In one embodiment, the present invention is a braided filament including a plurality of strands each having at least one ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber and at least one polyester fiber wherein the quantity of certain types of fibers in a first strand is the same as the quantity of the same type of fibers in a second strand. In a variant, one additional strand of the braided filament is a monofilament strand. In another variant, each strand is homogeneous with respect to the other strands and is made exclusively from ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers and polyester fibers such that each strand has the same distribution and quantity of fiber types.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

A visual barrier windscreen includes a first series of monofilament threads formed in pillar stitches extending in a warp direction and a second series of monofilament threads formed in zigzag stitches extending in a first weft direction relative to the pillar stitches and binding adjacent pillar stitches. A third series of monofilament threads may be formed in zig-zag stitches extending in a second weft direction, opposite to the first weft direction, and also binding adjacent pillar stitches. A pattern of hexagonal wind-passage holes may be formed by cooperation of the pillar stitches and zig-zag stitches. At least a 75-80% visual block may be attained with the cooperation of the pillar stitches and zig-zag stitches.

A cut resistant fabric and a method of manufacturing a cut resistant fiber is disclosed herein. The fabric comprises a Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) material and a sheet shaped wollastonite filler. The sheet shaped wollastonite filler is treated with a coupling agent and mixed with the UHMWPE material. A thickness of the sheet shaped wollastonite filler is less than 10 micrometers (.Math.m). The method comprises providing the sheet shaped wollastonite filler having a thickness of less than 10 .Math.m and treating the sheet shaped wollastonite filler with a coupling agent at a first predefined temperature to obtain a uniform solution. The method further comprises mixing the uniform solution with a fiber solution comprising UHMWPE resin at a second predefined temperature.

The disclosed device relates to woven or knitted textile fabric for employment in martial arts clothing, such as fabric used for manufacture of gis and kimonos for karate and of Brazilian jiu jitsu. The textile fabric is formed of two different types of yarn. The first yarn is comprised of a strong material such as KEVLAR and the second is comprised of cotton.

A thermal management system.

A braided structure that includes a core and a sheath is provided. The core includes a yarn formed at least in part from an aromatic polymer (e.g., an aromatic polyester/liquid crystalline polymer or an aramid polymer), and the sheath, which includes a plurality of ultra high molecular weight polyolefin yarns, is braided around the core. The sheath has an overall diameter ranging from about 60 micrometers to about 650 micrometers. Despite its small diameter, the braided structure can be creep resistant and abrasion resistant while at the same time exhibiting low elongation, a high load at break, and high stiffness. The braided structure can be used in medical applications such as sutures, load bearing orthopedic applications, artificial tendons/ligaments, fixation devices, actuation cables, components for tissue repair, etc.

Processes for making high-performance polyethylene multi-filament yarn are disclosed which include the steps of a) making a solution of ultra-high molar mass polyethylene in a solvent; b) spinning of the solution through a spinplate containing at least 5 spinholes into an air-gap to form fluid filaments, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid; c) cooling the fluid filaments to form solvent-containing gel filaments; d) removing at least partly the solvent from the filaments; and e) drawing the filaments in at least one step before, during and/or after said solvent removing, while applying a draw ratio DR.sub.solid of at least 4, wherein in step b) each spinhole comprises a contraction zone of specific dimension and a downstream zone of diameter Dn and length Dn with Ln/Dn of from 0 to at most 25, to result in a draw ratio DR.sub.fluid=DR.sub.sp*DR.sub.ag of at least 150, wherein DR.sub.sp is the draw ratio in the spinholes and DR.sub.ag is the draw ratio in the air-gap, with DR.sub.sp being greater than 1 and DR.sub.ag at least 1. High-performance polyethylene multifilament yarn, and semi-finished or end-use products containing said yarn, especially to ropes and ballistic-resistant composites, are also disclosed.

High-consistency nonabsorbable braided suture stock of specified size is prepared from twisted multifilament strands braided together with a tightness of weave of less than 60 picks/inch. The suture stock can be cut to provide sutures, which may be combined with needles to provide surgical sutures for wound closure.

Improved methods, designs and/or systems for incorporating markings and/or other visual and/or tactilely identifiable indicia on woven, knitted, nonwoven, braided and/or felted textiles used for medical textile implants and prostheses, including medical graft prostheses that would not affect the overall mechanical performance of the textile.