Provided is a composition having antimicrobial, biocidal properties, in particular antiviral properties, for surface coatings of paper layers or material panels. The composition includes at least one formaldehyde resin, in particular a melamine-formaldehyde resin, at least one compound of general formula (I) R.sup.1SiX.sub.3 (I), where X is alkoxy, and R.sup.1 is an organic moiety selected from the group comprising C1-C10 alkyl, which may be interrupted by —O— or —NH—, and where R.sup.1 has at least one functional moiety Q.sub.1 selected from a group including an amino, methacrylic, methacryloxy, vinyl and epoxy group, at least one further compound of the general formula (II) SiX.sub.4 (II), where X is alkoxy, and at least one antimicrobial agent, in particular at least one biocide.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a rigid paperboard product comprising at least one modified starch and at least one crosslinker, wherein the at least one modified starch is present in an amount ranging from 2% to 20% by weight of the paperboard product, wherein the at least one crosslinker is present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 8% by weight based on the dry weight of the starch content in the paperboard product, and wherein the paperboard product has a rigidity value ranging from 375 to 500.

Aspects of the present disclosure include a rigid paperboard product comprising at least one modified starch and at least one crosslinker, wherein the at least one modified starch is present in an amount ranging from 2% to 20% by weight of the paperboard product, wherein the at least one crosslinker is present in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 8% by weight based on the dry weight of the starch content in the paperboard product, and wherein the paperboard product has a rigidity value ranging from 375 to 500.

Substance combinations are disclosed which include urea, at least one chitosan biopolymer having a degree of deacetylation of from 70% to 95%, and at least one dicarboxylic acid in aqueous solution. The substance combinations are useful as primers for the pretreating substrate surfaces, in particular flat or sheet-form, non-metallic substrates, which are provided as carrier materials for vapor phase corrosion inhibitors, to enable subsequent fixing to those substrate surfaces of vapor phase corrosion inhibitors from an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution containing them. Certain embodiments of the substance combination include 0.1-2% by weight chitosan biopolymer, 10-25% by weight urea, and 0.5-2.5% by weight of a dicarboxylic acid, completely dissolved in deionized water. Yet a further, related aspect of the invention relates to a carrier material for vapor phase corrosion inhibitors, wherein the vapor phase corrosion inhibitors are fixed to a substrate surface pretreated with the substance combination.

Substance combinations are disclosed which include urea, at least one chitosan biopolymer having a degree of deacetylation of from 70% to 95%, and at least one dicarboxylic acid in aqueous solution. The substance combinations are useful as primers for the pretreating substrate surfaces, in particular flat or sheet-form, non-metallic substrates, which are provided as carrier materials for vapor phase corrosion inhibitors, to enable subsequent fixing to those substrate surfaces of vapor phase corrosion inhibitors from an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution containing them. Certain embodiments of the substance combination include 0.1-2% by weight chitosan biopolymer, 10-25% by weight urea, and 0.5-2.5% by weight of a dicarboxylic acid, completely dissolved in deionized water. Yet a further, related aspect of the invention relates to a carrier material for vapor phase corrosion inhibitors, wherein the vapor phase corrosion inhibitors are fixed to a substrate surface pretreated with the substance combination.

A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.

A fluorine-free composition includes at least one polycarbodiimide compound derived from a carbodiimidization reaction of a carbodiimidization reaction mixture comprising at least one oligomer, wherein the oligomer comprises at least one isocyanate end group and at least two repeating units, wherein each of the at least two repeating units comprises at least one hydrocarbon group having at least 16 carbon atoms. The composition may also include at least one paraffin wax. Such compositions are useful for treating fibrous substrates to enhance their water-repellency.

A water dispersible sheet is a base paper sheet impregnated with a chemical solution. The base paper sheet is made of a water dispersible fiber aggregate. The water dispersible sheet includes diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and at least one or more glycol ethers other than diethylene glycol monobutyl ether in the chemical solution.

The present invention provides a titanium oxide composite fiber in which titanium oxide is efficiently fixed in fiber, and a method for producing the titanium oxide composite fiber. A composite fiber of the present invention includes: fiber; titanium oxide; and an inorganic binder, at least part of the inorganic binder containing at least one inorganic compound selected from (i) an inorganic salt containing at least one of: at least one metal selected from magnesium, barium, aluminum, copper, iron, and zinc; and silicic acid and (ii) metal particles containing the at least one metal, the titanium oxide being firmly fixed to the fiber via the inorganic binder.

The present invention provides a titanium oxide composite fiber in which titanium oxide is efficiently fixed in fiber, and a method for producing the titanium oxide composite fiber. A composite fiber of the present invention includes: fiber; titanium oxide; and an inorganic binder, at least part of the inorganic binder containing at least one inorganic compound selected from (i) an inorganic salt containing at least one of: at least one metal selected from magnesium, barium, aluminum, copper, iron, and zinc; and silicic acid and (ii) metal particles containing the at least one metal, the titanium oxide being firmly fixed to the fiber via the inorganic binder.