Disclosed is an improved facer mat for use as a cover sheet for gypsum board. Also disclosed are gypsum boards containing such mat facers on one or both major surfaces of the board (face and back sides when installed), a method of manufacturing such board, and a method of making the mat. The mat can comprise glass, thermoplastic, and/or thermoset fiber. In preferred embodiments, binder is included with the fiber. The mat has outer and inner surfaces. The mat comprises a first region adjacent to the outer surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, the first region having a first substantial thickness, and a second region adjacent to the inner surface defined along a horizontal plane of the mat, the second region having a second substantial thickness. The first region has (a) more hydrophilicity than the second region, (b) more wettability than the second region, and/or (c) less density than the second region.

A soft armor panel is provided by work softening a panel formed of a ballistic material. The panel also includes slip planes between adjacent ply groups, the adjacent ply groups remaining unconnected or substantially unconnected at the slip plane. The soft, or conformable, body armor, is resistant to various projectile threats, in which the panel is made by work-softening an otherwise rigid panel. The soft armor panel includes a work softened lamination of a plurality of ply groups. Each ply group comprises one or more layers, each layer comprising a composite material of fibers embedded in a matrix material. A slip plane is disposed between at least one set of adjacent ply groups, such that the adjacent ply groups remain unconnected or substantially unconnected at the slip plane. The softened ballistic panel retains significant ballistic properties, is light weight and can be readily conformed to various torso configurations.

A nonwoven for use in a thermal liner for protective apparel includes 1-45 wt % of a first inherently heat resistant fiber excluding an aramid, and a balance of a second heat resistant fiber. The nonwoven excludes wool and has a thickness less than 3 mm and a basis weight of less than 2.9 osy (100 gsm). In another embodiment, the insulating layer for protective apparel includes a nonwoven including an inherently flame resistant fiber and fibers being inherently resistant to moisture absorption. The inherently flame resistant fiber is different from said inherently resistant to moisture absorption fiber. The nonwoven has an equivalent or better thermal protective performance (TPP) and a lower basis weight than an industry standard nonwoven consisting of a nonwoven of para-aramids or meta-aramids or a blend of both.

Filter media, such as electret-containing filtration media for filtering gas streams (e.g., air), are described herein. In some embodiments, the filter media may be designed to have desirable properties such as stable filtration efficiency over the lifetime of the filter media, increased normalized gamma, relatively low pressure drop (i.e. resistance), and/or relatively low basis weight. In certain embodiments, the filter media may be a composite of two or more types of fiber layers where each layer may be designed to enhance its function without substantially negatively impacting the performance of another layer of the media. For example, one layer of the media may be designed to have a relatively low basis weight and/or a relatively high air permeability, and another layer of the media may be designed to have stable filtration efficiency and/or a relatively high efficiency throughout the filter media's lifetime. The filter media described herein may be particularly well-suited for applications that involve filtering gas streams (e.g., face masks, cabin air filtration, vacuum filtration, room filtration, furnace filtration, respirator equipment, residential or industrial HVAC filtration, high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters, ultra-low particular air (ULPA) filters, medical equipment), though the media may also be used in other applications.

A multi-ply through air dried structured tissue having a bulk softness of less than 10 TS7 and a lint value of 5.0 or less. Each ply of the tissue has a first exterior layer that includes a wet end temporary wet strength additive in an amount of approximately 0.25 kg/ton and a wet end dry strength additive in an amount of approximately 0.25 kg/ton, an interior layer that includes a first wet end additive comprising an ionic surfactant, and a second wet end additive comprising a non-ionic surfactant, and a second exterior layer.

A method for producing a multi-layered absorbent article is disclosed. At least two of the layers include a colored region.

Nonwoven materials having at least one layer comprising cellulose fibers are provided. The nonwoven materials comprise bonded natural cellulosic fibers having high capillary action. The nonwoven materials are suitable for use in a variety of applications, including absorbent products and pre-moistened cleaning materials with metered release of liquid.

In the field of decorative floor coverings, decorative panels are known having a MDF (Medium Density Board) or HDF (High Density Board) based core layer on top of which a decorative substrate is attached to provide the panels a desired appearance. The invention relates to a panel, in particular a decorative panel, a floor panel, a ceiling panel or a wall panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled panels.

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.

Fire retardant laminates including a textile layer, a protective layer, and a fire retardant are provided. The protective layer includes a porous membrane and a coating layer. The porous membrane is positioned between the textile layer and the coating layer. The fire retardant includes one or more phosphonate esters of the general formula: ##STR00001##
where n=0 or 1, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, R.sub.3 is H or C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl, and R.sub.4 is a linear or branched alkyl. At least a portion of the phosphonate ester in the fire retardant laminate resides in the coating layer. The fire retardant laminates are suitable for use in protective garments that provide full flammability and burn protection, even after exposure to flammable materials such as petroleum, oils, and lubricants. A method of rendering the fire retardant laminate fire retardant is also provided.