A multi-component fiber including at least first and second components. In some cases, at least a portion of the first component is opaque and microporous, and the second component is different from the first component. In some cases, at least a portion of the second component can be seen through at least a portion of the first component. A fiber having an opaque, microporous region and a see-through region of lower porosity is also disclosed. Fibrous webs including such fibers are also disclosed. In some cases, the fibrous web has at least one first region where first portions of the multiple fibers are opaque and microporous and at least one second region where second portions of the multiple fibers form a see-through region of lower porosity. Articles and laminates including the fibrous webs are disclosed. Methods of making the fibers, fibrous webs, and articles are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a low-volatile organic compound (VOC) natural fiber composite material, a preparation method therefor and an application thereof. In the method, a nanoclay and a resin are blend-spun to prepare modified synthetic fibers, the modified synthetic fibers are mixed with natural fibers or with natural fibers and other fibers to prepare mixed fibers, and the mixed fibers are shredded, mixed, lapped, needle punched or hot pressed, so as to prepare the low-VOC natural fiber composite material. The low-VOC natural fiber composite material can be applied to automobile interior trims after hot pressing. The low-VOC natural fiber composite material has features of low VOC, low density, light weight, low cost, high strength, good toughness, high deformability, high safety, and being environmentally-friendly and recyclable.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to synthetic tissue or organ scaffolds and methods and compositions for promoting or maintaining their structural integrity. Aspects of the disclosure are useful to prevent scaffold damage (e.g., delamination) during or after implantation into a host. Aspects of the disclosure are useful to stabilize tissue or organ scaffolds that include electrospun fibers.

An energy storage cell, including at least one electrode/separator assembly received in a housing. The energy storage cell further includes a covering. The covering is disposed at least in some regions between the electrode/separator assembly and the housing. The covering is made of porous material. The porous material of the covering is open-cell.

The invention relates to nonwoven sheets that have an ability to elastically stretch in machine direction to a significant extent, while showing low elongation in cross machine direction. The invention also relates to a method for making such sheets.

A carpet tile, includes a pile fabric layer, a primary backing coupled with the pile fabric layer, a secondary backing coupled with the primary backing, and a nonwoven mat. The nonwoven mat includes a glass fiber rich layer having at least 80 weight percent of the glass fibers and a synthetic fiber rich layer having at least 80 weight percent of the synthetic fibers. The nonwoven mat also includes an emulsion binder that is applied to the glass fiber rich layer and the synthetic fiber rich layer to bind the glass fibers and synthetic fibers in said layers together. The nonwoven mat includes at least 10 weight percent of the binder and the binder is curable at a maximum temperature of below 330 degrees Fahrenheit. A total weight percent of glass fibers in the glass fiber rich layer and the synthetic fiber rich layer is at least 48 percent.

A nonwoven fabric comprising extendable fiber and elastic fiber, wherein the nonwoven fabric comprises a first side having a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses and a second side on the side opposite the first side, the proportion of extendable fiber in the protrusions on the first side is higher than the proportion of extendable fiber in the recesses on the first side, and the nonwoven fabric is coated with a hydrophilic agent, or the extendable fiber and elastic fiber comprise a hydrophilic agent, the nonwoven fabric has a water absorbing property represented by a water absorption height of at least 10 mm in a water absorption test, and a quick-drying property represented by a transpiration rate of at least 20 mass % in a transpiration test.

Provided is a noise-absorbing sheet that is highly effective at absorbing noise from magnetic and/or electric fields, the noise-absorbing effect being effective in wider bandwidths. A noise-absorbing sheet upon which at least two layers are stacked, wherein the noise absorbing sheet is characterized in that a magnetic layer containing a magnetic material and a layer of a noise-absorbing fabric in which a metal is deposited on constituent fibers are layered on said sheet, and the common logarithmic value of the surface resistivity of at least one side of the noise-absorbing fabric is 0 to 6.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a zoned and/or layered substrate are described. A substrate can include a first layer including a first zone, a second zone, and an interface between zones. The first zone can include a plurality of fibers. The second zone can include a plurality of fibers and can be offset from the first zone in a cross-direction. The interface can include at least some of the plurality of fibers of the first zone and at least some of the plurality of fibers of the second zone to provide a purity gradient with a transition width less than 3.8 cm as defined by the Purity Gradient Test Method as described herein.

A method for manufacturing a separator for an electrochemical device including a silicon-based negative electrode is provided. The method includes a step of forming a freestanding porous separator by simultaneously electrospinning a first spinning solution containing a polymer binder and a second spinning solution containing inorganic particles, wherein a flow rate of the second spinning solution is allowed to be greater than that of the first spinning solution such that a separator having compression resistance against expansion of the silicon-based negative electrode during charging and discharging is manufactured.