A fabrication method for a water-absorbent filter includes obtaining a homogenized tragacanth suspension by dissolving tragacanth in a solvent, where the solvent may include distilled water, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, and formic acid, obtaining a support layer by coating a stainless steel mesh with a thin layer of a hydrophobic polymer, coating a stainless steel mesh with the thin layer of the hydrophobic polymer comprising electrospinning a hydrophobic polymer solution onto the stainless steel mesh, forming a tragacanth nanofibrous web on the support layer by electrospinning the homogenized tragacanth suspension onto the support layer, and cross-linking the tragacanth nanofibrous web by exposing the tragacanth nanofibrous web to a saturated vapor of a cross-linking agent.

A fabrication method for a filter containing tragacanthin-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers includes obtaining a homogenous tragacanthin-PVA solution by obtaining a PVA solution by dissolving PVA in distilled water, and adding tragacanthin to the PVA solution. The method may further include obtaining a support layer by coating a stainless steel mesh with a thin layer of a hydrophobic polymer, coating a stainless steel mesh with the thin layer of the hydrophobic polymer comprising electrospinning a hydrophobic polymer solution onto the stainless steel mesh, and forming a tragacanthin-PVA nanofibrous web on the support layer by electrospinning the homogenous tragacanthin-PVA solution onto the support layer.

An artificial turf filament comprising one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of from 0.900 to 0.955 g/cc and a melt index, I2, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 (at 190 C. and 2.16 kg), of from 0.1 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min; an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula, R.sub.1(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.xOH, where x is an integer from 2 to 10 and R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 20 to 50 carbon atoms; and a chemical foaming agent.

An artificial turf filament comprising one or more ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers having a density of from 0.900 to 0.955 g/cc and a melt index, I2, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 (at 190 C. and 2.16 kg), of from 0.1 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min; an ethoxylated alcohol having the formula, R.sub.1(OCH.sub.2CH.sub.2).sub.xOH, where x is an integer from 2 to 10 and R1 is a straight or branched chain alkyl of 20 to 50 carbon atoms; and a chemical foaming agent.

A filtration material comprising a blend of polypropylene and acrylic fibers of round, flat, dog bone, oval or kidney bean shape in any size from 0.08 to 3.3 Dtex. A preferred blend contains about 50 weight percent polypropylene fibers and about 50 weight percent acrylic fibers. The fibers can be blended ranging from 90:10 to 10:90 polypropylene to acrylic. The shape contains 25 weight percent round, flat, oval, dog bone and kidney bean shapes. The fiber blend contains 25 weight percent of at least one size between 0.08 and 3.3 Dtex. Electret fibers incorporated within these blends have 0.02 to 33 weight percent of a charge control agent. These fibers can be used in producing electret material by corona or triboelectric charging methods.

A filtration material comprising a blend of polypropylene and acrylic fibers of round, flat, dog bone, oval or kidney bean shape in any size from 0.08 to 3.3 Dtex. A preferred blend contains about 50 weight percent polypropylene fibers and about 50 weight percent acrylic fibers. The fibers can be blended ranging from 90:10 to 10:90 polypropylene to acrylic. The shape contains 25 weight percent round, flat, oval, dog bone and kidney bean shapes. The fiber blend contains 25 weight percent of at least one size between 0.08 and 3.3 Dtex. Electret fibers incorporated within these blends have 0.02 to 33 weight percent of a charge control agent. These fibers can be used in producing electret material by corona or triboelectric charging methods.

A method is disclosed of synthesizing -alumina/hematite (-Al.sub.2O.sub.3/Fe.sub.2O.sub.3) composite nanofibers for removing heavy metals from a water source. The method includes preparing a polymer solution, the polymer solution comprising an iron precursor, acetic acid and a polymer; adding a select amount of an aluminum precursor to the polymer solution; and electrospinning the polymer solution and the select amount of the aluminum precursor to form the -Al.sub.2O.sub.3/Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 composite nanofibers.

A method of forming a single piece, shaped, down feather thermally insulating article having different thermal insulating sections is described. A mold is formed with a cavity defining a non-uniformed prescribed shape and having sections of different shapes and depths. Down feather clusters or a mixture thereof is mixed with a binding material and is injected into the mold which is then heated with a suitable heat source to cause the binding material to soften and fuse the mixture together. After cooling the mold, there is formed a single piece, shaped, down feather article which is comprised of sections having different thermal insulating values for use in a product where parts of the product provide different thermal insulating properties.

A method of forming a single piece, shaped, down feather thermally insulating article having different thermal insulating sections is described. A mold is formed with a cavity defining a non-uniformed prescribed shape and having sections of different shapes and depths. Down feather clusters or a mixture thereof is mixed with a binding material and is injected into the mold which is then heated with a suitable heat source to cause the binding material to soften and fuse the mixture together. After cooling the mold, there is formed a single piece, shaped, down feather article which is comprised of sections having different thermal insulating values for use in a product where parts of the product provide different thermal insulating properties.

A fabrication method for a filter containing tragacanthin-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers includes obtaining a homogenous tragacanthin-PVA solution by obtaining a PVA solution by dissolving PVA in distilled water, and adding tragacanthin to the PVA solution. The method may further include obtaining a support layer by coating a stainless steel mesh with a thin layer of a hydrophobic polymer, coating a stainless steel mesh with the thin layer of the hydrophobic polymer comprising electrospinning a hydrophobic polymer solution onto the stainless steel mesh, and forming a tragacanthin-PVA nanofibrous web on the support layer by electrospinning the homogenous tragacanthin-PVA solution onto the support layer.