Soft point bonded nonwoven webs, and methods of making the same, are described that utilize a pattern of small, discrete bond points in a sequent pattern that together form macro-elements. The macro-elements are themselves positioned and aligned within a pattern such that mechanical stretching operations on the point bonded nonwoven webs yields soft and bulky fabrics but with reduced incidence of tearing or rupturing of the individual bond points.

A fabric is for a transition element for the protection of a transition area between two interconnected components or vehicle parts that can move relative to each other. The fabric has at least one first section, and at least one second section. The first section and the second section differ with respect to at least one mechanical property. The first section has at least one material weakening to change the at least one mechanical property in the first section.

A fabric is for a transition element for the protection of a transition area between two interconnected components or vehicle parts that can move relative to each other. The fabric has at least one first section, and at least one second section. The first section and the second section differ with respect to at least one mechanical property. The first section has at least one material weakening to change the at least one mechanical property in the first section.

The present disclosure provides: a biodegradable nonwoven fabric for thermoforming, the biodegradable nonwoven fabric being composed of a fiber of a polylactic acid-based polymer, and having a basis weight of 20-300 g/m.sup.2, preferably, a biodegradable nonwoven fabric characterized by being composed of a long fiber of a polylactic acid polymer, having an MD-direction elongation of 50% or more at 120° C., and having an MD-direction dimensional change rate of ±4% or less at 80-140° C. as determined by thermomechanical analysis; a method for producing a molded body by using said biodegradable nonwoven fabric; and a method for molding a biodegradable beverage extraction container, the method being characterized in that the molded body has an MD-direction elongation change rate of 4% or less, as determined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA) under a load of 0.05 N/2 mm at 30-100° C.

One embodiment can provide an apparatus. The apparatus can include a robotic arm, a pair of jaws coupled to the robotic arm configured to grip a fabric piece at a pair of predetermined locations, a force sensor coupled to the jaws and configured to measure a tension force applied to the fabric piece by the jaws, and a control module configured to control movements of at least one jaw based on the measured tension force, thereby allowing the fabric piece to be stretched.

A method for improving the translation efficiency of fiber strength into composite strength is provided. A single unidirectional tape, single unidirectional fiber web or a stack of unidirectional web/unidirectional tape plies formed from partially oriented fibers/tapes is primed under mild conditions followed by subjecting the primed plies to an axial extension stress in the axial fiber direction of each fiber ply by passage through a compression apparatus. The axial extension stress extends the fibers, strengthening them, while also compacting the plies together and thereby forming a composite having improved strength. Production yield is improved by avoiding maximal fiber stretching and thereby avoiding typical manufacturing loss, and low weight composite armor having increased strength is achieved.

A method for improving the translation efficiency of fiber strength into composite strength is provided. A single unidirectional tape, single unidirectional fiber web or a stack of unidirectional web/unidirectional tape plies formed from partially oriented fibers/tapes is primed under mild conditions followed by subjecting the primed plies to an axial extension stress in the axial fiber direction of each fiber ply by passage through a compression apparatus. The axial extension stress extends the fibers, strengthening them, while also compacting the plies together and thereby forming a composite having improved strength. Production yield is improved by avoiding maximal fiber stretching and thereby avoiding typical manufacturing loss, and low weight composite armor having increased strength is achieved.

Elastic thread lines can extend along borders of puckering areas of a fabric. The thread lines can include elastic thread line sections of the thread lines passing through thread line intersections and segments of the thread lines between the intersections. The elastic thread lines can bias the puckering areas in multiple different non-parallel directions toward a puckered configuration. In the puckered configuration, the puckering areas can be gathered together to pucker the fabric. The fabric can be stitched together to form a product, such as a sleeping bag sack that is stretchable in multiple orthogonal directions by stretching the thread lines. Elastic thread line sections passing through intersections can be made more secure by forming thread line section patterns that increase numbers of thread line crossings at the intersections. Densities of thread lines in different directions can be selected to produce different amounts of gathering, and for security.

Elastic thread lines can extend along borders of puckering areas of a fabric. The thread lines can include elastic thread line sections of the thread lines passing through thread line intersections and segments of the thread lines between the intersections. The elastic thread lines can bias the puckering areas in multiple different non-parallel directions toward a puckered configuration. In the puckered configuration, the puckering areas can be gathered together to pucker the fabric. The fabric can be stitched together to form a product, such as a sleeping bag sack that is stretchable in multiple orthogonal directions by stretching the thread lines. Elastic thread line sections passing through intersections can be made more secure by forming thread line section patterns that increase numbers of thread line crossings at the intersections. Densities of thread lines in different directions can be selected to produce different amounts of gathering, and for security.

A flexible material is disclosed comprising a flexible substrate, a sorbent comprising zirconium hydroxide and a binder, wherein the solids weight ratio of the binder to the zirconium hydroxide is in the range 1:1 to 1:120. Also disclosed is a process for production of a fabric, comprising: providing a flexible material, providing at least one sorbent dispersion comprising zirconium hydroxide and a binder, applying the sorbent dispersion to the flexible material to produce a treated flexible material, squeezing the treated flexible material under pressure, and passing the pressed treated flexible material through a stenter.