Abstract: Reinforced plastic articles such as pipes, receptacles and sheet-like laminated structures wherein the reinforcing material comprises at least one layer of a combination of glass fibers and steel cord; processes for making same.

Abstract: A sound barrier material comprised of a polyvinyl chloride impregnated mesh sheet having a coating of about 0.02 to 3.2 inch gauge of a barium sulfate loaded chlorinated polyethylene laminated to a foam of 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: A lightweight, active thermal control mechanism for spacecraft use comprised of woven or unwoven cross-layered yarns where one set of yarns are composed of flexible electrically conductive metal fibers which are capable of being resistance-heated by the application of voltage and another set of yarns which are electrically non-conductive and flexible. The non-conductive yarns provide mechanical strength and preclude the passage of electrical current between metal yarns by virtue of the spacing between them. A lightweight, electrically non-conductive film is bonded to the cross-layered yarns to protect the metal yarns from the elements (minimize electrical shorts from moisture, e.g., rain), provide additional strength to the fabric and to prevent the conductive loss of heat in non-vacuum applications. The non-conductive film is metalized on its obverse side to provide a more uniform heat load distribution.

Abstract: Oil sorbing mat comprising a plurality of sections of expanded fibrillated film assembled into an integral structure in which the sections are juxtaposed, with openings in the juxtaposed sections overlapped to establish a network of interstices into which oil can be received and stored.

Abstract: A carbon graphite fiber reinforced shaft incorporating longitudinal plies and radial plies. In transverse aspect, the radial plies incorporate two interleaved helices with three turns around the shaft. The fibers in the two helices are oppositely oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The fibers in one radial ply have a modulus that is substantially 50% greater than the modulus of the opposed interleaved radial ply.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a nonwoven fabric wherein a first group of filaments are projected in a longitudinal direction into the nip of a pair of nipped and moving collecting surfaces in such a manner that the filaments fold into and are captured and held by the nip with spans of the filaments lying in the plane of the nip and at the same time projecting a second group of filaments in a longitudinal direction toward one of the collecting surfaces at a location spaced from the nip. The second group of filaments impinges on an impact plate positioned above the collecting surface and is pulled off the impact plate by the moving collecting surface, this causing the filaments in the second group to extend primarily in the machine direction. The moving collecting surfaces carry the groups of filaments into contact with each other to form a nonwoven fabric which is subsequently bonded in a conventional manner to form a finished fabric.

Abstract: A thermal insulation structure of fibrous material is described. The insulation comprises alternating and abutting parallel strips of fibrous material wherein the fiber orientations in alternate strips are at right angles to each other. This structure preserves the insulating properties of the fibrous material while permitting it to be readily curved around a pipe without creating stresses in the material which would cause it to tend to straighten out. The fibrous material may be glass fiber, mineral wool or the like, preferably glass fiber. The density of the individual insulating batt strips may be as low as 0.5 pcf, but is preferably at least 1.5 pcf. Both pipes and curved vessels may be advantageously insulated by this invention.

Abstract: A golf shaft and its method of fabrication. The shaft comprises a tapered, scrolled, oblong blank of thin laminated sheet material having alternating laminae of woven glass fabric and resin impregnated unidirectional graphite fibers. The fibers are arranged in a predetermined specific angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An endless reinforcement comprising a unitary strip positioned across the width of the reinforcement from one side to the other at an angle to the edges of the reinforcement, the unitary strip including a multiplicity of continuous filaments surrounded and separated by rubber disposed in a contiguous undulating relationship throughout the length of the strip. Also, apparatus for forming a unitary strip including interdigitating gripper means arranged in an oval path, means for advancing the gripper means around the oval path, and means for increasing the degree of interdigitation of the gripper means during a portion of their advancement around the oval path.

Abstract: In a process for forming a nonwoven reinforced cellulosic material, for use in applications such as wipes and disposable clothing, which comprises applying adhesive to a ply of nonwoven scrim, bringing at least one cellulosic ply into contact with the scrim to form a substantially unbonded laminate, the improvement comprising applying pressure to discrete regions of said substantially unbonded laminate while said adhesive is in an activated condition. The application of pressure to discrete regions achieves ply attachment at only intermittent points on the scrim and can also serve to provide an embossed laminate texture. The product so formed is strong and has desirable absorbency, texture, bulk, hand and limpness.

Abstract: Non-woven fabrics are produced from oriented foam fibrillated webs containing 75 to 98 wt. % polypropylene and 2 to 25 wt. % of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing from 2 to 40 wt. % vinyl acetate and 60 to 98 wt. % ethylene. The webs are assembled in a plurality of layers and then bonded by heat and pressure either with or without the presence of an adhesive. In a preferred aspect films especially of polyethylene or ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers are used as the bonding agent.

Abstract: A high temperature tape for use in protecting a structural item to be subjected to high temperature, and the method whereby this novel tape is made are set forth. The tape is principally constituted by a number of elongated carrier fibers disposed in an essentially aligned array, and a large number of comparatively short fibers disposed in a nonwoven manner essentially transversely to the elongated fibers. The short fibers typically extend beyond the confines of the carrier fibers, at least on one side, thus to create a pliable, fringed tape capable of being wrapped for a number of turns about an item to be protected. This wrapping may be done in such a manner that the fringe formed by the short orthogonally placed fibers is available to extend over and cover previous turns of the tape. The fibers are of temperature resistant material, and various means are provided for securing the short fibers to the elongated fibers, including the use of certain resins.

Abstract: Following is disclosed structural apparatus and methods of construction of plied filamentary tape including a first ply of impregnated, unidirectional fibers extending along the longitudinal axis of the structural member to form a truss cap. Overlying the first ply are second and third angle plies having fibers transverse to each other and oblique relative to those of the first ply. Portions of the second and third plies may be folded transversely to the plane of the first ply to form one or more shear webs of selected geometry. A portion of each shear web consists of an excess width of ply for attachment to another structural member. The impregnation matrix bonds the plies to each other and to another structural member to form a selected structure. A cart structure embodying the principles of the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A catalyst support is described for use in fixed bed flow reactors. The support is a porous, self-supporting structure of multiple layers of a yarn of partially sintered glass-ceramic fibers. The structure has diamond shaped apertures in its walls to provide good fluid permeability. Preferably, it is tubular. Coated with a catalyst, the structures are especially adapted for use in the catalytic conversion of pollutants in the exhaust fumes of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A fabric, a method for its fabrication and an apparatus for its manufacture where a group of parallel yarns are fused with another group of parallel yarns perpendicular to the first group of yarns at predominantly lateral or peripheral portions of the resulting junctions by a high frequency current.

Abstract: A functionally improved tape-like, heterogeneous, strip material for use in the fabrication of laminated structural shapes having high value of Young's Modulus and high tensile strength, comprising collocated, unidirectional, tectonic filaments such as graphite, boron, silicon-carbide, S-glass and E-glass, embodied in planar concourse, into an organic, thermosetting resin matrix or sheath such as an epoxy or polyimide base polymer forming a basal tract having at least one integral marginal tract of differing physical character so that a relatively lower Young's Modulus is exhibited by the material comprising the marginal tract than that exhibited by the basal tract. This difference in structural characteristic serves to provide an inherent arrestment barrier against fast rupture propagation of fractures which may develop in the basal tract material when the composite strip is subjected to sustained overload or external damage.