous manner along the length of the wires extending beyond the end of the arm. Finally, the adhesive is cured to encapsulate a portion of the wires within a sleeve of adhesive. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive is dispensed over the wires in a plurality of non-contiguous segments.

Abstract: Multiconstituent fibers prepared from two or more polymers, with at least one of these polymers being randomly dispersed through the fiber, in the form of domains. At least about 40 percent by weight of these domains have one length of at least 20 microns, measured in the direction along the fiber axis, and have another length, measured along the longest line dissecting the domain cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the fiber axis, of at least about 5 percent of the fiber equivalent diameter.

Abstract: A shaped nonwoven fabric comprises continuous spunbond filaments made by directly forming the spunbond filaments into a web in a single process. The fabric has an array of discrete surface features such as apertures or projections, or both. The spunbond filaments are bonded together with an adhesive polymeric component so that the shape of the fabric is retained. The fabric can be engineered to have particular fluid handling properties, strength properties, abrasive properties and aesthetic properties. Articles such as personal care products, garments, medical products and cleaning products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ceramic composite is provided comprising ceramic fibers, glass microballoons and/or diatoms, bound together with a ceramic reinforcing cloth with a sol-gel ceramic binder. The composite is particularly useful as a high strength, high temperature insulation material.

Abstract: The subject matter of this invention relates to a method of making glass fiber mat reinforcement material with a thermoplastic adhesive powder. Fiberglass strands are chopped and randomly air dropped onto a Teflon.RTM. coated conveyor belt to form a loose mat. A water mist is then applied to the loose mat and transport belt, before a powdered adhesive is dispensed. Heat is applied to plasticize the adhesive and finally the adhesive is solidified by cooling. The adhesive will then release from the transport belt and is adhered to the material forming the fiberglass reinforcement mat.

Abstract: An absorbent, abrasive composite nonwoven web (42) may include at least four layers with two of the layers being formed by meltblowing (10, 54) and two of the layers being supporting carrier layers (14, 58). One of the meltblown layers is an abrasive surface layer (10) formed from a coarse, shot-laden meltblown layer (10) while another meltblown layer is disposed in the interior of the composite web (42) and is adapted to provide absorbency characteristics to composite. The carrier layers (14,58) may be formed from spunbonded webs. The abrasive surface layer (10) and its supporting carrier layer (14) are joined together by hot pin aperturing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus for depositing threads such as textile threads and in particular glass fibre threads, the threads being continuously supplied on a curved path onto a support plate and around fixed points which are arranged movably on it, formed by movable pins, so as to be laid down in a controlled manner in any desired configuration, in order for example to form a reinforcement for fibre-reinforced articles made chiefly of plastics, in which the individual threads are arranged directed along the lines of stress and also in the regions of high thread density no excessive thickenings are produced at the points where they cross.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an acoustic composite material for an ultrasonic phased array and a method for making. The acoustic composite material is formed from a microcapillary array having a plurality of holes of a constant cross-section and volume fraction. In each of the plurality of holes of the microcapillary array, a polymer fill is deposited therein. The polymer filled microcapillary array is cut at an axis perpendicular to the microcapillary array into a plurality of sections. Each of the plurality of sections are then ground into a predetermined thickness and bonded to a phased array of piezoelectric elements and backfill material.

Abstract: A glass sheet annealing ring includes an insulating ring juxtaposed the inboard periphery of the annealing ring for reducing the cooling rate of the glass sheet in proximity to the insulating ring thereby reducing the magnitude of net inner band tension while maintaining edge compression as the glass sheet is cooled.

Abstract: A densified batt comprising a mixture of low melting and high melting synthetic fibers or high melting synthetic fibers coated with a low melting material formed by building up the fibers into a batt of unbonded fibers of substantial height, compressing the unbonded fibers to the extent that the batt has a height of at most one-third the height when not compressed, heating the compressed batt to bond the fibers together, and cooling the heated compressed batt while still compressed to provide the densified batt. The batting being in a single layer and uniform throughout can be readily fabricated into cushioning or the like having controlled characteristics.

Abstract: A coil of hollow tubing is bonded onto itself to retain the integrity of the coil by depositing a bead or stream of adhesive onto the exterior of the tubing along the extent thereof. By coiling the tubing the adhesive comes into contact with itself to removably bond the coil together. In use, any desired section of the coil is "peeled" from the remainder of the coil. The present invention is particularly advantageous in use with drain tile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing a composite wood product from split and disrupted pieces of a raw material such as cedar, willow or bamboo. The composite may be employed as a thick plate of wood, pillar wood, beam wood and the like used for furniture, buildings, and structural objects. The composite is formed by roughly splitting and disrupting a fibrous raw material lengthwise. The roughly split and disrupted material is then finely split and disrupted, and then dried. A single layer is formed by laterally arranging and adhering the finely split and disrupted wood pieces. The single layers are then formed into a pile and heated and pressure tightened.

Abstract: An absorbent, flushable, bio-degradable, and medically-safe nonwoven fabric suitable for use as wraps, wipes, absorbent pads, etc., is composed of from 2% to 10% by weight of untreated, water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers that are heat-bonded to a matrix of absorbent fibers. The use of PVA fibers in low amounts provides softness, while sufficient wet strength is provided by heat bonding the PVA fibers completely to the other fibers in a two-stage heating process. The resulting nonwoven fabric has a high wet-to-dry tensile strength ratio, good drape softness, and high fluid absorptive capacity. In a method for producing the nonwoven fabric, the PVA fibers are blended with the absorbent fibers, the blended fibers are carded onto a moving web, sufficient water is added to wet the PVA fibers while maintaining web integrity, then the web is heated in two stages, the first with heating cylinders at 40.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., then the second with heating cylinders of 60.degree. C. to 100.degree. C.

Abstract: Improved wood fiber mat comprised of a mixture of thermo-mechanically processed wood fibers and synthetic fibers.

Abstract: A process for optically joining a plurality of optical fibers to an opponent member, comprising the steps of forming an optical fiber array by fixing the optical fibers between a V-grooved base plate and a fixing base plate in the state that the optical fibers are fitted to respective V-grooves formed on a surface of the V-grooved base plate, and optically joining the optical fibers of the optical fiber array to the opponent member by using, as a joining reference surface, either one of a first surface of the fixing base plate at which the optical fibers are fixed and a second surface of the fixing base plate opposite to said surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure at least partially comprising a composite material, the material being made by means of sheets of fibers embedded in a matrix, the different sheets forming plies of the material, the material comprising intrinsic means for the detection and localization of a mechanical irregularity, these means comprising at least one polarization-maintaining birefrigent optical fiber having a so-called slow axis and a so-called fast axis, embedded in the matrix and describing a known path inside the material, wherein the optical fiber is included inside a casing with an internal diameter that is greater than the external diameter of the fiber.

Abstract: A vascular catheter includes a flexible catheter body having proximal and distal ends and an elongate housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body. An interactional device is disposed on one side of the housing, and at least two spaced-apart inflatable chambers are located on the other side of the housing generally at its proximal and distal ends, respectively. The inflatable chambers may be expanded simultaneously or separately, and the spaced-apart positioning of the chambers provides for stable positioning of the housing during atherectomy procedures, imaging procedures, and the like. The balloon is conveniently connected to the housing by an integral flange structure which is secured through an inflation aperture on the housing side. The balloon may be inflated through an annular inflation which is defined by a separate isolation tube disposed in the central lumen of the catheter body.

Abstract: A method of making a peelable tube assembly (76,80,84,88) having a plurality of adjacent tube portions (62) joined by intermittent breakable webs (72) of plastic allowing the individual portions (62) to be peeled from the tube assembly, including providing a plurality of plastic tube portions (62) each having a tube wall (66) defining a flow passage (70). The tube portions (62) are aligned adjacent to one another in a die assembly (12) having compression channels (30). Narrow confined flow chambers (32) are defined between adjacent portions (62) of the tube walls (66), and between the ends of the tube walls (66). The tube portions (62) are radially compressed without occluding the flow passage (70). Small compressed portions of the tube walls (66) proximate the flow chambers (32) are heated and plasticized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming a polymeric pre-stretched grid for supporting a structure, such as an earthwork, wherein a suitable polymeric material, e.g. polyethylene, is used to make thin polymer strips by a molding machine, these strips are fully stretched by a pre-stretching machine so as to rearrange long bonds of polymer molecules to form the pre-stretched strips with high tensile strength, then these pre-stretched strips are crossed over each other longitudinally and transversely in line with a pre-set width by a machine (or manually) and the crossings of longitudinal and transverse network plies are united by gluing or hot fusion or otherwise to form a pre-stretched grid.

Abstract: A device and a method for shrinking heat recoverable sleeves for covering cable joints comprising a heating device the interior of which has a plurality of independently energizable heating elements and at least one sensor and a control circuit or control circuits which are connected to the heating elements and the at least one sensor. The control circuit is arranged to produce a uniform and then a non-uniform temperature profile within the heating device unless the initial temperature within the heating device is above a given temperature (e.g.) 30.degree. C. in which case the control circuit waits until the temperature within the heating device falls to below the given temperature before producing the temperature profiles whereby sleeved cable joints of a uniform quality are produced by avoiding air entrapment within the sleeve during the shrinking process.

Abstract: Spunbonded nonwoven nylon fabrics are formed from a blend of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 polymers. A blend or copolymer of 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of nylon 6, balance nylon 6,6 is extruded into continuous filaments, pneumatically attenuated and drawn, and deposited onto a collection surface forming a web. The web is bonded either chemically or thermally. The fabric exhibits improved filament bonding. The addition of nylon 6 also improves the spinning performance of a nylon 6,6 spunbonded nonwoven process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a point bonded polyolefin nonwoven fabric fabricated from conjugate fibers containing a polyolefin and a polyamide. Advantageously, the nonwoven fabric can be point bonded at a temperature significantly below conventional polyolefin nonwoven web bonding temperatures and in a wide range of different bonding temperatures without significantly sacrificing its tensile strength. Additionally provided is a process for producing the point bonded nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: A laminated fabric material, a nonwoven textile product used to make that material and methods of making each are disclosed. The nonwoven textile product includes a compressed nonwoven textile batt of textile staple fibers and a cured binder disposed substantially throughout the batt. The textile product is suitable as a substitute for foam backing layers in the production of laminated fabric materials.

Abstract: A melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition is provided which includes a thermoplastic polyolefin and an additive system made up of a first component and a second component, in which (A) the first component is a defined polysiloxane polyether having a molecular weight of from about 350 to about 18,000 and which is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 3 percent by weight, based on the amount of thermoplastic polyolefin; and (B) the second component is a hydrophobic fumed silica, in which the weight ratio of the first component to the second component is in the range of from about 20 to about 300. Such composition yields, upon melt-extrusion, either nonwoven webs having significantly increased tensile strengths when compared to nonwoven webs prepared from the thermoplastic polyolefin alone, or wettable webs requiring an amount of first component which is significantly less than that required in the absence of the second component.

Abstract: A method for preparing hydrophobic fiber for processing, inclusive of crimping, cutting, carding, compiling and bonding, without substantial loss in hydrophobic properties in the finished staple or corresponding nonwoven product through initial application of a surface modifier component comprising one or more of a class of water soluble compounds substantially free of lipophilic end groups and of low or limited surfactant properties.

Abstract: A slot draw attenuator apparatus and method are provided for producing webs of spunbonded thermoplastic filaments having improved cover even at low basis weights. The filaments are introduced to a slot draw attenuator having corona electrodes mounted in an elongate insulator bar and staggered and spaced along one wall of the attenuator slot near the exit end thereof. The corona electrodes are electrically connected to a high voltage source. The opposing wall of the slot is grounded. A corona is created in the attenuator slot so that the filaments are charged as they exit the attenuator. The electrostatic charge induces repelling forces in the filaments so that the filaments spread before they are randomly deposited upon a forming belt.

Abstract: A saddle type pipe joint for construction of branching connections, composed of a saddle-shaped main pipe-connecting part and a cylindrical branching pipe-connecting part. The two parts are integrally molded by a reaction molding, composed of a shape-memorized plastic resin, and have on the inner surfaces a fusion-bonding plastic resin layer containing a conductive filler. The pipe joint is made by polymerising a reactive liquid stock for a shape-memorizable plastic resin in a mold using a core made of a fusible plastic resin containing a conductive filler; cutting the main pipe part of the molded composite article along its length at the side opposite to the branching pipe-connecting site; and opening side edges of the thus-cut main pipe. The construction of branching connections is carried out by utilizing the restoration of the shape-memorized plastic resin to the original shape.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing an interior fitted part for motor vehicles, such as an inside roof lining for automobiles, a staple-fiber formed fabric of a drawn polyethylene terephthalate matrix component and of a binding component is subjected at least once during the process to an annealing process, which increases the thermal stability of the fitted part. Also disclosed is a fitted part manufactured by this method.

Abstract: A glass sheet annealing ring includes an insulating ring juxtaposed the inboard periphery of the annealing ring for reducing the cooling rate of the glass sheet in proximity to the insulating ring thereby reducing the magnitude of net inner band tension while maintaining edge compression as the glass sheet is cooled.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of formed parts for use as pads in seats, for instance. The object is to provide a new apparatus with a different operating principle by means of which formed parts in which the density of the padding is uniform can be produced. The apparatus according to the invention comprises devices known per se for opening padding raw material into a desired looseness and for transporting it into a weighing device and for transferring the weighed batch of padding material into a filling chamber by means of a suction created by a vacuum pressure acting on the filling chamber.

Abstract: A method for placing hydrophobic polyolefin fiber in condition for cutting, carding and production of nonwoven material without substantial sacrifice in desired hydrophobic properties in the corresponding nonwoven, by utilization of a sequential treatment of the fiber with a neutralized phosphoric acid ester and a polysiloxane of defined classes.