The present invention relates to a hydrophobic additive for use with fabric, fiber, and film. One aspect of the present invention comprises a master batch composition for use in preparing a non-woven fabric in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the non-woven fabric. In one embodiment, the master batch composition includes a polymer and a lipid ester. The lipid ester comprises 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of the master batch. The fabric, when including the master batch composition, has a contact angle ranging from 100 to 125 when measured according to test method ASTM D2578.

The present invention relates to a hydrophobic additive for use with fabric, fiber, and film. One aspect of the present invention comprises a master batch composition for use in preparing a non-woven fabric in order to increase the hydrophobicity of the non-woven fabric. In one embodiment, the master batch composition includes a polymer and a lipid ester. The lipid ester comprises from 10 wt. % to 40 wt. % of the master batch. The fabric, when including the master batch composition, has a contact angle ranging from 100 to 125 when measured according to test method ASTM D2578.

Aliphatic-aromatic copolyester comprising the repeating units, which comprise a dicarboxylic component and a dihydroxylic component:
[O(R.sub.11)OC(O)(R.sub.13)C(O)]
[O(R.sub.12)OC(O)(R.sub.14)C(O)].
The dihydroxylic component comprises units O(R.sub.11)O and O(R.sub.12)O from diols, wherein R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 individually are selected from C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkylene, C.sub.5-C.sub.10 cycloalkylene, C.sub.2-C.sub.12 oxyalkylene, heterocycles and mixtures thereof. The dicarboxylic component comprises units C(O)(R.sub.13)C(O) from aliphatic diacids and units C(O)(R.sub.14)C(O) from aromatic diacids, wherein R.sub.13 is C.sub.0-C.sub.20 alkylene and mixtures thereof. The aromatic diacids comprise at least one heterocyclic aromatic diacid of renewable origin, and preferably furandicarboxylic acid. The molar percentage of the aromatic diacids is >90% and <100% of the dicarboxylic component. The aliphatic-aromatic copolyester has appreciable workability, toughness and high values for ultimate tensile strength and elastic modulus. It can be mixed with other polymers.

A nonwoven substrate comprising a polyolefin and an engineering thermoplastic polymer. The engineering thermoplastic polymer may be present in the nonwoven substrate at a level of between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the nonwoven substrate. The layer of fibers is free of a compatibilizer.

A method of making a fluorinated fibrous web, which method includes providing a nonwoven web 22 that contains polymeric fibers, creating a plasma that contains fluorine atoms at a first location 14, and contacting the nonwoven web with products from the plasma at a second location 26 remote from the first location 14. The method avoids exposure of the web to the plasma and hence expands the manufacturing processing window. Webs so fluorinated have a different C.sub.3F.sub.4H.sup.+ to C.sub.2F.sub.5.sup.+ ratio when compared to locally fluorinated webs having similar levels of surface fluorination. The remote fluorinated webs can be subsequently charged electrically to provide a good performing electret filter 40 suitable for use in an air purifying respirator 30. Webs fluorinated in accordance with this invention also may exhibit good performance even after being aged at high temperatures.

Fine fibers comprising aliphatic polyester and a viscosity modifier. The fine fibers are preferably made by a BMF process.

Provided is a non-woven fabric produced by using a polypropylene-based resin composition containing a specific low-crystalline polypropylene. The non-woven fabric is a non-woven fabric obtained by achieving reductions in denier values of fibers, the non-woven fabric being excellent in dispersibility of the fibers.

Dimensionally stable nonwoven fibrous webs include a multiplicity of continuous fibers formed from one or more thermoplastic polyesters and polypropylene in an amount greater than 0% and no more than 10% by weight of the web. The webs have at least one dimension which decreases by no greater than 10% in the plane of the web when heated to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of the fibers. When the thermoplastic polyester is selected to include aliphatic and aromatic polyesters, a spunbond process may be used to produce substantially continuous fibers that exhibit molecular orientation. When the thermoplastic polyester is selected from aliphatic polyesters, a meltblown process may be used to produce discontinuous fibers that do not exhibit molecular orientation. The webs may be used as articles for filtration, sound absorption, thermal insulation, surface cleaning, cellular growth support, drug delivery, personal hygiene, medical apparel, or wound dressing.

A nonwoven substrate comprising a polyolefin and an engineering thermoplastic polymer. The engineering thermoplastic polymer may be present in the nonwoven substrate at a level of between about 1% and about 20% by weight of the nonwoven substrate. The layer of fibers is free of a compatibilizer.

A resin-soluble thermoplastic polymer veil toughening element for a curable composition wherein the polymer element is a non-woven veil in solid phase adapted to undergo at least partial phase transition to fluid phase on contact with a component of the curable resin matrix composition in which it is soluble at a temperature which is less than the temperature for substantial onset of gelling and/or curing of the curable composition and which temperature is less than the polymer elements melt temperature; a method for the preparation thereof, a preform support structure for a curable composition comprising the at least one thermoplastic veil element together with structural reinforcement fibers, methods for preparation thereof, a curable composition comprising the at least one thermoplastic veil element or the support structure and a curable resin matrix composition, a method for preparation and curing thereof, and a cured composite or resin body obtained thereby, and known and novel uses thereof.