Abstract: Polyolefin fibers and polyolefin yarns of high strength and elongation and textile fabrics produced therefrom, which consist of modified propylene polymers, unmodified propylene polymers and adjuvants, are produced by melting the polyolefin mixtures in the extruder, transferring the melt by extrusion pumps to the spinnerets and drawing off the extruded filaments by high-speed galettes and/or winders.

Abstract: A process for producing sized glass yarns, which entails: a) drawing streams of molten glass from orifices located at a bottom of one or more dies, in a form of one or more fans of continuous filaments, b) assembling the filaments into one or more moving supports, wherein a first stable composition having a viscosity of between 0.5 and 250 cP is deposited onto the surface of the continuous filaments, and a second stable composition, supplied separately from the first and having a viscosity of between 0.5 and 300 cP, is deposited onto the surface of the filaments of the yarns, at the earliest during deposition of the first composition and at the latest during collection of the years, the difference in viscosity between the two compositions deposited being less than 150 cP, the mixture of the deposited compositions functioning as a sizing composition and being polymerizable at room temperature.

Abstract: Provided is an improved optical glass fiber, ribbon unit having the capability of providing mid-span access to individual color-coated optical glass fibers contained therein by application of finger pressure from a human hand. The ribbon unit is made of a plurality of coated optical glass fibers each further coated with a cured color-composition; and a matrix material which binds the plurality of color-coated optical glass fibers together, wherein a bonding force between the cured color-composition and the coated optical glass fibers is greater than a bonding force between said cured color-composition and said matrix material, and wherein the matrix material has been selected or formulated to provide a modulus and Tg sufficiently high such that when opposing pressure is applied to the ribbon unit using the fingers of a human hand, the matrix material buckles and separates from said color-coated optical glass optical fibers instead of compressing and absorbing the opposing pressure.

Abstract: An improved core for an adhesive device for attaching a false eyelash to an eyelid. The adhesive device is of a type that has a core, an adhesive coating that surrounds the core so as to form an attaching element, a primary substrate that is a card and has a face with an upper area that has a display throughbore therethrough for a hanging display and a lower area, a secondary substrate that is disposed on the upper area of the primary substrate, below the display throughbore therethrough, and a plurality of release sheet covers that are individual and separate from each other. The improvement includes the core being a plurality of synthetic fibers laid side by side and not twisted, braided, interwoven, intertwined, entwined, or interlaced with each other. Each synthetic fiber is thin, smooth, and does not absorb the adhesive coating so as to remain soft and pliable.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a fluorochemical agent, a copolymer extender, and a blocked isocyanate extender and substrates treated with such compositions that possess high initial water repellency and laundry durable water repellency.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing a porous optical fiber base material comprising depositing fine glass powder on a rotating member, wherein pore size of the deposited fine glass powder is controlled, and preferably, mode of the pore size is controlled to be 0.1 to 1 &mgr;m, or wherein a total amount of absorbed H2O amount and OH group amount on the fine glass powder per square meter of fine glass powder surface area is controlled to be 3.5×10−5 to 7.5×10−5 g. Such porous optical fiber base materials have an improved weight of fine glass powder deposited on the member per batch, or an improved fine glass powder deposit efficiency, which may greatly contribute to improvement of production ability and reduction of production cost.

Abstract: Disclosed are carbon fibers consisting of a plurality of single filaments, wherein the carbon fibers as a resin impregnated strand are characterized by satisfying the following relations: &sgr;≧11.1−0.75 d where a is the tensile strength of said carbon fibers as a resin impregnated strand in GPa, and d is the average diameter of said single filaments in &mgr;m, and RD≦0.05 where RD is the difference in crystallinity between the inner and outer layers of each of the single filaments evaluated with RAMAN, and an acrylic fibers for producing the carbon fibers and a process for producing the acrylic fibers.

Abstract: A method for forming a water swellable coating and a water swellable coating for forming a coated substrate are provided. The water swellable coatings are semi-gel dispersions of particulate superabsorbent polymer in a polyvinyl chloride plastisol. A dispersion is formed from the polymer and plastisol, then contacted with a substrate and heat cured to a semi-gel state. The coatings are capable of swelling in the presence of water to protect the substrates from water penetration, block water from penetrating the coatings to reach other substrates or to retain water to prevent leakage.

Abstract: Heat rolls and fuser belts utilized in the fusing step of the electrophotographic process are disclosed. These belts and rollers eliminate toner offset while still maintaining excellent release characteristics of the printed page from the fuser. The heat rolls comprise a core member having coated thereon a plurality of concentric layers, wherein at least one of said layers (preferably the top layer) does not contain electrically conductive materials and wherein the roll exhibits electrical breakdown at about 250 volts or less. The fuser belts comprise a heat resistant resin substrate (such as a polyimide belt) carrying thereon a plurality of layers coating the outer surface of said belt, wherein at least one of said layers (preferably the top layer) does not contain electrically conductive materials and wherein the belt exhibits electrical breakdown at about 250 volts or less.

Abstract: An aqueous glass fiber sizing composition comprising at least one diol-organosilane coupling agent and at least one triol-organosilane coupling agent.

Abstract: Provided are a heat-resistant glass fiber which has excellent heat resistance, which is also easy to spin and less expensive and which is suitable as an acoustic material for use in an automobile muffler, and a process for the production thereof. The heat-resistant glass fiber has a composition comprising, substantially by weight %, 56 to 58.5% of SiO2, 12 to 17% of Al2O3, 16 to 27% of CaO, 1 to 9% of MgO, 0 to 1% of Na2O and 0 to 1% of K2O as the entirety of the fiber and containing neither B2O3 nor F2, and has a surface layer portion made of a silicic glass having an SiO2 content of at least 90% by weight. The process comprises treating the surface of the above fiber having the above composition with a mineral acid, to produce the heat-resistant glass fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuser member comprising a substrate, a layer thereover comprising a polymer, and, on the polymeric layer, a coating of a release agent comprising polyorganosiloxanes having tertiary amino functional groups on at least some of the molecules thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for depositing at least one thin film of a liquid agent on a wireframe element such as an optical fiber designed to form a very fine coating on said wireframe element consisting in spraying the liquid agent on the wireframe element with spraying means, the wireframe element and the spraying means being in relative movement with respect to each other. Preferably, the liquid agent used is obtained from novel acrylphosphorus or metacrylphosphorus compounds. The method is most particularly adapted for coating optical fibers and enables to substantially improve the stress corrosion factor “n” of the fibers and to maintain said factor “n” after aging.

Abstract: An antimicrobial material having at least one yarn having fine fiber of 1.0 denier or less and at least one yarn having antimicrobial fiber that are engaged with each other, wherein the antimicrobial fibers impart an antimicrobial property to the entire material. In a preferred embodiment, the yarns of fine fiber and yarns of antimicrobial fiber are woven or knitted together. It is further preferred that the fine fiber be less than 0.3 denier, have a diameter of approximately 3 microns, and have a generally triangular cross-section with sharp edges, therefore allowing the fine fiber to substantially remove bacteria, fungi and other microbes from a surface. It is also preferred that the antimicrobial fibers comprise an acetate fiber spun together with polyester to give the antimicrobial fiber added strength.

Abstract: A polymer blend, fibers manufactured from the blend and method of producing the fibers is disclosed. The polymer blend includes from 92 wt % to 98.5 wt % of a base polypropylene having a melt flow rate of less than 20 g/10 min, and a maximum draw ratio D, a Crimp Stability of CS, when drawn into filaments at 1000 m/sec, and from 8 wt % to 1.5 wt % of an amorphous polystyrene having a melt flow rate of less than 15 g/10 min. The polymer blend is drawable at greater than 800 m/sec to produce filaments having a maximum draw ratio of D2, the ratio of D2: D1, being greater than 1.15:1 and a Crimp Stability of CS2, the ratio of CS2: CS1 being greater than 1.45. Preferably, the base polypropylene has a melt flow rate of between 8 and 15 g/10 min. In one embodiment, the amorphous polystyrene is characterized by a melt flow between 2 and 15 g/10 min.

Abstract: A processed fiber is used to distribute energy from an electromagnetic (EM) energy source to a material in which the fiber is embedded. The electromagnetic energy source supplies electromagnetic energy to the fiber and the fibers emit portions of the EM energy along the length of the fiber. The sealant material absorbs a quantity of the electromagnetic energy sufficient to cure the sealant material and propagates excess electromagnetic energy through the sealant material without significant additional absorption. This prevents the sealant material from over-curing. Additionally, a fully cured material can be used to generate thermal energy and thereby serve as a heat blanket that can be used to de-ice aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention provides fiber strands and products coated with a blend of a hydrophobic fluoroalkylacrylate polymer and an amine-reactive material or a polymerization reaction product of a hydrophobic fluoroalkylacrylate and a amine reactive monomeric material which are useful as reinforcements for nylon composites to inhibit hydrolysis.

Abstract: A terpolymer having units of Formula I wherein X is a C2-10 alkyl, C6-12 aryl, or C4-12 alkoxy radical, d is from about 3 to about 50, R is a fluoroalkyl radical Rf—(A)v—(B)w—, Rf is a fully fluorinated straight or branched aliphatic radical optionally interrupted by at least one oxygen atom, A is a divalent radical selected from —SO2N(R″)—, —CON(R″)—, —S—, or —SO2—, where R″ is H, or a C1-6 alkyl radical, B is a divalent linear hydrocarbon radical —CtH2t—, where t is 1 to 12, Y is a divalent radical —CH2—O—, u, v, and w are each independently zero or 1, R′ is hydrogen or methyl, e is from about 0.05 to about 10, M is hydrogen, alkali metal, or ammonium, and f is from about 5 to about 40, and its use to provide soil resistance and resistance to staining by acid dyes for fiber substrates is disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a material containing carbon and boron, comprising: a) providing a substrate within a chemical vapor deposition chamber; b) flowing a carbon and boron precursor into the chamber, the precursor being a compound that comprises both carbon and boron; and c) utilizing the precursor to chemical vapor deposit a material onto the substrate, the material comprising carbon and boron. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of forming a catalyst, comprising: a) providing a substrate within a chemical vapor deposition chamber; b) flowing a carbon and boron precursor into the chamber, the precursor being a compound that comprises both carbon and boron; c) utilizing the precursor to chemical vapor deposit a first material onto the substrate, the first material comprising carbon and boron; and d) coating the first material with a catalytic material.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of using crosslinkable polymer powders for producing ballistic-resistant fiber materials, which comprises consolidating the textile sheet materials by means of pulverulent crosslinkable copolymers which are based on ethylenically unsaturated monomers and have a glass transition temperature Tg or a melting point of ≧40° C. and a melt viscosity of ≧2000 mPas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass fiber strand comprising at least one glass fiber at least partially coated with a sizing composition prepared from ingredients comprising; at least one starch; at least one lubricant; and at least one silane coupling agent comprising: [((R1)bY)aR23-aSiR3]2NX, wherein R1 and R2 are each monovalent radials; R3 is a divalent linking group; a is 1 to 3; X is (R4)bZC(═O)CH(Q)CH(Q)—, wherein Z is CH2, O, S or N, Q is H, alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or C(═O)ZR4 and R4 is a hydrocarbon moiety of one to twenty carbon atoms, hydrogen, a silyl group or an organic polymer; Y is oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur; and b is 1 or 2 depending upon the valency of Y. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the silane in the aqueous sizing composition is (CH3)3COC(═O)CH2CH2N[CH2CH2CH2Si(OCH3)3]2.

Abstract: A high temperature resistant glass fiber composition consists essentially of glass fibers having a nominal softening point of about 1000° F. (about 538° C.) which is capable of passing the British Standard 476 Part 4 fire test for building materials. The BS476-4 test begins at 750° C., substantially above the nominal softening point of the glass fibers. The increased temperature resistance is provided by coating the glass fibers with a halogenated resin latex binder and a calcium carbonate material. The method of making the glass fiber composition comprises depositing the resin latex and a calcium carbonate material on the glass fibers using a cationic flocculant. The preferred halogenated resin latex binder is selected from polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride.

Abstract: Provided is a ribbon assembly having the functional capability of providing break-out of ink coated or colored outer primary coated optical glass fibers from the ribbon assembly. The ink coating or colored outer primary coating is formulated from a benzophenone compound and at least about 1 wt. % of a homolytic photoinitiator to provide a level of adhesion between the ink coating or colored outer primary coating and matrix material which is less than the level of adhesion between the ink coating or colored outer primary coating and an adjacent underlying coating. Also provided are ink coating and colored outer primary coating compositions adapted to form ink coatings and colored outer primary coatings suitable for use on optical glass fibers contained in a ribbon assembly.

Abstract: A curable adhesive composition for forming a bond between silicone coated optical fibers and fiber connector bodies, said composition comprising: an epoxy resin component; and a curative admixed therewith. The curative comprises an amino-substituted polysiloxane including more than one primary amino group and having a molecular weight from about 150 to about 1,000. The adhesive composition has an initial viscosity, before curing, below about 100 Pascal-seconds, and the bond has a fiber pull-out force above about 1 Kg. Also provided is fiber optic connector including a holder for one or more optical cables, each optical cable having an optical fiber surrounded by strengthening fibers, both of which are surrounded by at least one polymeric coating layer wherein the optical cable is bonded to the connector by means of the curable adhesive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing continuous a glass fiber strand. The process consists in depositing on the glass filaments which are in the process of being drawn a sizing composition consisting of a solution of which the solvent content is less than 5 wt %, the solution comprising a mixture of constituents which can be polymerized and/or crosslinked by heat treatment, at least 60 wt % of the constituents being constituents of which the molecular weight (Mw) is less than 750, less than 10 weight % being film-forming agents and 0 to 25 weight % being coupling agents, lubricants, stabilizers and initiators and/or catalysts, it being possible if necessary for the agent to be polymerized and/or crosslinked by heat treatment, in winding the strand or strands, formed by collection of the filaments, on a rotating support so as to form a wound package consisting of turns of strand coated with a non-polymerized sizing composition.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin-combined glass fiber base material, which comprises a glass fiber strand having a plurality of glass monofilaments bundled and a thermoplastic resin impregnated thereto, and which: A) has a string form with an average diameter of from 0.2 to 1.5 mm, B) has a glass content of from 15 to 80 vol %, C) has an impregnation rate of the thermoplastic resin of at least 95%, and D) satisfies R≦30D×V, where R is the radius of curvature (mm) representing the buckling limit in bending, D is the average diameter (mm), and V is the glass content (vol %/100).

Abstract: A sorbent glass fiber material is useful for sorbing spills of water and water-soluble liquids. The sorbent material includes glass fibers combined with hydrophilic absorbent particles. The particles may be made from polymers having hydrophilic groups such as crosslinked polyacrylamide, crosslinked sulfonated polystyrene, crosslinked polyacrylate, crosslinked polymethacrylates, crosslinked copolymers of acrylates and methacrylates, and mixtures thereof. The glass fibers may be bindered (e.g., batting insulation) or unbindered (e.g., loose-fill blown wool insulation).

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical fiber core wire binder, comprising (A) a radical-polymerizable oligomer, (B) a radical-polymerizable monomer, (C) a photopolymerization initiator, and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (D) modified silicone compounds and (E) nitrogen/sulfur atom-containing compounds, with the content of the compound selected from the group consisting of the components (D) and (E) being 0.01 to 20% by weight of the total of the components (A) to (E), and with the surface tension being 30 &mgr;N/m or less at 23° C. The optical fiber core wire binder can restrain bubbles from being involved or remaining when optical fiber core wires are being twisted while it is filled and applied around them, and it can form a cured product (solid material) that is excellent in workability and adhesion to a tension member.

Abstract: The resent invention provides a carbon fiber which enables a molded article produced from a fiber-reinforced composite material using the carbon fiber to exhibit excellent flexibility and to be freed from defects such as bending. According to the method of the present invention the carbon fiber is produced by a two-stage infusibilizing process, namely carrying out a first-stage infusibilization of a pitch-based fiber, which is obtained from mesophase pitch having a softening point of 200 to 400° C. and a true density of 1.30 to 1.38 g/cm3, in a mixed gas atmosphere having a nitrogen dioxide concentration of 1 to 5% by volume and an oxygen concentration of 5 to 50% by volume, the balance being an inert gas or steam, at a temperature between 100 and 200° C. and then carrying out a second-stage infusibilization of the product of the first-stage infusibilization in a mixed gas atmosphere having a nitrogen dioxide concentration of 0.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for spinning fibers or filaments from a spinnable solution using a centrifuge of which the wall has one or more spinning orifices, in which process the spinnable solution is jetted from the centrifuge into a coagulant inside a jacket. The inner radius of the jacket is at least 35% wider than the radius of the outer circumference of the centrifuge, thus allowing the process' productive capacity to be increased. In addition, the fibers or filaments made by this process have very favorable pulp properties.

Abstract: Recycled paper pulp having at least two different types of paper which consume widely different amounts of bleaching chemical, or mixed hardwood and soft-wood pulps, are treated in a manner that enhances distribution and redistribution of bleaching chemical to enhance uniformity of the bleaching treatment. The pulp is intensely mixed to provide a homogenous mixture of fibrous material and bleaching chemical, and then is continuously or intermittently subjected to mechanical action (such as in low intensity mixers, or by agitating pulp in a retention tank) of sufficient intensity and duration so as to enhance distribution and redistribution of a bleaching chemical. Also, recycled pulp will have cleanliness which varies significantly over time, and this is accommodated by sensing at least one of the brightness, color, or lignin content (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to industrial fibers and products made therefrom and more specifically to industrial polyester fibers and products made therefrom. The fibers comprise a synthetic melt spun polymer having a relative viscosity about 24 to about 42, a denier of about 4 to about 8, a tenacity of about 6.5 grams/denier to about 9.2 grams/denier, and a sinusoidal shaped cross section normal to a longitudinal axis of the filament, the cross section having an aspect ratio of about 2 to about 6.

Abstract: Process and product for manufacturing continuous fiber reinforced sheets and shapes. A pressurized extrusion process consisting of a paired and edge enclosing doctor blades that remove feed material from a pair of pinch rolls and contain such in an optimally heated environment and which provides suitable hot dies and enables extrusion of continuous reinforcements, cores or threads to be contained in the extrudite.Hopper feedable plastic pellets containing reinforcing fibers which are longer than the largest pellet dimension are disclosed. The fibers in an elongated web of fiber reinforced plastic are caused to be wrinkled or folded prior to cutting the web into pellets. One form of apparatus includes a set of conveyor rollers for moving the web, with later rollers moving more slowly than the input rollers, in conjunction with a crowding doctor blade which forces the web with a creping action from the input rollers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bristle (12) for a toothbrush, in particular for an electric toothbrush, which is made of plastic and includes several filaments (13, 14, 15) joined together. The filaments (13, 14, 15) are wound or braided and joined together as a result of the action of chemical agents. This results in a firm bond between the filaments (13, 14, 15), and any cavities between the filaments (13, 14, 15) are reliably avoided. Overall, a toothbrush results which, in addition to having a high cleaning effect, offers bacteria or other germs no possibility of infiltration.

Abstract: Depositing a thermoplastic resin powder in between the individual fibers of a reinforcing continuous fiber bundle and subsequently applying a solution of a binder resin dissolved in a solvent to the resulting reinforcing continuous fiber bundle, the thermoplastic resin powder is fixed in between the individual fibers via the binder resin which concurrently works to bind the individual fibers together. Then, the solvent of the binder resin is substantially removed from the resulting reinforcing continues fiber bundle within a temperature zone not above the melting point or flow point of the thermoplastic resin powder. In the molding material produced by the method, the individual fibers of the reinforcing continuous fiber bundle, the individual fibers and the thermoplastic resin powder, and the individual thermoplastic resin powders are independently fixed together, all in a pin-point fashion via the binder resin, so the molding material substantially does not contain the solvent of the binder resin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber strand useful in composites and geosynthetics which includes a plurality of fibers having applied to at least a portion of surfaces thereof a base layer of a base coating composition and thereupon a principal layer of an aqueous coating composition different from the base coating composition, the aqueous coating composition including a blend of (1) a halogenated vinyl polymer and (2) an elastomeric polymer, the blend being essentially free of a monoolefinic material.

Abstract: Chemically treated glass fibers having good processability are useful in producing fiber reinforced polymeric matrices, wherein the glass fibers have controlled wettability and are not detrimental to the weatherability of the fiber reinforced polymeric matrices. The chemically treated fibers have the dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition having a bisphenol A polyester film forming polymer compatible with and soluble in the matrix polymer, poly(vinyl acetate) polymeric film former, acryloxy-containing or methacryloxy-containing organo coupling agent in an effective coupling agent amount, cationic fiberous lubricant in an effective lubricating amount, with or without a cationic organic quaternary ammonium salt having alkoxy moieties, and with water in an amount to give a total solid for the aqueous chemical treating composition in the range of about 1 to about 30 weight percent.

Abstract: A gel profile article comprising a multi-filament yarn carrier carrying an elongate body of gel which encloses more than 50%, preferably more than 75%, more preferably substantially all, of the perimeter of the carrier as viewed in transverse cross-section, wherein the carrier is at least partly composed of synthetic polymeric material, preferably polyester filaments (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate) or spun yarns of a co-mingled blend of polyacrylonitrile staple fibres and polyamide staple fibres ("baby wool"), the proportion of polyamide preferably being at least 30%, more preferably 40-60%, by weight of the said spun yarn(s). The gel is preferably melt-coated, especially pressure-extruded, around the carrier at a gel temperature less than the softening temperature of at least a component of the carrier, and the selected class of carrier materials enhances the processability, cohesion, and appearance of the resulting profile.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous surface-treating agent and method for surface treatment of reinforcing material, which includes a carbodiimide compound as a main component; a reinforcing material surface-treated with the above aqueous surface-treating agent; and a composite material comprising a matrix and the above reinforcing material. The aqueous surface-treating agent has good storage stability, gives no bad effect on human health owing to no use of organic solvent and, when used for the surface treatment of a reinforcing material, can produce a surface-treated reinforcing material which can produce a composite material comprising a matrix and the surface-treated reinforcing material and having high adhesivity between the two components.

Abstract: A composition for producing acid dye stain-resistant fibers includes a fiber-forming polymide, a polymer and a masterbatch concentrate which itself includes a reagent and a carrier. The reagent can be an alkal metal, alkaline earth metal or transition metal salt of 5-sulfoisophthalic acid. The carrier can be (A) a terpolymer of an alpha-monoolefin, ethylene-.alpha.,.beta. unsaturated carboxylic acid ester and an internal anhydride of an ethlenically unsaturated carboxylic acid. It can alternatively be (B) a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester, (C) a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyamide, or mixtures of (B) and (C). The polymer in the composition can be (A) and mixtures of (A) and (B) and/or (C).

Abstract: The present invention provides fiber strands having on at least a portion of surfaces thereof (a) a primary layer of a coating composition including a hydrophobic fluorine-containing polymer, the primary coated strands being useful for reinforcing thermoplastic composites, and (b) a secondary layer including a hydrophilic material applied over at least a portion of the primary layer, the secondarily coated strands being useful for inhibiting water wicking in a telecommunications cable assembly.

Abstract: A coated multi-filament reinforcing carbon yarn is encapsulated with a rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises resorcinol-formaldehyde reaction product, a vinylpyridine-styrene butadiene terpolymer, an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer and urea.

Abstract: A plurality of glass fiber strands are parallel-arranged and primary-twisted into a primary twist yarn. A plurality of the primary twist yarns are parallel-arranged, are dipped in an adhesion treatment liquid containing as a main ingredient a mixture of a precondensate of resorcine formaldehyde and latex, are returned from the liquid and are then subjected to heat treatment. Thereafter, the plurality of primary twist yarns are final-twisted thereby forming a tension member for belt having a large adhesive property between the adjacent primary twist yarns.

Abstract: A filler rod for occupying space in a stranded optical fiber communications cable having at least one buffer tube containing at least one optical fiber is disclosed. The filler rod comprises an elongated rod extruded from a polypropylene homopolymer, a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer (i-PP) resin material, or preferably, from a polypropylene-polyethylene copolymer having a nucleating agent disbursed therein. The resin material is foamed during extrusion so as to have a plurality of void spaces therein and a relative density which is less than 1 relative to the unfoamed resin material. As compared to rods made from high density polyethylene, the i-PP filler rods show a greater foaming efficiency, more efficient use of material, an improved combination of mechanical properties and density, reduced post-extrusion shrinkage and a substantial reduction in the sticking of the filler rods to the outer jacket that is experienced with high density polyethylene filler rods.

Abstract: Fibers, continuous or discontinuous, and bars having optimized geometries for use in the reinforcement of cement, ceramic and polymeric based matrices are claimed. The geometries are designed to increase the ratio of surface area available for bond between the fiber and the matrix to the cross-sectional area of fiber. In the case of a continuous reinforcement comprised of a single fiber or a bar made out of a bundle of fibers, such as is the case in reinforced and prestressed concrete, increasing the surface area available for bond leads to a decrease in crack width, development length, and transfer length. The fibers or bars are also configured to be amenable for twisting or to have spiral like deformations along their longitudinal axis to further develop the mechanical component of bond between the fibers and the matrix. Additional methods of mechanical bond enhancement, such as crimping and/or addition of anchorages, such as hooked ends, paddles, buttons, etc. . . .

Abstract: An improved optical glass fiber ribbon unit, having the capability of providing mid-span access to individual color-coated optical glass fibers contained therein, by application of finger pressure from a human hand, is provided. The ribbon unit is made of a plurality of coated optical glass fibers each further coated with a cured color-composition, and a matrix material which binds the plurality of color-coated optical glass fibers together. A bonding force between the cured color-composition and the coated optical glass fibers is greater than a bonding force between the cured color-composition and the matrix material. The matrix material has been selected or formulated to provide a modulus and Tg sufficiently high such that when opposing pressure is applied to the ribbon unit using the fingers of a human hand, the matrix material buckles and separates from the color-coated optical glass fibers instead of compressing and absorbing the opposing pressure.

Abstract: Cut resistant, abrasion resistant and electrically conductive yarns (1) are formed in torque-free form from stainless steel and other metallic yarns (2) served with or formed into composite twists with non-metallic yarns and fibers (4) and (5). The metallic yarn (2) is made up of at least about 60 ends, and up to as many as about 300 ends, of metal fibers (3) having a diameter of from about 2 to about 25 &mgr;m. The absence of torque permits facile knitting into protective garments, such as cut resistant, abrasion resistant and/or electrically conductive gloves (10), or yarns which are as much as 85 to 90% by weight metallic fiber. When knit into gloves, added protection may be provided from puncture injuries if the palm (12), finger stalls (14) and thumb stall (16) are coated or impregnated with an elastomer or the like.

Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims a novel process for the formation of high denier as-spun and heat-treated filaments of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. Preferred embodiments include process for the formation of as-spun and heat treated monofilaments of a few wholly aromatic polyesters and polyesteramides. The process involves (a) heating of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer to above its melting transition temperature; (b) passing said molten polymer through an extrusion chamber equipped with an extrusion capillary of an aspect ratio of greater than about 1 and less than about 15 to form a filament; and (c) winding the filament at a draw-down ratio of at least about 4. The filaments so formed are of at least 50 denier per filament (dpf) and feature essentially uniform molecular orientation across the cross-section. In a final optional step, the filaments are heat treated in stages to form filaments exhibiting excellent tensile properties.

Abstract: A .Iadd.cord and fabric for a .Iaddend.power transmission belt comprised of a belt body having a tooth portion and made of a rubber stock of hydrogenated nitrile having a Mooney viscosity at 100.degree. C. of at least 90, whereby the internally generated heat of the belt body during use in a high temperature environment is suppressed. A cashew-modified phenol resin layer is formed at the outermost layer of the cords .Iadd.and fabric .Iaddend.for bonding with the belt body. The cords are embedded in the longitudinal direction of the belt body.

Abstract: Improvements in multilayer light reflecting film are effected by the use of a thermoplastic elastomer resin in a system in which two or more resinous materials form a plurality of the layers.