An axially stretchable fiber-reinforced composite material, comprising an elastically deformable matrix having a low modulus of elasticity, and a fabric core encapsulated by the matrix. The core comprises first fibers interlaced with second fibers, with the first fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the material's longitudinal axis, and the second fibers are non-parallel relative to the first fibers when the composite material is in a retracted position. The composite material is stretchable between the retracted and extended positions. The fibers have a high modulus of elasticity. The composite material has a non-linear modulus relative to elongation of the composite material between the retraced and extended positions. Movement of the material toward the extended position causes the first and second fibers to rotate relative to each other and in a direction toward alignment with the longitudinal axis, and the matrix material biases the composite material toward the retracted position.

An axially stretchable fiber-reinforced composite material, comprising an elastically deformable matrix having a low modulus of elasticity, and a fabric core encapsulated by the matrix. The core comprises first fibers interlaced with second fibers, with the first fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the material's longitudinal axis, and the second fibers are non-parallel relative to the first fibers when the composite material is in a retracted position. The composite material is stretchable between the retracted and extended positions. The fibers have a high modulus of elasticity. The composite material has a non-linear modulus relative to elongation of the composite material between the retraced and extended positions. Movement of the material toward the extended position causes the first and second fibers to rotate relative to each other and in a direction toward alignment with the longitudinal axis, and the matrix material biases the composite material toward the retracted position.

The invention relates to a compound prepared by (i) reacting (a) at least one compound selected from diisocyanate, polyisocyanate, or mixture thereof; (b) at least one isocyanate-reactive compound selected from a fluorinated alcohol; a cyclic or acyclic sugar alcohol which is substituted with at least one R.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.1, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mR.sup.2, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mC(0)R.sup.1, or mixtures thereof; or mixtures of a fluorinated alcohol and a substituted cyclic or acyclic sugar alcohol; and (c) at least one isocyanate-reactive ethylenically unsaturated compound; wherein each n is independently 0 to 20; each m is independently 0 to 20; m+n is greater than 0; each R.sup.1 is independently a linear or branched alkyl group having 5 to 29 carbons optionally comprising at least 1 unsaturated bond; each R.sup.2 is independently H, or a linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbons optionally comprising at least 1 unsaturated bond, or mixtures thereof; and (ii) reacting the reaction product of step (i) with a bisulfate source.

The invention relates to a compound prepared by (i) reacting (a) at least one compound selected from diisocyanate, polyisocyanate, or mixture thereof; (b) at least one isocyanate-reactive compound selected from a fluorinated alcohol; a cyclic or acyclic sugar alcohol which is substituted with at least one R.sup.1, C(O)R.sup.1, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mR.sup.2, (CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.n(CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2O).sub.mC(O)R.sup.1, or mixtures thereof; or mixtures of a fluorinated alcohol and a substituted cyclic or acyclic sugar alcohol; and (c) at least one isocyanate-reactive ethylenically unsaturated compound; wherein each n is independently 0 to 20; each m is independently 0 to 20; m+n is greater than 0; each R.sup.1 is independently a linear or branched alkyl group having 5 to 29 carbons optionally comprising at least 1 unsaturated bond; each R.sup.2 is independently H, or a linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbons optionally comprising at least 1 unsaturated bond, or mixtures thereof; and (ii) reacting the reaction product of step (i) with a bisulfate source.

A textile structure including one or more layers of warp yarns interwoven with one or more layers of weft yarns, a durable thermoregulating coating, and a binder that chemically bonds the durable thermoregulating coating to the textile structure. The warp yarns and/or weft yarns include polyester yarns. A method for manufacturing a textile structure includes weaving one or more layers of warp yarns with one or more layers or weft yarns to form a woven textile structure, brushing the textile structure at least two times, applying a binder to the textile structure, and applying a durable thermoregulating coating to the textile structure such that the binder chemically bonds the durable thermoregulating coating to the textile structure. The method may also include heat setting and curing the textile structure to fix the durable thermoregulating coating permanently onto the textile structure.

A textile structure including one or more layers of warp yarns interwoven with one or more layers of weft yarns, a durable thermoregulating coating, and a binder that chemically bonds the durable thermoregulating coating to the textile structure. The warp yarns and/or weft yarns include polyester yarns. A method for manufacturing a textile structure includes weaving one or more layers of warp yarns with one or more layers or weft yarns to form a woven textile structure, brushing the textile structure at least two times, applying a binder to the textile structure, and applying a durable thermoregulating coating to the textile structure such that the binder chemically bonds the durable thermoregulating coating to the textile structure. The method may also include heat setting and curing the textile structure to fix the durable thermoregulating coating permanently onto the textile structure.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A partially degradable polymeric fiber includes a thermally degradable polymeric core and a coating surrounding at least a portion of the core. The thermally degradable polymeric core includes a polymeric matrix including a poly(hydroxy-alkanoate), and a metal selected from the group consisting of an alkali earth metal and a transition metal, in the core polymeric matrix. The concentration of the metal in the polymeric matrix is at least 0.1 wt %. The partially degradable polymeric fiber may be used to form a microvascular system containing one or more microfluidic channels.

A method of forming an active self-transformable material includes providing a flexible base material and disposing an active material on one or more surfaces of the flexible base material or within the flexible base material in a specific pattern to form a combined structure having a natural shape, wherein the active material is a material that is reactive to exposure to an external stimulus trigger, wherein the flexible base material is non-reactive to the external stimulus trigger, minimally reactive to the external stimulus trigger, or reactive to the external stimulus trigger differently than the active material, and wherein exposure of at least a portion of the specific pattern of the active material to the external stimulus trigger changes the shape of the combined structure from the natural shape into a predetermined 3-dimensional transformed shape.