A charging member for an image forming apparatus may include a conductive support and a surface layer on the conductive support and not in contact with a photosensitive member. The surface layer may comprise a urethane foam including foam cells and having a foam structure based on the foam cells, the foam cells including open cells.

Provided are certain cellulose ester compositions which serve as improved anti-tack additives for various thermoplastic polymers, in applications such as woven and non-woven fibers, laminates including the composition, fabrics including the composition, apparel and garments, textiles including the composition, etc.

Provided are composite particles in which reinforcing fibers adhere to the surface of thermoplastic resin expanded beads via a thermosetting resin being in an uncured state, a cured product of the composite particles, an in-mold molded article of the composite particles, a laminate of the composite particles and a reinforcing fiber sheet material, a composite of the composite particles, and a method for producing composite particles.

A laminated glass provided in an automobile door panel including two panel boards facing each other and seal members provided on facing surfaces of the panel boards at regions along a beltline, the laminated glass being openable and closable by being provided between the two panel boards so as to slide between the seal members, the laminated glass includes: a laminated glass main body including at least two glass plates and an interlayer film sandwiched between the glass plates and having a storage modulus G of 1.5×10.sup.6 Pa or more; and a viscoelastic member provided on a surface of the laminated glass main body, the viscoelastic member abutting on the seal member or the panel board and sealing a gap between the seal member or the panel board and the laminated glass main body, at a closed time of the laminated glass.

A plasterboard comprises a gypsum matrix having particles of agglomerated fibres embedded therein in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum, the gypsum matrix further comprising a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being present in an amount of at least 1 wt % relative to the gypsum.

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.

Described in this disclosure is a surface configured to break down deposits thereon. The surface may include breakdown structures, oleophilic structures, and hydrophilic structures. The oleophilic structures and hydrophilic structures are configured to disperse a deposit, such as fingerprint residue, to the breakdown structures. This dispersion increases the surface area of the deposit with respect to the breakdown structures, increasing the contact area between the two. The breakdown structures modify the deposit physically, chemically, or both, such that fragments are distributed into the ambient environment. The surface may be applied to portable electronic devices.

The present invention relates to multi-layer fiber products and a method of manufacturing these kinds of products. The present product comprises a first layer consists mainly of natural fibers and a second, heat-sealing layer located on top of the first layer. The heat-sealing layer consists mainly of synthetic thermoplastic fibers or particles. According to the present method, the heat-sealing layer is brought onto the first layer already during the web forming process, the first and the second layers being formed and joined together in a foam forming process. With the present invention, it is possible to decrease the amount of plastic materials in packaging materials having heat-sealing properties.

In an aspect a method of manufacturing an acoustic floor panel is described. The method may include: combining a binding agent with plastic flakes; passing the plastic flakes and the binding agent to a lamination machine; applying a force to the binding agent and the plastic flakes using the lamination machine to create a plastic sheet; cutting the plastic sheet; and adding an acoustic insulator to at least a first side of the plastic sheet.

Described is a method of making a densified fiber batt that includes the steps of: a) providing a fiber batt with a first plurality of fibers having a first melting point and a second plurality of fibers having a second melting point different from the first melting point; and b) subjecting the fiber batt to heat and pressure in a static press, thereby forming a densified fiber batt having a first surface and an opposed second surface.