A method of spreading fiber tows includes assembling a fibrous composite from a plurality of tows, applying an aqueous solution to the fibrous composite, freezing the fibrous composite after applying the aqueous solution, freeze drying the fibrous composite to remove water from the fibrous composite, and heating the fibrous composite after freeze drying to remove a cryoprotectant from the fibrous composite. The aqueous solution comprises water and the cryoprotectant and freezing the fibrous composite spreads filaments within the plurality of fiber tows.

A method of spreading fiber tows includes assembling a fibrous composite from a plurality of tows, applying an aqueous solution to the fibrous composite, freezing the fibrous composite after applying the aqueous solution, freeze drying the fibrous composite to remove water from the fibrous composite, and heating the fibrous composite after freeze drying to remove a cryoprotectant from the fibrous composite. The aqueous solution comprises water and the cryoprotectant and freezing the fibrous composite spreads filaments within the plurality of fiber tows.

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

Methods are directed to the use of a supercritical fluid for performing a dyeing of a material such that dye from a first material is used to dye a second material. A supercritical fluid is passed through a first material in a pressurized vessel. The supercritical fluid transports the dye from the first material to at least a second material causing a dye profile of the second material to change as a result of dye from the first material perfusing the second material.

Methods are directed to the use of a supercritical fluid for performing a dyeing of a material such that dye from a first material is used to dye a second material. A supercritical fluid is passed through a first material in a pressurized vessel. The supercritical fluid transports the dye from the first material to at least a second material causing a dye profile of the second material to change as a result of dye from the first material perfusing the second material.

A process for coating a fabric web on upper and lower sides in one pass containing unwinding a fabric web, coating the upper side of the fabric web with a upper coating composition using a first coater, coating the lower side of the fabric web with a lower coating composition using a second coater, drying the coated fabric web in a horizontal dryer, and winding up the coated fabric web.

The upper and lower coatings are each in an add-on amount of between about 10 and 75 GSM. The second coater comprises an entry edge and a beveled exit edge, where the entry edge is located closer to the first coater than the beveled exit edge, the entry edge of the second coater is in contact with the lower side of the fabric web, and the beveled exit edge of the second coater is not in contact with the web.

The invention relates to a three-dimensionally woven multilayer fibrous structure (20) having the same number of warp yarns woven at any level along the warp direction, the fibrous structure (20) comprising, in the warp direction, a first part (22) and a second part (24), the first part (22) having a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, greater than the second part (24), characterised in that the spacing between two weft planes along the warp direction is greater in the second part than in the first part (22), and in that the number of weft yarns is lower in the second part (24) than in the first part (22).

The invention relates to a three-dimensionally woven multilayer fibrous structure (20) having the same number of warp yarns woven at any level along the warp direction, the fibrous structure (20) comprising, in the warp direction, a first part (22) and a second part (24), the first part (22) having a thickness measured in a direction perpendicular to the warp and weft directions, greater than the second part (24), characterised in that the spacing between two weft planes along the warp direction is greater in the second part than in the first part (22), and in that the number of weft yarns is lower in the second part (24) than in the first part (22).

The invention relates to a water-repellent and lipophilic composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric and a preparation method thereof. The method comprises the following steps: blending a PET fiber and a polyolefin-based fiber in a mass ratio of 3:1-1:3, and performing needle punching to obtain a composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric; carrying out hot-drying treatment on the composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric at 110-160° C. for 40-90 min; and carrying out water-repellent finishing on the hot-dried fabric using 50-70 mL/L of an aqueous solution of a modified resin-based fluorine-free waterproofing agent, and drying to obtain the water-repellent and lipophilic composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric, wherein the water-repellent finishing is dip rolling, the air pressure is 1.8 kPa and the liquid carrying rate is 160-230%. The preparation method of the invention is simple, and the prepared composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric has significantly improved water repellency, lipophilicity and tensile strength compared with the fabric before treatment.

A 3D printed core-shell filament comprises an elongated core radially surrounded by an outer shell with a barrier layer in between, where the elongated core comprises a ductile polymer and the outer shell comprises a stiff polymer having a Young's modulus higher than that of the ductile polymer. A lightweight lattice structure may comprise a plurality of the 3D printed core-shell filaments deposited in layers.