A composite geosynthetic fabric includes a woven fabric and a nonwoven fabric adhered to the woven fabric. The nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of fibers, with each fiber of the plurality of fibers of the nonwoven fabric being about 2 to about 18 denier per filament. A portion of the fibers of the nonwoven fabric extend through the woven fabric and is fused together on a face of the woven fabric that is opposite a nonwoven face side of the woven fabric.

An industrial textile is provided, preferably suitable for use as a dryer fabric in a papermaking machine. The industrial textile has first and second surfaces and is defined by first and second systems of warp yarns interwoven with a system of weft yarns in a repeating pattern. In the repeating pattern, each of the warp yarns in the first system of warp yarns is interwoven with the system of weft yarns with a float on the first surface over at least 5 of the weft yarns, under 1 of the weft yarns, over 1 of the weft yarns, and under 1 of the weft yarns. Additionally, each of the warp yarns in the second system of warp yarns is interwoven with the system of weft yarns with a float on the second surface under at least 5 of the weft yarns, over 1 of the weft yarns, under 1 of the weft yarns, and over 1 of the weft yarns in the repeating pattern. Each of the warp yarns of the first system of warp yarns is stacked over a corresponding one of the warp yarns of the second system of warp yarns to form stacked pairs of the warp yarns.

An industrial textile is provided, preferably suitable for use as a dryer fabric in a papermaking machine. The industrial textile has first and second surfaces and is defined by first and second systems of warp yarns interwoven with a system of weft yarns in a repeating pattern. In the repeating pattern, each of the warp yarns in the first system of warp yarns is interwoven with the system of weft yarns with a float on the first surface over at least 5 of the weft yarns, under 1 of the weft yarns, over 1 of the weft yarns, and under 1 of the weft yarns. Additionally, each of the warp yarns in the second system of warp yarns is interwoven with the system of weft yarns with a float on the second surface under at least 5 of the weft yarns, over 1 of the weft yarns, under 1 of the weft yarns, and over 1 of the weft yarns in the repeating pattern. Each of the warp yarns of the first system of warp yarns is stacked over a corresponding one of the warp yarns of the second system of warp yarns to form stacked pairs of the warp yarns.

An article of apparel is disclosed that includes zones with a textile having a structure that changes or is otherwise modified by a physical stimulus, such as the presence of water or a temperature change, to modify a property of the textile. The zones may be along a center back area and side areas of the apparel, and the textile may increase in air permeability when exposed to water. The zones may also be in an upper area of the torso and in a lower back area, and the textile may increase in texture when exposed to water. In some embodiments, slits are formed in the textile.

An article of apparel is disclosed that includes zones with a textile having a structure that changes or is otherwise modified by a physical stimulus, such as the presence of water or a temperature change, to modify a property of the textile. The zones may be along a center back area and side areas of the apparel, and the textile may increase in air permeability when exposed to water. The zones may also be in an upper area of the torso and in a lower back area, and the textile may increase in texture when exposed to water. In some embodiments, slits are formed in the textile.

The invention relates to a fabric comprising carbon threads, said fabric having a mass per unit area within the range of 40 g/m.sup.2 to 100 g/m.sup.2, preferably from 40 g/m.sup.2 to 80 g/m.sup.2, specifically from 60 g/m.sup.2 to 80 g/m.sup.2, and characterized in that it comprises staple fibers, said staple fibers extending out from the threads constituting the fabric from which they originate and extending in a direction that is not parallel to the direction of the thread from which they originate and/or in that the fabric is needled. The invention also relates to the use of this fabric in a diffusion layer for a fuel cell and a method for manufacturing this diffusion layer.

A method of manufacturing waterproof apertured materials or surfaces, and such materials or surfaces, using nanoparticle hydrophobic compositions and treatments, and preferably superhydrophobic compositions and treatments, which possess apertures retaining breeching members possessing liquid wicking properties which would normally render the surface or material water-permeable. By treating the breeching members with the nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic compositions, a hydrophobic field extending from the breeching member is created, such that the extended hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through the apertures by wicking or capillary action.

A method of manufacturing waterproof apertured materials or surfaces, and such materials or surfaces, using nanoparticle hydrophobic compositions and treatments, and preferably superhydrophobic compositions and treatments, which possess apertures retaining breeching members possessing liquid wicking properties which would normally render the surface or material water-permeable. By treating the breeching members with the nanoparticle hydrophobic or superhydrophobic compositions, a hydrophobic field extending from the breeching member is created, such that the extended hydrophobic field precludes passage of liquid through the apertures by wicking or capillary action.

A stabilized fabric composed of a mesh or a woven fabric is disclosed as are methods of their manufacture, the manufacture of medical devices made using a stabilized fibers and stabilized medical devices are all disclosed. Fabrics can be stabilized by several techniques including: using mechanical, chemical and/or energetic fasteners at warp and weft intersections in the weave; by using various weaving techniques and fibers. Meshes can be stabilized when properly dimensioned and arranged junctions and struts of the necessary properties are used. All of these stabilized fabrics can be made of synthetic polymer materials such as ultrahigh molecular weight PE or PP and expanded PTFE.

A stabilized fabric composed of a mesh or a woven fabric is disclosed as are methods of their manufacture, the manufacture of medical devices made using a stabilized fibers and stabilized medical devices are all disclosed. Fabrics can be stabilized by several techniques including: using mechanical, chemical and/or energetic fasteners at warp and weft intersections in the weave; by using various weaving techniques and fibers. Meshes can be stabilized when properly dimensioned and arranged junctions and struts of the necessary properties are used. All of these stabilized fabrics can be made of synthetic polymer materials such as ultrahigh molecular weight PE or PP and expanded PTFE.