Disclosed is a method for processing a carbon fiber bundle, which can adjust bundling property, winding property and wear resistance of sizing fibers. The method includes following steps: (i) coating a sizing agent on at least one carbon fiber bundle, in which the sizing agent includes a thermoplastic resin; (ii) drying the carbon fiber bundle by hot air; and (iii) heating the carbon fiber bundle by an infrared light, in which a heating temperature of the heating is equal to or higher than a melting point of the thermoplastic resin.

A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating self-cleaning and waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment.

A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating self-cleaning and waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

A composite nonwoven mat and a method of making a composite nonwoven mat are provided. The composite nonwoven mat includes a nonwoven base layer having a first surface and a second surface, and a coating layer formed on, penetrating into, and adhered to the first surface of the nonwoven base layer. The coating layer includes a polymer material and a carrier composition. The composite nonwoven mat has an average Gurley porosity of at least 500 seconds.

A water-repellent textile is produce by applying to a textile a solution of Al.sub.13 nanoclusters or aluminum nitrate or hydrates of aluminum nitrate in a solvent to produce a wetted textile; and photo-annealing the wetted textile with ultraviolet light having a wavelength in the range of 180 nm to 260 nm to produce an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 coating on fibers of the textile. The textile may be, for example, cotton, polyester, wool, nylon, chiffon, nubuck, leather, burlap, silk, denim, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the solvent is a solubilizing organic solvent, pure water, or a miscible organic/water solvent mixture.

A water-repellent textile is produce by applying to a textile a solution of Al.sub.13 nanoclusters or aluminum nitrate or hydrates of aluminum nitrate in a solvent to produce a wetted textile; and photo-annealing the wetted textile with ultraviolet light having a wavelength in the range of 180 nm to 260 nm to produce an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 coating on fibers of the textile. The textile may be, for example, cotton, polyester, wool, nylon, chiffon, nubuck, leather, burlap, silk, denim, or any combination thereof. Preferably, the solvent is a solubilizing organic solvent, pure water, or a miscible organic/water solvent mixture.

The present invention relates generally to compositions comprising polyelectrolytes complexes (PECs) of anionic and cationic biopolymers capable of forming barriers on fiber based materials. Also disclosed is a fibre based material with a barrier coating against oil and water, wherein the material is provided with a barrier from at least two layers formed from at least one composition comprising a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of a cationic biopolymer and an anionic biopolymer, The two layers result in improvements in both oil resistance and water resistance compared to the same material provided with a single layer of said at least one composition.

A textile fabric having improved properties, variously including surface stability, abrasion resistance, resistance to edge fraying, moisture control, and resistance to fluid penetration is created by introducing a polymeric solution or a plurality of low-melting particles suspended in a liquid into the textile fabric while leaving a plurality of surface fibers exposed and maintaining a textile feel on the surface.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nozzle for 3-D printing. The nozzle may include a first nozzle tip defining a first outlet, where the first nozzle tip includes a first channel extending therethrough. The nozzle may further include a second nozzle tip defining a second outlet, where the second nozzle tip includes a second channel extending therethrough, and where the first channel surrounds the second outlet. The second nozzle tip may be retracted longitudinally with respect to the first nozzle tip such that the second outlet of the second nozzle tip is located in the first channel.