Described is a composite made from a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or a knitted face fabric and a non-woven fabric. The woven fabric, the non-woven fabric, or the knitted face fabric is needle punched such that fibers protrude into the non-woven fabric. The woven fabric, the non-woven fabric, or the knitted face fabric has a first polymer having a first melting point and a second polymer having a second melting point being higher than the first melting point. The nonwoven backing material comprises a third polymer having a third melting point and a fourth polymer having a fourth melting point being higher than the third melting point. The woven fabric, the non-woven fabric, or the knitted face fabric is further bonded to the nonwoven backing material applying heat to at least partially melt or soften the first polymer and the third polymer such that they bond together.

An article of apparel including insulation material includes an insulating layer formed of waterfowl fibers and synthetic fibers. The waterfowl fibers can be present in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is generally free of waterfowl plumage.

Fire retardant laminates including a textile layer, a protective layer, and a fire retardant are provided. The protective layer includes a porous membrane and a coating layer. The porous membrane is positioned between the textile layer and the coating layer. The fire retardant includes one or more phosphonate esters of the general formula: ##STR00001##
where n=0 or 1, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, R.sub.3 is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, and R.sub.4 is a linear or branched alkyl. At least a portion of the phosphonate ester in the fire retardant laminate resides in the coating layer. The fire retardant laminates are suitable for use in protective garments that provide full flammability and burn protection, even after exposure to flammable materials such as petroleum, oils, and lubricants. A method of rendering the fire retardant laminate fire retardant is also provided.

A moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable composite sheet material is provided which is suitable for use as a housewrap material, and is also useful for other applications such as tarpaulins, or as covers for automobile, boats, patio furniture or the like. The composite sheet material includes a nonwoven substrate and an extrusion-coated polyolefin film layer overlying one surface of the substrate. The nonwoven substrate is comprised of polymeric fibers randomly disposed and bonded to one another to form a high tenacity nonwoven web. The nonwoven substrate has a grab tensile strength of at least 178 Newtons (40 pounds) in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or the cross-machine direction (CD). The extrusion coated polyolefin film layer is intimately bonded to the nonwoven substrate. The film layer has micropores formed therein to impart to the composite sheet material a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 35 g/m.sup.2/24 hr. at 50% relative humidity and 23° C. and a hydrostatic head of at least 55 cm. In one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate comprises a spunbonded nonwoven fabric formed of randomly disposed substantially continuous polypropylene filaments. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric is an area bonded fabric in which the filaments are bonded to one another throughout the fabric at locations where the randomly disposed filaments overlie or cross one another.

A cellulose fiber-based substrate, at least one side of which is coated with an aqueous mixture composed of: a) at least one water-soluble polymer (WSP) containing hydroxyl groups, b) at least one lactone substituted with at least one linear or branched and/or cyclic C.sub.8-C.sub.30 hydrocarbon chain which may contain heteroatoms, c)at least one crosslinking agent. A method of production and use thereof.

A composite structure having a laminated structure made of fiber reinforced plastic and metallic material comprises a base member(s) made of metallic material; and a reinforcement member(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic, the reinforcement member(s) comprising: a first reinforcement part(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a uni-direction, and a second reinforcement part(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including at least reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a crossing direction relative to the uni-direction in which the reinforcement fibers of the first reinforcement part(s) are aligned, and interposed between the base member(s) and the first reinforcement part(s), the reinforcement member(s) further comprising a thermosetting resin included in a bonding site with the base member(s).

Layered, and optionally dispersible fibrous structures containing fibrous elements that exhibit inter-layer voids between two or more layers within the fibrous structures, sanitary tissue products employing such layered, optionally dispersible fibrous structures, and methods for making same are provided.

A conformable and optionally elastic weather resistant, comfortable fabric provides wind and rain resistance, plus thermal insulation, along with moisture transfer through the fabric, by combining a hydrophobic and dense outer layer with a bulky absorbent middle layer and a thin hydrophobic inner layer, joined by stitching and optionally subsequently shrinking to bulk the structure and re-adjust the openings formed by stitching. The third hydrophobic layer may be omitted and substituted with hydrophobic underlap yarns formed during the stitching process. The method provides high conformability and optionally elastic fit or inelastic pre-adjustable body fit.

Methods of producing a multi-ply paper product are provided. The methods comprise applying coagulant and/or hybrid coagulant-flocculant composition to an upper ply substrate disposed adjacent and above a lower ply substrate in an amount such that a portion of the coagulant and/or the hybrid coagulant-flocculant composition passes through the upper ply substrate. Preferably, the lower ply substrate has a greater freeness than the upper ply substrate. The methods of the present disclosure preferably allow for efficient use of RDF chemicals while making use of the innate freeness differences between the upper and lower ply substrates.

A flexible pipe includes: an inner liner formed as a tube and having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner diameter; a reinforcement layer bonded to the inner liner and including at least a first ply of reinforcing tape helically wrapped in a first helical direction about the inner liner and a second ply of reinforcing tape helically wrapped about the first ply of reinforcing tape, the second ply of reinforcing tape helically wrapped in a second helical direction opposite to the first helical direction; and an outer jacket applied over and bonded to the reinforcement layer, the outer jacket including a thermoplastic. A reinforcing tape for use in the pipe or other applications includes: a plurality of reinforcing fibers and a matrix about the plurality of reinforcing fibers to hold the reinforcing fibers in the form of a tape, the matrix including thermoplastic and an additive to increase the impact resistance of the thermoplastic.