A textile fabric for preventing the penetration and water spreading in cables, having at least one layer, which is at least partially covered by an absorbent material and has pores, which pores can be at least partially closed under the effect of liquid due to absorbent material swelling, the absorbent material being bonded to the textile layer, at least in some areas, has a DIN ISO 9073-3 tensile strength in machine direction of >50 N/5 cm, and obtainable by a method involving: treating a layer containing pores with a mixture containing a polymerizable monomer or oligomer and a cross-linking agent and, as absorbent material precursor, a wetting agent and initiator, and polymerization of the monomer or oligomer under formation of a bonded connection between the absorbent material and the layer. The textile fabric can have a DIN EN ISO 9237 air permeability in dry state of greater than 200 dm.sup.3/(m.sup.2s).

Light-reflective materials and methods for their preparation and use are described. The materials can have multiple particles or voids arranged in a crystal structure. The materials can reflect various types of light such as visible light, ultraviolet light, or infrared light.

The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing crosslinked polymer fibers, especially micro- or nanofibers, by spinning process, especially electrospinning process and to fibers obtainable by this process.

Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.

A new technique for treating non-PAN-based pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarns, and films has been created for use in making stabilized pre-cursor polymers. By applying stepwise or non-stepwise microwave and/or ultraviolet radiation to the pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarn, or films prior to the stabilization thereof, a reduction in time for the costly stabilization process is achieved. Application of this technique extends to less-costly production of carbon fibers, for uses in industries such as automotive, aviation, trains, medical, military, sporting goods, orthopedics, and other industries. The pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarns, or films may be a multi-component polymer composite comprised of a non-PAN-based polymeric fiber, tow, yarn, or film and at least one or more constituent materials. Carbonization of such pre-cursor polymeric fibers, tows, yarns, or films results in less-costly carbon fibers that perform equally, if not better, than traditional costly PAN-based carbon fibers.

This document describes self-cleaning devices. In one aspect, a self-cleaning device includes a fabric having a surface covered with a photocatalyst, one or more light sources embedded in the fabric, and a triggering mechanism that activates a cleaning cycle by activating the one or more light sources. The triggering mechanism can include a pressure sensor. The triggering mechanism can be configured to activate the cleaning cycle in response to detecting a decrease in pressure being applied to the pressure sensor.

The present invention relates to a polymerisable composition for bonding fibre units, in particular linear textiles such as filaments, yarns, twines or ropes, comprising at least one prepolymer having at least two polymerisable vinylidene groups, such as a polyurethane having at least two (meth)acrylate groups, at least one photoinitiator and at least one compound having at least one polymerisable vinylidene group with a weight average molecular weight of 70-800 g/mol. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for bonding fibre units, comprising applying the composition according to the invention to at least one fibre unit such as a filament, yarn, twine or rope and irradiation of the fibre unit thus obtained with radiation having a wavelength in the range of, for example, 100-450 nm.

Systems, methods, and compositions for producing liquid repellant materials include a first support configured to support a spool of flexible substrate, a second support configured to support a plurality of compressing rollers configured to apply a force to a segment of the flexible substrate that extends from the roll. The segment is located within a zone between the compressing rollers. The system, in an embodiment, has a plurality of gas directors, wherein each one of the gas directors is configured to direct a stream of gas that flows at least partially around one of the compressing rollers. The streams cause an air pressure reduction in the zone. Also, the system has a precursor supply configured to expose the substrate to a precursor (e.g., a siloxane precursor), resulting in a coated material or protected material.

A sanitation system includes a drum configured to be positioned within a body of an appliance. The drum includes a lifter on an interior surface. A sanitation device is selectively disposed within the drum. The sanitation device includes a housing. A heatsink is integrally formed with the housing. The heatsink and the housing form an outer structure free of apertures. A sensor assembly is disposed within the outer structure. The sensor assembly includes a humidity sensor configured to sense humidity. A light source is disposed within the outer structure.

An apparatus and process for disinfecting, and, optionally, sterilizing, fibers and non-woven materials produced from the fibers is disclosed, as well as processes for converting fibers into disinfected and/or sterilized non-woven materials. The process involves contacting the fibers and/or non-woven materials with high temperature steam, and then with UV light, which is preferably UV-C light, or another disinfectant process, such as ozone treatment. The process can also involve process steps such as blending fibers, applying fibers to an air card, subjecting the fibers to one or more carding steps, subjecting the carded fibers to non-woven process steps, and chemically treating the fibers and/or non-woven materials. The resulting non-woven materials can be used, for example, in personal care, baby care (including baby wipes), cosmetic applications, household cleaning, automotive, industrial cleaning applications, industrial uses, and the like.