Abstract: Disclosed are particulate compositions comprising particles of a blend of one or more polyvinyl alcohol polymers with one or more aliphatic polyester polymers, wherein such particulate compositions are useful, for example, as plugging agents for treatments applied to a subterranean formation traversed by the borehole of an oil or gas well.

Abstract: A method for making a dispersible nonwoven sheet generally comprises dispersing natural fibers and regenerated fibers in a ratio of about 70 to about 90 percent by weight natural fibers and about 10 to about 30 percent by weight regenerated fibers in a liquid medium to form a liquid suspension. The liquid suspension is deposited over a foraminous forming wire to form a nonwoven tissue web. The nonwoven tissue web is sprayed with a first plurality of jets. Each jet of the first plurality of jets is spaced from an adjacent one of the first plurality of jets by a first distance. The nonwoven tissue web also is sprayed with a second plurality of jets. Each jet of the second plurality of jets is spaced from an adjacent one of the second plurality of jets by a second distance, and the second distance is less than the first distance. The nonwoven tissue web is dried to form the dispersible nonwoven sheet.

Abstract: A method for dissolving and degassing a polymer is described, including a dissolution/degassing step. In the dissolution/degassing step, a mixture containing the polymer and a solvent is agitated, in a pressure-reduced condition with a gauge pressure of ?50 to ?90 kPa and at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent in the pressure-reduced condition but higher than the freezing point of the same, to dissolve the polymer and simultaneously degas the polymer solution, so as to obtain a polymer solution.

Abstract: A cellulose pulp sheet is provided that is formed from never-dried kraft pulp and fibrillated fibers, such as lyocell. The pulp sheet provides several beneficial features as a result of both the use of fibrillated fibers and never-dried kraft pulp, particularly when the pulp sheet is used to form air-laid absorbent materials that include superabsorbent polymers.

Abstract: A continuous filament spun-laid web includes a plurality of polymer fibers within the web, the web having a first thickness and the web being free of any thermal or mechanical bonding treatment. Activation of the web results in at least one of an increase from the first thickness prior to activation to a second thickness post activation in which the second thickness is at least about two times greater than the first thickness, a decrease in density of the web post activation in relation to a density of the web prior to activation, the web being configured to withstand an elastic elongation from about 10% to about 350% in at least one of a machine direction (MD) of the web and a cross-direction (CD) of the web, and the web having a tensile strength from about 50 gram-force/cm2 to about 5000 gram-force/cm2.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrospinning apparatus, which comprises one or more spinneret, a rotating collector disposed from the spinneret and configured to collect the fibers, and a sideway motion device disposed on or connected to the spinneret or the rotating collector and configured to propel or move the spinneret or the rotating collector, wherein the sideway motion device is controlled by a controlling unit for providing an angular speed (?) of the sideway motion with a formula: ?=tan?1 x/H wherein x is a parallel motion speed of the device and H is a vertical height between the spinneret and the rotating collector and wherein the angular speed (?) is in a range of about 1.0×10?4 to about 1.0 (°/sec). Also provided is the 2-D or 3-D membranes produced therefrom and a method of using the apparatus of the invention.

Abstract: A non-woven electret fibrous web for electrostatic adsorption and odor elimination and the preparation process thereof. In certain exemplary embodiments, the non-woven electret fibrous web includes a multiplicity of electret fibers, at least one of a plurality of photo-catalytic fibers or a plurality of multi-component fibers; and optionally, at least one of a plurality of chemically-active particulates, a plurality of carbon-based fibers, or a plurality of mono-component thermoplastic fibers. In other exemplary embodiments, carding and cross-lapping or air-laying processes are disclosed for making nonwoven fibrous webs including electret fibers and one or more of photocatalytic fibers, chemically-active particulates, multi-component fibers, mono-component thermoplastic fibers, or carbon-based fibers.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to obtain spunbonded nonwoven fabrics including thin hollow fibers which have excellent lightweight properties and uniformity as well as exhibit high strength and flexibility. An aspect of the invention is directed to a spunbonded nonwoven fabric including hollow fibers of a propylene polymer, the hollow fibers satisfying the following requirements (a) to (c): (a) the C-axis orientation is at least 0.85, (b) the average fiber diameter is 5 to 20 ?m, and (c) the hollowness is 5 to 30%.

Abstract: Method for the preparation of a non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers, the method comprising carbonizing a non-woven mat or paper preform (precursor) comprised of a plurality of bonded sulfonated polyolefin fibers to produce said non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers. The preforms and resulting non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fiber, as well as articles and devices containing them, and methods for their use, are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are fibrous activated materials that can remove and/or deactivate potentially dangerous airborne agents from a gas or air stream. Disclosed materials are multi-layer materials that include a fibrous nonwoven interceptor layer and an active layer immediately adjacent the interceptor layer. The interceptor layer is a fibrous membrane of very low basis weight and defines a relatively low porosity, and the active layer describes geometries, chemistries, etc. that can entrap and/or decontaminate compounds contained in an airstream passing through the material. Disclosed materials can be utilized in forming protective garments, face masks, and the like.

Abstract: A carbon nanopipe comprising a durable graphitizable carbon wall of tunable thickness of about 10-500 nm formed by exposing a silica fiber network to a carbon precursor vapor and thereby depositing a carbon film onto the silica fiber network at a temperature suitable for complete pyrolysis of the carbon precursor and removing the silica fibers. The atmosphere of the step of depositing is controlled by a two-stage gas manifold wherein stage 1 purges the reaction chamber with pure argon and stage 2 introduces the carbon precursor.

Abstract: The waterproof/breathable moisture transfer liner for a running and hiking shoe includes an inner liner selected from technically advanced fabrics which are carefully selected. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, breathable membranes, a supportive mesh or a moldable foam, and an outer shell fabric. The applicability of the liner to alpine, snowboard boots, cross country, hiking boots, protective gear and helmets, along with appropriate variations for each application.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing man-made devices which have the properties and functions of biological membranes and membrane proteins, and to the structure of such devices. Briefly, in one aspect of the invention, natural or genetically engineered proteins are incorporated into a polymeric vesicle that is conjugated to a thread to form a vesicle-thread conjugate. The engineered protein is preferably a transmembrane protein embedded in the wall of the polymeric vesicle. The vesicle-thread conjugate is then formed into a membrane or thin fabric having a wide variety of inherent functionality, including the ability to selectively transport and/or filter compounds between fluids. By selecting proteins with specific properties, membranes can be fabricated with a defined functionality including molecular scale addressability via directed electrostatic, electromagnetic, and chemical forces.

Abstract: The invention has an object of providing a continuous fiber nonwoven fabric including a hollow fiber having excellent strength, in particular mono-filament strength, and having high hollowness even when formed to a fine filament. A continuous fiber nonwoven fabric includes a hollow fiber including a propylene polymer having a ratio of the Z average molecular weight (Mz) and the weight average molecular weight (Mw), (Mz/Mw), in the range of 1.5 to 1.9, and in a preferred embodiment having a ratio of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) and the number average molecular weight (Mn), (Mw/Mn), in the range of 2.0 to 2.9.

Abstract: An electrical power source including at least one hollow fibre incorporated in a material structure, wherein the at least one hollow fibre forms part of an electric circuit capable of storing or generating electrical power. In this way power sources may be provided as an integral part of a fibre composite structure or fabric.

Abstract: There is provided a continuous-fiber nonwoven fabric excellent in terms of bulkiness, flexibility, and shape stability. The continuous-fiber nonwoven fabric comprises eccentric hollow conjugated continuous fiber containing a part (A), a part containing a higher melting-point thermoplastic resin (A), and a part (B), a part containing a lower melting-point thermoplastic resin (B), the parts (A) and (B) having been bonded to each other in a side by side arrangement, wherein the difference in melting point between the higher melting-point thermoplastic resin (A) and the lower melting-point thermoplastic resin (B) is 5° C. or greater, the eccentric hollow conjugated continuous fiber has a part (A):part (B) proportion in the range of 5 to 30 weight %:95 to 70 weight %, the eccentric hollow conjugated continuous fiber has a cross-section in which the thickness (a) of the part (A) is smaller than the thickness (b) of the part (B), and the eccentric hollow conjugated continuous fiber has been crimped.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to absorbent articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an absorbent article comprising a surge management layer comprising a nonwoven web. The nonwoven web includes a filler fiber and a binder fiber. A portion of the cross-sectional area of the filler fiber is hollow, and the binder fiber includes a sheath component and a core component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a bi-layered carpet underlay. More particularly, the method includes bonding a layer of non-woven fibers and a layer of re-bonded foam particles together to form the bi-layered carpet underlay. The layers of the carpet underlay can be bonded together with the use of adhesives, by heating a surface of one or both layers to a soft bondable state for lamination between the layers, by applying a film having adhesive surfaces between the layers, or by other suitable bonding means. The bi-layered carpet underlay combines the soft cushioning resilience of foam with the high durability bridging ability of fiber to provide a carpet underlay that maintains its height or thickness and firmness, while imparting softness and cushioning effects over an extended period of wear.

Abstract: Multicomponent fiber and fabrics made therefrom are provided, wherein the multicomponent fibers may incorporate one or more elastomers or additive-containing polymers in a bicomponent core. The fiber includes a multilobal sheath fiber component surrounding the bicomponent core, wherein the components are sized such that the fiber can be fibrillated to expose the core fiber components and split the fiber into multiple microdenier fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing sheath-core staple fibers with a three-dimensional crimp and to a sheath-core staple fiber of this type. In this case, the fiber is extruded with a symmetrical sheath-core arrangement consisting of two different polymer melts with a first polymer component for the core and with a second polymer component for the sheath. In order to generate an as far as possible intensive three-dimensional crimp in the fiber, the cooling of the fiber takes place by means of a sharp cooling air stream with a blowing air velocity of at least 3 m/sec., after the combining of the fibers into a tow the multistage treatment in a fiber line taking place under a maximum temperature load which lies below the glass transition temperature of the second polymer component in the sheath of the fiber. A high degree of three-dimensional crimping can consequently be achieved after the multistage treatment and before the cutting of the fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high loft nonwoven composite comprising a nonwoven layer having a first and second side and a thermoplastic layer. The nonwoven layer comprises about 60 to 90% by weight of a high crimp polyester fiber having between about 5 and 20 crimps per inch and about 10 to 40% by weight of a core/sheath polyester fiber, where the sheath has a lower melting temperature than the core. The nonwoven layer is calendared on at least the first side. A thermoplastic layer is applied to the first side of the nonwoven layer.

Abstract: The subject invention provides non-woven fabrics having yarns of varying characteristics. In a preferred embodiment the subject invention provides nonwoven fabrics that comprise yarns of different deniers or cross sections. The use of these yarns gives the nonwoven fabric a unique appearance and advantageous properties. The subject invention further pertains to the processes used to produce these fabrics.

Abstract: Nonwoven fabric fabrics suitable for undergoing pleating to form filtration media are provided. The fabrics generally include at least three layers. The fibers forming the inner layer has a cross section providing greater stiffness, while the fibers forming the outer layers have a cross section providing greater durability. The resulting fabrics provide improved particulate holding and pressure drop characteristics at no sacrifice to durability.

Abstract: A nonwoven papermaker's fabric, usable in the dryer section of a paper machine, has a spiral wound machine direction (MD) base layer of raw stock which is wound around a pair of parallel rolls or cylinders until the desired length and width is achieved. The spiral wound MD layer is overlaid with a cross-machine direction (CD) layer of similar or dissimilar raw stock and mated by any of a number of means. The spiral wound MD layer can also be mated to another MD layer spiraled in the opposite direction and in one embodiment further mated to a CD layer. The fabric is preferably produced so that its neutral line is oriented toward the paper side of the fabric so that the paper sheet will stretch less than when typical dryer fabrics are used to turn the paper sheet and fabric around the dryer cylinders.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to fibrous fabric comprising hollow fibers. Preferably, the fibrous fabrics will have an opacity greater than a fibrous fabric with an equivalent basis weight and made with the same material and the same fiber diameter. The fibrous fabric comprising hollow fibers may also have an opacity greater than a higher basis weight fibrous fabric containing the same material and having an equivalent fiber diameter and the same number of fibers. The perimeter of the hollow region of the hollow fibers is substantially non-concentric to the outer perimeter of the hollow polymeric fibers. The hollow fibers can be monocomponent and multicomponent, as well as monoconstituent or multiconstituent. These hollow fibers are then consolidated into woven and nonwoven fibrous fabrics that are then converted into articles.

Abstract: A fabric material for forming a garment to be worn by a user is provided. The fabric material has a first side and a second side. The fabric material comprises a plurality of fibers with at least a portion of the fibers having at least one open side wherein each fiber directs moisture from the first side of the fabric material to the second side of the fabric material. A method for constructing the fabric material is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonwoven fabric that is especially engineered to function as the substrate for a dryer activated fabric softener sheet. The substrate has a basis weight of 0.48 ounces per square yard or less, a thickness of from about 0.16 mm to about 0.38 mm, and comprises a nonwoven web of fibers, wherein at least some of the fibers are hollow. Preferably the fibers have a denier of from 2 to 8. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the hollow fibers have a void area at least 10 percent of the fiber cross-section, and the fibers have a noncircular trilobal cross-section.

Abstract: A composite textile includes a batting layer, a cushion layer, and a face fabric. The batting layer has high melt temperature and low melt temperature fibers. The cushion layer is needled to the batting layer. The face fabric is bonded to the cushion layer by an adhesive. The face material/cushion layer/batting layer is heat set and rolled onto a roll for use in forming composite parts. The composite textile is more readily recyclable when the batting layer, the cushion layer, the adhesive, and the face material are all formed completely from material of the same chemical nature, such as polyolefin, polyester, or the like.

Abstract: A hollow polyester filament is disclosed that has sufficient openings therein for the hollow filament to substantially fill with water. The polyester filament has a moisture absorption capability of between about 10 and 30 percent by volume.

Abstract: A fabric for the forming, press and dryer sections of a paper machine, for use as a reinforcing base for a polymeric-resin-coated paper-processing belt or as a corrugator belt, or in other industrial settings where a material is being dewatered, is formed from a monofilament yarn, which is spirally wound in the form of a closed helix, adjacent turns thereof being abutted against and joined securely to one another. The monofilament yarn has a first side and a second side which are oppositely and correspondingly shaped, so that, when spirally wound in a plurality of turns, the first side fits closely into or against the second side of an adjacent and abutting turn, and adjacent spiral turns are secured to one another at the abutting first and second sides to form the fabric.

Abstract: The present invention provides nonwoven fabrics formed of hollow filaments and/or hollow staple fibers and processes for producing the same. The hollow spunbonded filaments and hollow staple fibers are formed of a polypropylene composition. The resultant fabrics of the invention can be useful in numerous applications, such as components of medical garments and disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: A melt spinnable fiber is provided that comprises a first component comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a second component comprising thermoplastic starch where the second component is not encompassed by another component or components or if encompassed by another component or components then the second component encompasses a hollow core. A particular use of such a fiber is for removal of the second component in the presence of a solvent in order to produce fibers with desired properties. An agent may be present in the second component for controlling the rate of removal of the second component thereby allowing for physical manipulation of the fiber prior to complete removal of the component. The invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the fibers.

Abstract: A spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided, formed from a multiplicity of substantially continuous bicomponent filaments randomly arranged and bonded to one another. The bicomponent filaments have a multilobal cross-sectional configuration including a first polymer component formed of a higher-melting composition occupying at least the central portion of the filament cross-section and a second polymer component formed of a lower-melting composition being present in at least one lobe of the multilobal cross-section.

Abstract: The subject invention provides non-woven fabrics having yarns of varying characteristics. In a preferred embodiment the subject invention provides nonwoven fabrics that comprise yarns of different deniers or cross sections. The use of these yarns gives the nonwoven fabric a unique appearance and advantageous properties. The subject invention further pertains to the processes used to produce these fabrics.

Abstract: A filter composite comprises a first layer of glass fibers having random orientation, and synthetic resinous fibers extending in close association with the glass fibers, the glass fibers having: i) diameters between 1 and 16 microns ii) lengths between about ¼ and 1½ inches the synthetic fibers having denier between 1.6 and 40, and length between ¼ and 2 inches.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns nonwoven fabrics containing filaments of at least two different cross sections. The subject invention further pertains to methods used to produce these fabrics. In an embodiment specifically exemplified herein, the nonwoven fabric of the subject invention is made of nylon.

Abstract: A compound cloth comprises a first cloth sheet, a second cloth sheet, and an elastic base material sandwiched between said first cloth sheet and said second cloth sheet. The base material is formed of stacking multi-hollow fibers. The multi-hollow fibers are made of polymer, such as PET, which have been processed by thermal spray, needle punching and wind cooling.

Abstract: The present invention provides nonwoven fabrics formed of hollow filaments and/or hollow staple fibers and processes for producing the same. The hollow spunbonded filaments and hollow staple fibers are formed of a polypropylene composition. The resultant fabrics of the invention can be useful in numerous applications, such as components of medical garments and disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow fiber, which includes:

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within the internal cavity (22) an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be a large number of relatively small conductive solid particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be graphite are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive. The electrically conductive material can also be a selected liquid. In the case of a liquid, the wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected conductive liquid through capillary action by which the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected electrically conductive liquid, with which they come into contact, through the internal cavities (22).

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (1) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within its internal cavity (22) an electrically chargeable powder particle material. The electrically chargeable material can be a pure electrically chargeable dielectric powder material or a mixture of oppositely chargeable dielectric powder particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be PTFE, CTFE, halogenated polymers or any other electrically chargeable dielectric powder particles, are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: Hollow polyester fibers having a thickness of 0.11 to 8.89 d tex (0.1 to 8.0 denier), a hollow volume (a cross-sectional area ratio of hollow to fiber) of 40 to 85%, and a crystallization degree of 20% or more and crystal size in (0 1 0) plane of 4 nm or more of polyester, has a high resistance to compression and a high recovery from compression and are useful for producing woven and knitted fabric having a high durability, pile sheet materials having high resistance to and recovery from pile prostration, and nonwoven fabrics and artificial leather materials having a high resistance and recovery from compression.

Abstract: A nonwoven lap of very fine continuous filaments, crimped or not, obtained by means of a controlled direct spinning process, with a weight between 5 g/m.sup.2 and 600 g/m.sup.2, and formed, after napping, of composite filaments separable in the direction of their length, characterized in that said composite filaments have a filament number between 0.3 dTex and 10 dTex and are formed, each, of at least three elementary filaments of at least two different materials and comprising between them at least one plane of separation or cleavage, each elementary filament having a filament number between 0.005 dTex and 2 dTex, the ratio between the cross-sectional area of each elementary filament and the total cross-sectional area of the unitary filament being between 0.5% and 90%.

Abstract: Multicomponent thermoplastic continuous filaments are provided, including hollow core multicomponent filaments. The filaments are at least partially splittable into smaller filaments in the absence of mechanical treatment or application of high pressure water jets. The surface energy of the components can be controlled to control separation of the multi-component filaments. Sub-denier and micro-denier filaments of low orientation can be produced from relatively high molecular weight polymers to produce nonwovens of surprising strength, barrier, and cover.

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within the internal cavity (22) a large number of relatively small solid particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be an adsorbent such as activated carbon, are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive.

Abstract: A biodegradable filament nonwoven fabric comprising a nonwoven web made up of filaments, each filament comprising a high melting point component composed of a first aliphatic polyester having biodegradability and a low melting point component composed of a second aliphatic polyester having biodegradability with a melting point lower than that of the high melting point component, the nonwoven web processed to a predetermined nonwoven fabric configuration. At least one of the high melting point component and the low melting point component is arranged in a plurality of divisions within the cross section of the filament. Both the high melting point component and the low melting point component extend continuously in the axial direction of the filament and are exposed on the surface of the filament. A method for manufacturing the biodegradable filament nonwoven fabric is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An unwoven metal fabric suitable for use as a battery electrode, a catalyst or a filter, and a method of manufacturing such fabric. An unwoven carbon fabric made up of carbon fibers bound together by a resin is heated to carbonize the binder resin and thus to impart electrical conductivity to the resin, and at the same time finely roughen the surfaces of the carbon fibers and the resin. A plating layer is directly formed on the unwoven carbon fabric thus formed by electroplating. Then, the unwoven carbon fabric is removed by roasting to provide an aggregate of metal fibers joined together and having their voids communicating with one another.

Abstract: An antitrauma packet for supplementing that resistance to mechanical impact and to ballistic penetration of structures that are made of at least one panel of polymeric fibers. At least one layer, having a plurality of polymeric fibers with a plurality of hollow microspheres scattered therein, is attached to the at least one panel.

Abstract: A hollow fiber fabric comprising hollow fibers having a high hollowness ratio of at least 20% and composed of a polymer of a single composition, and the hollow fibers having slits as traces of a removed polymer and the slits being formed in the longitudinal direction of the fibers in such a state that the slits communicate to hollow portions. The fabric is produced by treating a fabric comprising hollow fibers having a high hollowness ratio of at least 20% and composed of a polymer of a single composition with a solvent or solution which dissolves the polymer, to partially dissolve the polymer at low orientation and/or deformation strain concentrated portions, to form slits as traces of a removed polymer in such a state that the slits communicate to hollow portions, along the longitudinal direction of the hollow fibers.