The invention relates to a drive belt (1) having a main body into which one or more tension strands (3) composed of para-aramid in cord construction are embedded, wherein each tension strand (3) has twisted plies each formed from at least one twisted yarn, and wherein the turning direction of the respective ply (first twist) is the opposite of the turning direction of the cord (final twist).

It is a feature of the invention that the tension strands (3) each have at least four plies, wherein the twist factor TM.sub.1 of the plies (first twist) is between 4.5 and 5.4, and the twist factor TM.sub.2 of the cord (final twist) is between 2.7 and 3.8, and the ratio of the twist factor of the plies to the twist factor of the cord (TM.sub.1/TM.sub.2) is between 1.3 and 1.5.

A dyeing and welding process may be configured to convert a substrate into a welded substrate having at least some color imparted thereto via a dye and/or coloring agent by applying a process solvent having a dye and/or coloring agent therein to the substrate, wherein the process solvent interrupts one or more intermolecular force between one or more component in the substrate. The substrate may be configured as a natural fiber, such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and silk. The process solvent may include a binder, such as dissolved biopolymer (e.g., cellulose). After application of a process solvent comprised of a dye and/or coloring agent, the substrate may be exposed to a second application of a process solvent comprised of a binder, which second application may occur before or after a process temperature/pressure zone, process solvent recovery zone, and/or drying zone.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber and sheets formed by a specialized gas assembly pyrolytic reactor method that permits gas phase integration of nano and micro particles (NMPs) are processed into yarn and fabric used in the manufacture of personal protective clothing and equipment that can be tailored via selection of NMPs for a wide variety of functionality depending on target application. The CNT-NMP hybrid fabrics may be designed to exhibit enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity, moisture wicking, air filtering, and environmental sensing properties.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber and sheets formed by a specialized gas assembly pyrolytic reactor method that permits gas phase integration of nano and micro particles (NMPs) are processed into yarn and fabric used in the manufacture of personal protective clothing and equipment that can be tailored via selection of NMPs for a wide variety of functionality depending on target application. The CNT-NMP hybrid fabrics may be designed to exhibit enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity, moisture wicking, air filtering, and environmental sensing properties.

The invention relates to an impregnated yarn, a ribbed thin-walled composite product comprising such an impregnated yarn, and a method of making them. Such an impregnated yarn (10d; 10e) comprises at least two continuous strands (10a; 10b) comprising plant fibers (11), said strands (10a; 10b) being impregnated with thermoplastic material (12a) in at least 60% of their volume, each of said strands (10a; 10b) being individually twisted and all of said strands (10a; 10b) also being twisted in a configuration (10d) held by the thermoplastic material (12a).

A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.

A composite yarn comprising a continuous multifilament core yarn incorporated in a matrix is characterised in that the matrix comprises at least one polymer material and at least one reinforcing filler, the reinforcing filler being formed from functionalized particles, said particles having a median size (d.sub.v5o) of less than 40 μm. A process for manufacturing such a composite yarn, comprises at least one step of depositing, by coating or extrusion, a matrix comprising a polymer and a reinforcing filler, onto a core yarn. A textile surface comprises at least one such composite yarn.

A dispenser is described for dispensing nanofiber yarns that includes a housing that defines an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber. A spool, around which is wound a length of nanofiber yarn, is disposed within the chamber defined by the housing. The nanofiber yarn is threaded from the chamber through the outlet and can be dispensed in a controlled way that reduces the likelihood of developing knots within the nanofiber yarn, and which facilitates convenient application of the yarn onto an underlying surface. In some cases, the dispenser can be used to concurrently dispense an adhesive or other polymer along with the nanofiber yarn.

A method of generating a coiled actuator fiber that includes twisting a fiber to generate a twisted fiber; wrapping the twisted fiber around a core yarn or fiber to generate a coil in the twisted fiber, which generates a coiled twisted fiber; setting the coiled twisted fiber by heat or chemical treatment; and removing at least a portion of the core yarn or fiber to generate a coiled actuator fiber.

A monofilament made of glass-resin composite has improved properties in compression, in particular at high temperature, and comprises glass filaments embedded in a crosslinked resin. The glass transition temperature of the resin is equal to or greater than 190° C. The elongation at break of the monofilament, measured at 23° C., is equal to or greater than 4.0%. The initial tensile modulus of the monofilament, measured at 23° C., is greater than 35 GPa. The real part of the complex modulus of the monofilament, measured at 190° C. by the DMTA method, is greater than 30 GPa. Pneumatic or non-pneumatic tires are reinforced with such a composite monofilament.