Method for the preparation of a non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers, the method comprising carbonizing a non-woven mat or paper preform (precursor) comprised of a plurality of bonded sulfonated polyolefin fibers to produce said non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fibers. The preforms and resulting non-woven mat or paper made of carbon fiber, as well as articles and devices containing them, and methods for their use, are also described.

A method of treating tough inorganic fiber bundles including opening a plurality of the tough inorganic fiber bundles such that tough inorganic fibers can be dispersed in a liquid slurry to lay down a homogenous fiber aggregate, wherein the tough inorganic fibers have a crush settle volume of greater than 250 ml, optionally greater than 450 ml. Also, a method of treating tough inorganic fiber bundles including dispersing a plurality of the tough inorganic fiber bundles in a slurry with a dilution of about 0.1% to about 2%, optionally about 0.1% to about 1%, effective to lay down a homogenous fiber aggregate, wherein the tough inorganic fibers have a crush settle volume of greater than 250 ml, optionally greater than 450 ml.

The invention relates to fiber sheets, to structures comprising the fiber sheets and to the use of the sheets. The invention further relates to biodegradable and/or recyclable products comprising the fiber sheets, useful in replacing non-biodegradable products.

The invention relates to fiber sheets, to structures comprising the fiber sheets and to the use of the sheets. The invention further relates to biodegradable and/or recyclable products comprising the fiber sheets, useful in replacing non-biodegradable products.

Processes of making a non-woven glass fiber mat are described. The process may include forming an aqueous dispersion of fibers. The process may also include passing the dispersion through a mat forming screen to form a wet mat. The process may further include applying a carbohydrate binder composition to the wet mat to form a binder-containing wet mat. The binder compositions may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a thickening agent. The binder compositions may have a Brookfield viscosity of 7 to 50 centipoise at 20? C. The thickening agents may include modified celluloses such as hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and polysaccharides such as xanthan gum, guar gum, and starches. The process may include curing the binder-containing wet mat to form the non-woven glass fiber mat.

Processes of making a non-woven glass fiber mat are described. The process may include forming an aqueous dispersion of fibers. The process may also include passing the dispersion through a mat forming screen to form a wet mat. The process may further include applying a carbohydrate binder composition to the wet mat to form a binder-containing wet mat. The binder compositions may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a thickening agent. The binder compositions may have a Brookfield viscosity of 7 to 50 centipoise at 20? C. The thickening agents may include modified celluloses such as hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and polysaccharides such as xanthan gum, guar gum, and starches. The process may include curing the binder-containing wet mat to form the non-woven glass fiber mat.

A method for producing a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body, the method comprising: performing papermaking according to a wet papermaking method by using a fiber slurry containing a synthetic fiber as a main constituent fiber; drying the fiber slurry; subsequently subjecting the dried sheet to hot press processing two times by using a heat calender apparatus, wherein the hot press process temperature in the second treatments is adjusted to be higher by 10 C. or more than the hot press processing temperature in the first treatment, while treating the dried sheet by using a hard nip heat calender apparatus equipped with a combination of a metal roll and a metal roll for at least one time of the hot press processing; and thereby obtaining a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body.

A method for producing a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body, the method comprising: performing papermaking according to a wet papermaking method by using a fiber slurry containing a synthetic fiber as a main constituent fiber; drying the fiber slurry; subsequently subjecting the dried sheet to hot press processing two times by using a heat calender apparatus, wherein the hot press process temperature in the second treatments is adjusted to be higher by 10 C. or more than the hot press processing temperature in the first treatment, while treating the dried sheet by using a hard nip heat calender apparatus equipped with a combination of a metal roll and a metal roll for at least one time of the hot press processing; and thereby obtaining a wet-laid nonwoven fabric for a semipermeable membrane supporting body.

Embodiments of the invention provide fiber mat facers, ceiling panels, and method of manufacturing the same. A fiber mat facer may include a non-woven web of fibers having a first group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 6 m to about 20 m and a second group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 0.5 m to about 5 m. The fiber mat facer may also include a binder to bond together the non-woven web of fibers into the fiber mat. The binder may include a water repellant additive. The binder and/or fiber mat facer may further include an additive that enhances the opacity of the fiber mat facer. The fiber mat facer may also include a paint applied to an outer surface of the facer. The paint may include an additive that enhances the visual appeal of the facer and/or ceiling panel.

Embodiments of the invention provide fiber mat facers, ceiling panels, and method of manufacturing the same. A fiber mat facer may include a non-woven web of fibers having a first group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 6 m to about 20 m and a second group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 0.5 m to about 5 m. The fiber mat facer may also include a binder to bond together the non-woven web of fibers into the fiber mat. The binder may include a water repellant additive. The binder and/or fiber mat facer may further include an additive that enhances the opacity of the fiber mat facer. The fiber mat facer may also include a paint applied to an outer surface of the facer. The paint may include an additive that enhances the visual appeal of the facer and/or ceiling panel.