Textile fibers at least partially coated with a coating that includes particles of metal-organic frameworks dispersed in a polymeric base are provided. Also provided are fabrics formed from the textile fibers, protective gear and articles of clothing made from the fabrics, and methods of using the fibers and fabrics to catalyze the hydrolysis of organic molecules, such as organophosphate-based nerve agents, having hydrolysable bonds.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ligand-immobilized sea-island composite fiber in which generation of fine particles due to peeling of a sea component from an island component and generation of fine particles due to destruction of a fragile sea component are both suppressed. The present invention provides a sea-island composite fiber comprising a sea component and island components, in which a value (L/S) obtained by dividing the average total length (L) of the perimeter of all island components in a cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis by the average cross-sectional area (S) of the cross section is from 1.0 to 50.0 μm.sup.−1, a distance from the surface to the outermost island component is 1.9 μm or less, and an amino group-containing compound is covalently bonded to a polymer constituting the sea component at a charge density of 0.1 μmol or more and less than 500 μmol per 1 gram dry weight.

A permeable reactive barrier having two or more layers of a geotextile fabric inoculated with a bioremediation microbe is provided. The permeable reactive barrier further includes two or more layers of coarse-grained geological material separating the two or more layers of geotextile fabric such that any pair of adjacent layers of geotextile fabric is separated by a layer of coarse-grained geological material. The permeable reactive barrier includes a perforated metal casing surrounding and containing the layers of coarse-grained geological materials and geotextile fabric.

Provided is a softening agent for textiles characterized by containing a compound (A) and a crosslinking agent (B). The compound (A) is a non-silicone compound having a polyoxyalkylene chain in the molecule, and has a functional group (R1) capable of producing an ether, an ester, or a nitrogen-containing compound upon reacting with the crosslinking agent (B).

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for reducing, inhibiting, or preventing corrosion of a surface, using a polyester polyamine compound. The polyester polyamine compound having a structure corresponding to Formula 1 or 2, or a salt thereof:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sub.1 is independently alkylene; R.sub.2 is independently hydrogen or —COR.sub.4; R.sub.3 is independently alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or alkaryl; R.sub.4 is independently alkyl or alkenyl; R.sub.10 and R.sub.11 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl, or alkaryl; m is an integer from 1 to 10; n is an integer from 3 to 10; and wherein at least one R.sub.2 is —COR.sub.4.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.

The present disclosure provides an antibacterial hydrophilic compound. The antibacterial hydrophilic compound may react, induced by light through a hydrogen abstraction group in the structural formula thereof, with a C—H group and thus bind to a surface of a material having the C—H group (for example, chemical fibers such as polyester, chinlon, and the like; plastics, rubbers, and other similar materials), which can impart a durable antibacterial activity and hydrophilicity to the material. The antibacterial hydrophilic compound has a relatively strong binding force to the surface of the material without damaging the mechanical properties of the raw material. The present disclosure also provides a modified material that is modified by the antibacterial hydrophilic compound.

The invention relates to [1] a cellulose fiber composite excellent in dispersion stability, in which at least one amine selected from a polyamine and a monoamine having a reactive functional group bonds to anion-modified cellulose fibers, and which satisfies at least one of amine introduction ratio of 60% or less (requirement 1) and average polymerization degree of anion-modified cellulose fibers of 300 or less (requirement 2), [2] a dispersion in which the cellulose fiber composite is dispersed in a medium, [3] a resin composition produced by blending the cellulose fiber composite and a resin, [4] a molded article produced by molding the cellulose fiber composite or the resin composition, and [5] a method for producing the cellulose fiber composite.

Described herein are methods for forming resistive heaters and force sensing elements on a flexible substrate, and devices that include these elements to provide a force responsive conductive heater, such as a seat heater in a vehicle. The methods include printing a conductive ink on a flexible substrate that is heated to 30° C. to 90° C. before and/or during the printing process and curing the substrate to produce a conductive pattern thereon. The conductive inks generally include a particle-free metal-complex composition formulated from at least one metal complex and a solvent, and optionally, a conductive filler material.