A process and system for making a laminated surface covering and the surface covering itself are described. The covering includes several layers bonded to each other. The system performs the process. One example of the process includes passing a first material across a first conveyor, passing a second material across a second conveyor, passing a bonding material across a third conveyor, contacting the first material and the second material to the bonding material, and heating at least one of the first material and the second material. The process also includes introducing the first material, the second material, and the bonding material into a pressure zone such that the bonding material is introduced between a bottom surface of the first material and a top surface of the second material. The process applies pressure to bond the first material and second material together via the bonding material to produce a laminated material.

Flame resistant fabrics and garments that have improved resistance to pilling and/or abrasion are disclosed. The fabrics, the fibers or yarns that make up the fabrics, or garments made from the fabrics are treated with a finish composition that is applied to the fibers, yarns, fabrics, or garments and then cured. The finish composition increases the resistance to pilling and/or abrasion of the fibers, yarns, fabrics, or garments. The finish composition includes a polymeric abrasion resistance aid, an alkylfluoropolymer, a polyethylene, and a wetting agent.

A salt composition includes at least one ammonium carboxylate salt obtained from: (a) at least one aromatic compound comprising 2 anhydride functional groups and/or its carboxylic acid and/or ester derivatives; and (b) one or more aliphatic diamines in which said aliphatic diamine or diamines are chosen from the diamines of formula (I) NH.sub.2RNH.sub.2 with R being a saturated aliphatic divalent hydrocarbon radical, the two amine functional groups of which are separated by 4 to 6 carbon atoms and 1 or 2 hydrogen atoms of the divalent radical of which are replaced by 1 or 2 methyl and/or ethyl groups; and optionally the diamines of formula (II) NH.sub.2RNH.sub.2 with R being a saturated or unsaturated and aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or arylaliphatic divalent hydrocarbon radical, which optionally comprises heteroatoms; and at least one chain-limiting compound chosen from monoamines, monoacids or diacids in the , positions.

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.

The invention concerns a cellulose fiber of the genus Lyocell which is treated with a cross-linking agent, with the cross-linking agent inducing a protection from fibrillation on the fiber and exhibiting the following properties: the protection from fibrillation induced by the cross-linking agent changes if the fiber is stored within a pH range from 4.0 to 10.0, in particular under the influence of moisture and/or heat, within the pH range from 4.0 to 10.0, an optimum value exists at which the stability of the protection from fibrillation induced by the cross-linking agent during storage is highest a suitable range exists around the optimum value in which the stability is reduced by 20% at the most, compared to the stability at the optimum value, within the pH range from 4.0 to 10.0, the suitable range is limited by at least one limiting value at which the stability is reduced by 20% compared to the long-term stability at the optimum value and with a further decrease in stability occurring below and above said value, respectively, and the cross-linking agent has the capability to change the pH value.
The fiber according to the invention is characterized in that the fiber comprises a buffering substance in the suitable range and exhibits a buffer capacity of at least about 12 mmol/kg fiber, preferably from about 15 to about 70 mmol/kg fiber, in the suitable range.

The invention relates to a thermoplastic polyurethane fibers, and process of making the same, where the described fiber has good dyeability, and in some embodiments, good flame retardant properties. Such fibers are made from a composition that includes (a) a thermoplastic polyurethane itself comprising the reaction product of: (i) one or more polyols, (ii) one or more diisocyanates, (iii) one or more chain extenders, (iv) optionally one or more crosslinking agents, and (v) one or more functional modifiers wherein each said functional modifier is a reaction product of an aminodiol and a Bronsted acid.

An elastic composite film provided with a sintered ePTFE film and an elastomeric resin layer, produced by continuously forming the elastomeric resin layer on at least one side of the sintered ePTFE film, continuously elongating the resulting multilayer film at less than the yield point of the expanded, sintered, porous film and at an elongation factor of 1.3 times or more in the biaxial directions, or in the uniaxial direction without contracting in the direction perpendicular to the direction of elongation, and relaxing the resulting elongated multilayer film, wherein when the composite film is elongated by 10% in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction, the tensile stress of the composite film is 2.5 N/15 mm or less, and/or the elongation percentage of the composite film in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction is 30% or more and the elongation recovery rate is 70% or more.

A soft tissue implant comprises a condensed surgical mesh having a plurality of monofilament biocompatible fibers 12. Condensing of the fibers reduces the void space between adjacent fibers 12 in the mesh and reduces the surface area of the fibers 12 available for contact with tissue. Condensation of the fibers 12 may be achieved by applying mechanical pressure, and/or vacuum, and/or heat to the mesh.

Aspects herein are directed to an article of apparel having a vent opening formed by overlapping the edges of a first panel and a second panel. A plurality of discrete overlay film structures are applied to the second panel adjacent to the vent opening. When the article of apparel is exposed to an external stimulus, the film structures undergo a reversible increase in dimension in at least the z-direction which cause the second panel of material to undergo a reversible decrease in dimension in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the vent opening thereby causing the vent opening to dynamically transition from a closed state to an open state.

A graphic comprises a textile material comprising one of a woven or knit textile having first and second textile surfaces in an opposing relationship and a retroreflective material having first and second surfaces in an opposing relationship. One of the first and second textile surfaces and one of the first and second surfaces are adhered to one another by a second adhesive.