Disclosed are methods for making shock absorbing pads utilizing reclaimed artificial turf and reclaimed carpet materials. It is demonstrated that the artificial turf systems comprising inventive pads exhibit improved Head Impact Criteria (HIC) and cradle-to-cradle score.

The invention concerns an electrically conductive non-woven fabric which fabric comprises or consists of a three-dimensional network of non-woven non-electrically conductive synthetic nanofibers and electrically conductive metal nanowires distributed therein, wherein the synthetic nanofibers comprise or consist of fibers having a diameter in the range of 10 nm to 2000 nm and a maximal length of 6 mm, wherein the electrically conductive metal nanowires comprise or consist of strands having a diameter in the range of 10 nm to 800 nm and a length in the range of 1 m to 500 m, wherein the electrically conductive metal nanowires occupy between 0.5% by volume to 5% by volume of said fabric, wherein the electrically conductive metal nanowires and the synthetic nanofibers are homogenously distributed within the electrically conductive non-woven fabric.

The invention concerns an electrically conductive non-woven fabric which fabric comprises or consists of a three-dimensional network of non-woven non-electrically conductive synthetic nanofibers and electrically conductive metal nanowires distributed therein, wherein the synthetic nanofibers comprise or consist of fibers having a diameter in the range of 10 nm to 2000 nm and a maximal length of 6 mm, wherein the electrically conductive metal nanowires comprise or consist of strands having a diameter in the range of 10 nm to 800 nm and a length in the range of 1 m to 500 m, wherein the electrically conductive metal nanowires occupy between 0.5% by volume to 5% by volume of said fabric, wherein the electrically conductive metal nanowires and the synthetic nanofibers are homogenously distributed within the electrically conductive non-woven fabric.

The current invention relates to a multitubular sheathing for electrodes of industrial batteries, which defines a plurality of longitudinal pockets receiving the terminals of an electrode inside, said sheathing being made of non-woven fabric formed from staple fibers made integral with one another, wherein the surface of said sheathing contacting said terminals exhibits a contact layer of non-woven fabric having at least 10% of fibers in a tangential direction. The invention further relates to a process for making said multitubular sheathing.

The current invention relates to a multitubular sheathing for electrodes of industrial batteries, which defines a plurality of longitudinal pockets receiving the terminals of an electrode inside, said sheathing being made of non-woven fabric formed from staple fibers made integral with one another, wherein the surface of said sheathing contacting said terminals exhibits a contact layer of non-woven fabric having at least 10% of fibers in a tangential direction. The invention further relates to a process for making said multitubular sheathing.

A bonded and entangled non-woven structure made of at least 50% staple fibers by weight of the bonded and entangled non-woven structure, and at least a partial bonding of the fibers of the non-woven structure. The at least partial bonding including thermally activated bonds between a first polyolefin material produced with a catalyst including at least one metallocene catalyst and having a melting point in the range 130-170? C. and a second material having a melting point which is at least 10? C. higher than the melting point of the first material, the weight of the first material in the non-woven structure being at least 3% of the weight of the nonwoven structure.

A bonded and entangled non-woven structure made of at least 50% staple fibers by weight of the bonded and entangled non-woven structure, and at least a partial bonding of the fibers of the non-woven structure. The at least partial bonding including thermally activated bonds between a first polyolefin material produced with a catalyst including at least one metallocene catalyst and having a melting point in the range 130-170? C. and a second material having a melting point which is at least 10? C. higher than the melting point of the first material, the weight of the first material in the non-woven structure being at least 3% of the weight of the nonwoven structure.

A polymer, applications thereof, and method of making a nanofiber nonwoven product is disclosed which includes: providing a spinnable polyamide polymer composition comprising a solution of a polyamide in a suitable solvent, wherein the polyamide has a Relative Viscosity of from 30-300; a basis weight greater than 1 gm/m.sup.2, solution-spinning the polyamide polymer composition into a plurality of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1 micron (1000 nanometers); and forming the nanofibers into said nonwoven product which thereby has an average nanofiber diameter of less than 1 micron (1000 nanometers). Preferably, the nonwoven product is solution-spun from a process selected from (i) centrifugal spinning using a rotating spinneret or (ii) 2-phase propellant-gas spinning including extruding the polyamide polymer composition in liquid form with pressurized gas through a fiber-forming channel. Suitable solvents include formic acid, sulfuric acid, trifluoroacetic acid, hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and phenols including m-cresol.

A polymer, applications thereof, and method of making a nanofiber nonwoven product is disclosed which includes: providing a spinnable polyamide polymer composition comprising a solution of a polyamide in a suitable solvent, wherein the polyamide has a Relative Viscosity of from 30-300; a basis weight greater than 1 gm/m.sup.2, solution-spinning the polyamide polymer composition into a plurality of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1 micron (1000 nanometers); and forming the nanofibers into said nonwoven product which thereby has an average nanofiber diameter of less than 1 micron (1000 nanometers). Preferably, the nonwoven product is solution-spun from a process selected from (i) centrifugal spinning using a rotating spinneret or (ii) 2-phase propellant-gas spinning including extruding the polyamide polymer composition in liquid form with pressurized gas through a fiber-forming channel. Suitable solvents include formic acid, sulfuric acid, trifluoroacetic acid, hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and phenols including m-cresol.

A breathable water resistant film provided by the present disclosure includes a base cloth and a nanofiber layer disposed on the base cloth, wherein the nanofiber layer is formed by an electrospinning solution including a first additive and a second additive. The first additive includes a nylon copolymer and an alcohol, and the second additive includes a polysilazane resin and a perfluoropolyether-modified polysilazane resin.