A circular needle loom comprises a bed plate for receiving a transport layer. Engagement members may be disposed proximate to the bed plate, such that the engagement members interface with a positional structure of the transport layer that is used to position and rotate the transport layer around the bed plate. The engagement members may be configured to rotate the transport layer around the bed plate until a predetermined number of fibers and/or layers are deposited on the transport layer and/or bed plate in order to create a needled preform.

A circular needle loom comprises a bed plate for receiving a transport layer. Engagement members may be disposed proximate to the bed plate, such that the engagement members interface with a positional structure of the transport layer that is used to position and rotate the transport layer around the bed plate. The engagement members may be configured to rotate the transport layer around the bed plate until a predetermined number of fibers and/or layers are deposited on the transport layer and/or bed plate in order to create a needled preform.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

A smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and structural fibers. The structural fibers forming a network in which the smokeless tobacco is entangled. The structural fibers have a composition different from the smokeless tobacco. The tobacco-entangled fabric can have an overall oven volatiles content of at least 10 weight percent. In some embodiments, the structural fibers form a nonwoven network. In some embodiments, fibrous structures of the smokeless tobacco are entangled with the structural fibers.

Systems and methods for forming a fibrous preform are disclosed. The method may comprise providing a plurality of needles comprising a barbed needle and a barbless needle and penetrating the fibrous preform with the plurality of needles.

A transport of carbon fiber bundles, in as fabricated carbon fiber tow form, with in-line manipulation of the fiber bundles (spreading or spreading and volumization with manipulators) during fiber bundle transport is described herein. A method including positively transporting and placing a fiber bundle via a moveable fiber bundle delivery mechanism interposed between a fiber bundle supply and a fiber bundle delivery location, manipulating at least one of a fiber volume and an areal weight of the fiber bundle via an air jet device coupled between the fiber bundle delivery location and the fiber bundle supply, and controlling delivery of the fiber bundle tension from the fiber supply through an electronic unwinder is also described.

A transport of carbon fiber bundles, in as fabricated carbon fiber tow form, with in-line manipulation of the fiber bundles (spreading or spreading and volumization with manipulators) during fiber bundle transport is described herein. A method including positively transporting and placing a fiber bundle via a moveable fiber bundle delivery mechanism interposed between a fiber bundle supply and a fiber bundle delivery location, manipulating at least one of a fiber volume and an areal weight of the fiber bundle via an air jet device coupled between the fiber bundle delivery location and the fiber bundle supply, and controlling delivery of the fiber bundle tension from the fiber supply through an electronic unwinder is also described.

The invention is directed to a mineral wool insulation slab for facade renovations, comprising a rigid insulation slab or lamella having and outer and an inner side, wherein the outer side of the slab comprises an outer layered surface and the innerside of the slab is a mechanically and/or chemically softened layer of the one and same insulation slab. The invention is further directed to a method for manufacturing of such an insulation slab.

The invention relates to a water-repellent and lipophilic composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric and a preparation method thereof. The method comprises the following steps: blending a PET fiber and a polyolefin-based fiber in a mass ratio of 3:1-1:3, and performing needle punching to obtain a composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric; carrying out hot-drying treatment on the composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric at 110-160° C. for 40-90 min; and carrying out water-repellent finishing on the hot-dried fabric using 50-70 mL/L of an aqueous solution of a modified resin-based fluorine-free waterproofing agent, and drying to obtain the water-repellent and lipophilic composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric, wherein the water-repellent finishing is dip rolling, the air pressure is 1.8 kPa and the liquid carrying rate is 160-230%. The preparation method of the invention is simple, and the prepared composite needle-punched nonwoven fabric has significantly improved water repellency, lipophilicity and tensile strength compared with the fabric before treatment.

A wound cleaning product is described as used for sterile debridement of wounds. The wound cleaning product comprises a composite material having a foam layer and a fiber layer arranged on a surface of the foam layer. The fiber layer is at least partially thermally solidified, and the foam layer and the fiber layer are connected to one another by needling such that fibers of the fiber layer have penetrated into the foam layer and form capillary channels that extend from the fiber layer into the foam layer.