A filter element comprising two layers of weft (1) interlaced with warp (2). Additionally laid-in (3) yarns are provided in-between the two weft layers. The laid-in yarns are not interlaced with the weft.

A woven fabric formed of fabric fibers or threads coated with a hydrogel, wherein said hydrogel is not crosslinked or is partially crosslinked to the fabric fibers or thread, wherein the hydrogel has a number of excess reactive molecules that are available for a reaction with one or more molecules solvated in an aqueous solution, and wherein the reactive molecules of the hydrogel can reversibly bond with the molecules solvated in an aqueous solution, such that the reactive molecules of the hydrogel attract the molecules solvated in aqueous solution when the hydrogel coated fabric substrate is exposed to an aqueous solution.

An electret is disclosed including: a carrier, and polytetrafluoroethylene having a melting point of 35 C. or higher and 320 C. or lower deposited on the carrier, wherein the electret imparts an electrostatic charge to at least one of the carrier and the polytetrafluoroethylene, and has two or more melting point peaks in simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. An electret filter is disclosed which preferably is used for a filter which requires durability to tobacco smoke. An electret filter is also disclosed having a fluorine-containing component deposited on a fiber surface, wherein an initial QF value is 0.5 mmAq.sup.1 or more in collection efficiency of particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 m at a wind speed of 5 cm/s, and a filter deterioration rate by tobacco smoke loading is 8/(g/m.sup.2) or more.

The invention relates to a textile protective material, in particular providing protection against radioactive harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against biological harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against chemical harmful and/or toxic substances, preferably a textile adsorption filter material, and to a method for the production thereof. The textile protective material is suitable in particular for producing protective equipment and protective objects and filters and filter materials of all types.

Textile fabrics consolidated with a binder that is made from a binder system are described. The binder system may include:

a) 30% or less by dry weight of at least one polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol;

b) 70% or more by dry weight of at least one starch, wherein the at least one starch comprises 50% by weight or more of one or more natural starches based on the total weight of the at least one starch;

c) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one crosslinker;

d) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one filler; and

e) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one additive,

wherein a sum of components a) through e) is 100% by dry weight of the binder system. Method of making the textile fabrics consolidated with binders made from the binder systems are also described.

The present invention relates to a positively charged filter material with excellent ability for removing charged particles efficiently, and a method for producing the same, and more specifically to a positively charged filter material having the ability to selectively remove efficiently, in water, negatively charged organic/inorganic particles, heavy metal ions and pathogenic microorganisms, and a method for producing the same.