Fiber-containing composites are described that contain woven or non-woven fibers, and a cured binder formed from a binder composition that includes (1) a reducing sugar and (2) a crosslinking agent that includes a first carbon moiety selected from an aldehyde, a ketone, a nitrile, and a nitro group, wherein an -carbon atom having at least one acidic hydrogen is directly bonded to the first carbon moiety. Exemplary reducing sugars include dextrose and exemplary crosslinking agents include glyoxal. Exemplary fiber-containing composites may include fiberglass insulation.

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.

Coated and expanded, nanofiber structures are provided and methods of use thereof.

A hydrophobic binder/adhesive, for treating a substrate, may include about 60% to 98.9% by weight bulk polymer selected from one or more monomers associated with styrene, vinyl acetate, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid esters, ethylene, or butadiene; about 0.1% to about 10.0%, by weight of one or more hydrophobic monomers selected from stearyl methacrylate or laurel acrylate; and about 1% to about 30%, by weight of one or more protective colloids associated with a hard resin polymer. The hydrophobic binder/adhesive may increase resistance to wetting of the substrate when expose to moisture, and increases durability of the substrate.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a dyed biopolymer comprising the steps of providing at least one biopolymer-producing microorganism, providing at least one dye-producing microorganism, culturing said at least one biopolymer-producing microorganism to produce at least a biopolymer, and culturing said dye-producing microorganism wherein said dye-producing microorganism produce at least a dye suitable to dye at least part of said biopolymer, whereby a dyed biopolymer is obtained. The present invention also relates to a dyed biopolymer, to process for the production of a dyed composite article comprising at least the dyed biopolymer and to articles comprising the dyed biopolymer.

Coated and expanded, nanofiber structures are provided and methods of use thereof.

A paintable cloth includes a woven fabric including plant fibers, especially flax, jute, ramie and/or sisal fibers, the woven fabric additionally being coated with a finish.

The present invention provides a process for the production of a fabric having a unique appearance and the fabric so obtained. Also provided is the clothing articles, i.e. garments, including the fabric. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for producing a woven fabric having a unique, e.g. used (i.e. worn-out) or multi-shaded appearance and the process includes a step of providing a woven fabric with a layer of bacterial biopolymer, dyeing at least part of the fabric together with the biopolymer layer, and then removing at least part of the bacterial biopolymer layer from the fabric.

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 generally to compositions comprising polyelectrolytes complexes (PECs) of anionic and cationic biopolymers capable of forming barriers on fiber based materials. Also disclosed is a fibre based material with a barrier coating against oil and water, wherein the material is provided with a barrier from at least two layers formed from at least one composition comprising a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of a cationic biopolymer and an anionic biopolymer, The two layers result in improvements in both oil resistance and water resistance compared to the same material provided with a single layer of said at least one composition.