A fiber preform is formed by a fiber structure woven by three-dimensional weaving with a plurality of layers of warp yarns interlinked by weft yarns of a plurality of layers of weft yarns, the fiber preform having a first portion and a second portion that extend one another in the weft direction and that are at an angle to each other. In the fold zone and in each weft plane of the fiber structure, two weft yarns situated in a region adjacent to an outside face of the fiber structure situated on the inside of the corner present paths that cross, so that less curvature is imposed on these yarns.

A method for preparing a roofing membrane in the form of a roll, comprising the steps of: providing a polymeric membrane; providing a fabric having a coating disposed thereon; attaching the polymeric membrane to the fabric to form a composite; and rolling the composite. Wherein the coating includes expandable graphite dispersed within a binder.

A composite material for garments, such as shapewear and sportswear garments, is formed of an outer layer that is highly elastic with high compression and an inner layer provided on the outer layer and made of a material that is elastic, waterproof and oil proof. The outer layer is a fabric base fabricated from a blend of polyester and spandex. The inner layer comprises a coating of polyurethane (PU) containing nano-titanium dioxide (nano-TiO.sub.2). When used to fabricate a garment, the inner layer of the composite material is adjacent to the body of the wearer when the garment is worn such that perspiration from the wearer's skin and/or skin contact products, such as oil/water based body creams and gels, applied to the wearer's skin are not absorbed by the inner layer and are thereby prevented by the inner layer from being transmitted to the fabric base.

A method for manufacturing a composite part including a fibrous reinforcement and a thermoplastic polymer matrix, which includes the steps of i) depositing the fibrous reinforcement in a two-part mold having a seal compressible by evacuating said mold having no vent, ii) filling the evacuated mold by injecting, in the molten state, a two-component reactive system made of a reactive thermoplastic prepolymer, the injection being carried out using a device having two distinct compartments for each one of the two reactive components mixed in a static mixer, followed by a compression and compaction of the content of the mold, and iii) removing the part from the mold, without any finishing treatment. Further, a device for implementing said method, to the resulting part and to the use of said method in an in-mold assembly method.

The invention is directed to a joint tape for finishing a joint between boards having a nonwoven substrate that does not swell substantially in the presence of water. The invention further provides a method of finishing a joint between boards having the steps of (i) applying a joint tape of the invention to a joint between boards by embedding the joint tape in a first coat of joint compound, (ii) applying a second coat of joint compound over the tape, wherein step (ii) is carried out before the joint tape and joint compound applied in step (i) have substantially dried, and optionally (iii) applying a third fill or finish coat of joint compound over the tape, wherein step (iii) is carried out before the joint tape and second coat have substantially dried.

A functional polymer membrane of the present invention contains a polymer containing at least a structure represented by the following Formula (I), a method for producing the membrane, and an ion exchange apparatus: ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sup.3 to R.sup.6 each represent a substituent; R.sup.3 to R.sup.6 may be bonded to each other and form a ring; A.sup.1 to A.sup.4 each represent a single bond or a divalent linking group; M.sup.1 represents a hydrogen ion, an organic base ion, or a metal ion; J.sup.1 represents a single bond, O, S, SO.sub.2, CO, CR.sup.8R.sup.9, or an alkenylene group, and R.sup.8 and R.sup.9 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom; and k1, k2, k3, k4, n1, n2, m1, m2, p, and q each represent a particular integer.

Curable prepregs possessing enhanced ability for the removal of gases from within prepregs and between prepreg plies in a prepreg layup prior to and/or during consolidation and curing. Each curable prepreg is a resin-impregnated, woven fabric that has been subjected to a treatment to create an array of openings in at least one major surface. Furthermore, the location of the openings is specific to the weave pattern of the fabric.

An oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material is disclosed herein, for nanocellulose sponges and other applications. The oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose material comprises lignin-coated cellulose nanofibrils and/or lignin-coated cellulose nanocrystals. In various embodiments, the nanocellulose material is in the form of a 2D coating or layer, or a 3D object (e.g., foam or aerogel). The nanocellulose material may be disposed onto a scaffold. A process is provided for producing an oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object, comprising fractionating a biomass feedstock with an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a lignin-containing liquor; mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals; generating a nanocellulose object from the intermediate nanocellulose material; exposing the nanocellulose object to the lignin-containing liquor to allow lignin to deposit onto a surface of the nanocellulose object; and recovering the oleophilic and hydrophobic nanocellulose object.

A method for preparing a roofing membrane in the form of a roll, comprising the steps of: providing a polymeric membrane; providing a fabric having a coating disposed thereon; attaching the polymeric membrane to the fabric to form a composite; and rolling the composite. Wherein the coating includes expandable graphite dispersed within a binder.

Provided is an environmentally friendly process for producing a sheet-shaped material having both an elegant, napped appearance and a soft texture, which qualities have not been achieved concurrently, and also exhibiting good abrasion resistance. The process of the present invention for producing a sheet-shaped material includes the successive steps of (a) adding a polyvinyl alcohol having a degree of saponification of 98% or more and a degree of polymerization of 800 to 3,500 to a fibrous substrate in an amount of 0.1 to 50% by mass relative to the total mass of fibers in the fibrous substrate; (b) adding a waterborne polyurethane to the fibrous substrate with the added polyvinyl alcohol; and (c) removing the polyvinyl alcohol from the fibrous substrate with the added waterborne polyurethane.