Unique blends of fibers that incorporate synthetic cellulosic fibers to render fabrics made with such blends more durable than fabrics made with natural cellulosic fibers such as cotton. While more durable than cotton, the synthetic cellulosic fibers used in the blends are still inexpensive and comfortable to the wearer. Thus, the benefits of cotton (affordability and comfort) are still attained while a drawback of cottonlow durabilityis avoided. In one embodiment, the fiber blend includes FR modacrylic fibers and synthetic cellulosic fibers, preferably, but not necessarily non-FR lyocell fibers such as TENCEL and TENCEL A100. Other fibers may be added to the blend, including, but not limited to, additional types of inherently FR fibers, anti-static fibers, anti-microbial fibers, stretch fibers, and/or high tenacity fibers. The fiber blends disclosed herein may be used to form various types of FR fabrics. Desired colors may be imparted in a variety of ways and with a variety of dyes to the fabrics disclosed herein. Fabrics having the fibers blends disclosed herein can be used to construct the entirety of, or various portions of, a variety of protective garments for protecting the wearer against electrical arc flash and flames, including, but not limited to, coveralls, jumpsuits, shirts, jackets, vests, and trousers.

Novel absorbable polymer blends are disclosed. The blends are useful for manufacturing medical devices having engineered degradation and breaking strength retention in vivo. The blends consist of a first absorbable polymeric component and a second absorbable polymeric component. The weight average molecular weight of the first polymeric component is higher than the weight average molecular weight of the second polymeric component. At least at least one of said components is at least partially end-capped by a carboxylic acid group. Further aspects are medical devices made therefrom.

A method of fabricating a composite conductive film is provided. The method includes providing, as a matrix, a layer of cross-linkable polymer, where the cross-linkable polymer is in a non-cross-linked state. The method further includes introducing inorganic nanowires upon a surface of the layer of cross-linkable polymer. The inorganic nanowires are, in isolated form, characterized by a first conductivity stability temperature. The method further includes embedding at least some of the inorganic nanowires into the layer of cross-linkable polymer to form an inorganic mesh, thereby forming the composite conductive film. The method further includes cross-linking the polymer within a surface portion of the composite conductive film. Cross-linking the polymer within the surface portion of the composite conductive film results in the surface portion having a second conductivity stability temperature that is greater than the first conductivity stability temperature.

Disclosed herein are surface-modified membranes and other surface-modified substrates exhibiting switchable oleophobicity and oleophilicity in aqueous media. These membranes and substrates may be used for variety of applications, including controllable oil/water separation processes, oil spill cleanup, and oil/water purification. Also provided are the making and processing of such surface-modified membranes and other surface-modified substrates.

A fire barrier laminate is provided for use in thermal and acoustical insulation systems, such as, but not limited to, those used in commercial aircraft.

A recombinant fusion protein comprising the moieties B and CT is provided. B is a non-spidroin moiety which provides the capacity of selective interaction with an organic target. CT is a moiety of from 70 to 120 amino acid residues and is derived from the C-terminal fragment of a spider silk protein. The fusion protein is not comprising any moiety derived from the repetitive fragment of a spider silk protein.

A fire barrier laminate is provided for use in thermal and acoustical insulation systems, such as, but not limited to, those used in commercial aircraft.

An article, such as a tissue bonding article, includes a flexible material, a polymerization initiator or rate modifier disposed in or on the flexible material, and a polymerizable adhesive composition permeated throughout at least a portion of the flexible material, where the polymerization initiator or rate modifier is a polymerization initiator or rate modifier for the polymerizable adhesive composition.

Marine coatings including cationic polymers hydrolyzable to nonfouling zwitterionic polymers, coated marine surfaces, and methods for making and using the marine coatings.

A roof tile having a mesh covered foam core with a cement-based protective coating, a roof covering formed from such tiles and methods for making same.