A method for providing landscaping materials wherein a predetermined layer of a rubber mulch is placed on a predetermined area of soil and the rubber mulch layer is sprayed with a urethane binder material. Also, there is a method for providing landscaping materials wherein a predetermined area of soil is prepared for treatment and then treated with a weed barrier. Then, a predetermined layer of rubber mulch is applied to the weed barrier treated soil and the rubber mulch layer is sprayed with a urethane binder material. Additional layers of particulate material and binder layer can be applied to the top binder layer in each method.

A composite fiber may include at least one reinforcing filament formed of a first material. A second material maybe systematically deposited in a printed onto the at least one reinforcing filament such that at least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of the second material varies across a surface of the at least one reinforcing filament. The printed pattern may alter one or more properties of a composite structure containing the composite fiber.

A method is provided for manufacturing a panel. of the method may involve supplying a substrate having an upper side. A layer may be provided onto the upper side. The upper side may be irradiated so as to cure at least a part of the layer by irradiation, hence forming the panel. The layer may include a liquid coating on substantially the entire upper side and a substance which is digitally printed locally on the upper side. The substance and the liquid coating may cooperate such that either (1) the coating and the substance react with each other, whereas the substance is a liquid that is printed on the upper side before the coating is applied and wherein the substance and the coating have different surface tensions, or (2) the coating is non-curable or only curable to a limited extent by the irradiation, whereas the substance makes the coating curable by the irradiation at locations where they meet each other.

In accordance with the present application, there is provided a release liner and method of preparing a liner for a label assembly. The release liner includes paper having a first side that does not have a machine finish or gloss finish or a coating; and a silicone treatment applied to the first side of the paper. The method of preparing a liner for a label assembly includes applying a coat of silicone to a paper at a side of the paper that does not have a machine finish or gloss finish and is otherwise uncoated; and curing the silicone. The release liner includes paper having a silicone coat weight of 0.5 lb/ream or less.

A pressure vessel for holding fluids includes a tank and a coating disposed on an outer surface of the tank. The tank defines a cavity for holding fluids, and an outer surface of the tank includes a first visual characteristic. The coating includes an indicator layer, an outer layer, and a first intermediate layer. The indicator layer is disposed on the outer surface, the indicator layer including a second visual characteristic that visually contrasts with the first visual characteristic. The outer layer is disposed over the indicator layer, the outer layer including a third visual characteristic that visually contrasts with the second visual characteristic. The first intermediate layer is positioned between the indicator layer and the outer layer, the first intermediate layer being visually transparent or translucent. The disclosure also describes a coating including an indicator layer, an outer layer, and a first intermediate layer.

Kits and methods are provided for color customization of articles by applying ink to regions of decreased pigment density. By creating tension over these regions during application of the ink, the ink may be preferentially transferred to those regions.

Methods for treating cellulosic materials comprising introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material, the treating composition comprising a solution prepared from at least: (i) one or more of a copper amine complex or copper ammine complex, such as copper tetraamine carbonate, (ii) one or more of ammonia or a water-soluble amine and (iii) water; and exposing the cellulosic material provided thereby to carbon dioxide and/or carbonic acid to provide treated cellulosic material, and treated cellulosic materials prepared thereby.

Methods for treating cellulosic materials comprising introducing a liquid treating composition into the cellulosic material, the treating composition comprising a solution prepared from at least: (i) one or more of a copper amine complex or copper ammine complex, such as copper tetraamine carbonate, (ii) one or more of ammonia or a water-soluble amine and (iii) water; and exposing the cellulosic material provided thereby to carbon dioxide and/or carbonic acid to provide treated cellulosic material, and treated cellulosic materials prepared thereby.

Various embodiments directed towards methods of applying sizing to fibers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, solvent can be used to dissolve a sizing material into a solution, which can then be used to coat the fibers. In some embodiments, a water bath is used to coagulate a sizing on the fiber surface and to remove the remove solvent after coating the fibers, so that water vapor can be created during a subsequent drying step as opposed to solvent vapors. In some embodiments, strong acids or strong bases can be used as the solvent.

The invention provides a filter fabric for providing anti pathogenic properties which has been coated with a composition comprising (a) 0.0001-99.9999% by weight of a compound of such as zinc pyrithione and (b) 0.0001-99.9999% by weight of an additional zinc salt selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, zinc propionate, zinc oxalate, zinc benzoate, zinc gluconate, zinc ascorbate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc glycolate, zinc maleate, zinc fumarate, zinc polyacrylate and zinc polymaleate. The invention also provides a composition for imparting anti-viral properties to a breathable substrate material comprising two or more zinc salts selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, zinc propionate, zinc oxalate, zinc benzoate, zinc gluconate, zinc ascorbate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc glycolate, zinc maleate, zinc fumarate, zinc EDTA, zinc glycinate, zinc polyacrylate, zinc polylactate, zinc polyglycolate and zinc polymaleate said zinc salts being present in effective amounts to impart anti-pathogenic properties.