This invention provides antibacterial and antiviral compositions and methods. The compositions possess prolonged and powerful antibacterial/antiviral functions under light exposure and even under completely dark conditions, while daylight exposures could recharge the functions repeatedly. In some embodiments, compositions of the invention can be employed in personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks, biologically self-cleaning air and water filters, medical devices, and products. The biocidal PPE can prevent transmission of infectious diseases such as Ebola and respiratory viruses. In some embodiments, compositions of the invention can be employed in food protectant materials to provide antimicrobial and antiviral bio-protection during food transportation and storage.

A skin-core fiber having a skin of a propylene ethylene copolymer having: i) xylene soluble fraction from 14 wt % to 27 wt %; ii) intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. from 1.0 to 2.4 dl/g; iii) melt flow rate, MFR, from 12 g/10 min to 60 g/10 min; iv) an ethylene derived units content from 5.0 wt % to 12.0 wt %; v) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction insoluble in xylene from 2.5 wt % to 6.0 wt %; vi) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction soluble in xylene ranging from 15.2. wt % to 30.2 wt %; vii) C.sup.13 NMR sequences PEP on the fraction insoluble in xylene from 3.5 mol % to 5.5 mol %; and viii) C.sup.13 NMR sequences PEP on the fraction soluble in xylene from 11.0 mol % to 14.2 mol %; and a core of a polyethylene having a density between 0.940 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.975 g/cm.sup.3.

A skin-core fiber having a skin of a propylene ethylene copolymer having: i) xylene soluble fraction from 14 wt % to 27 wt %; ii) intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. from 1.0 to 2.4 dl/g; iii) melt flow rate, MFR, from 12 g/10 min to 60 g/10 min; iv) an ethylene derived units content from 5.0 wt % to 12.0 wt %; v) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction insoluble in xylene from 2.5 wt % to 6.0 wt %; vi) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction soluble in xylene ranging from 15.2. wt % to 30.2 wt %; vii) C.sup.13 NMR sequences PEP on the fraction insoluble in xylene from 3.5 mol % to 5.5 mol %; and viii) C.sup.13 NMR sequences PEP on the fraction soluble in xylene from 11.0 mol % to 14.2 mol %; and a core of a polyethylene having a density between 0.940 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.975 g/cm.sup.3.

A process for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising forming a polymer composition comprising a primary polypropylene and at least one secondary polyolefin; in a spunbond process, forming fibers then fabric from the polymer composition; and exposing the fabric to an heating environment within a range from 50° C. to 250° C.

A process for producing a nonwoven fabric comprising forming a polymer composition comprising a primary polypropylene and at least one secondary polyolefin; in a spunbond process, forming fibers then fabric from the polymer composition; and exposing the fabric to an heating environment within a range from 50° C. to 250° C.

Various embodiments for a shock pad that may be combined with other similar shock pads to form an elastic sub-layer of an athletic field, or other surface, are disclosed. An artificial turf system may include a synthetic surface and an elastic sub-layer disposed between the synthetic surface and a ground surface. The elastic sub-layer may include a plurality of shock pads configured to retain the synthetic surface and absorb shock. Individual ones of the shock pads may include a top surface connected with the synthetic surface, and a bottom surface facing the ground surface, where a geofabric is affixed to the bottom surface of the individual ones of the pads.

The present invention relates to a melt spun fiber comprising a propylene polymer composition comprising a terpolymer of propylene with ethylene comonomer units and alpha-olefin comonomer units having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein the propylene polymer composition has a melt flow rate MFR (230° C., 2.16 kg) of from 10 to 200 g/10 min and a melting temperature of less than 153° C., a spunbonded nonwoven fabric comprising the melt spun fibers, a process for producing said spunbonded nonwoven fabric, an article comprising said melt spun fiber and/or spunbonded nonwoven fabric, and the use of said terpolymer of propylene with ethylene comonomer units and alpha-olefin comonomer units having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms for increasing the spinnability of melt spun fibers and the mechanical properties of spunbonded nonwoven fabrics.

The present invention relates to a melt spun fiber comprising a propylene polymer composition comprising a terpolymer of propylene with ethylene comonomer units and alpha-olefin comonomer units having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein the propylene polymer composition has a melt flow rate MFR (230° C., 2.16 kg) of from 10 to 200 g/10 min and a melting temperature of less than 153° C., a spunbonded nonwoven fabric comprising the melt spun fibers, a process for producing said spunbonded nonwoven fabric, an article comprising said melt spun fiber and/or spunbonded nonwoven fabric, and the use of said terpolymer of propylene with ethylene comonomer units and alpha-olefin comonomer units having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms for increasing the spinnability of melt spun fibers and the mechanical properties of spunbonded nonwoven fabrics.

The present invention concerns a thermal drawing method for forming fibers, wherein said fibers are made at least from a stretchable polymer. The present invention also concerns drawn fibers made by the process.

The present invention concerns a thermal drawing method for forming fibers, wherein said fibers are made at least from a stretchable polymer. The present invention also concerns drawn fibers made by the process.