A nonwoven article includes a plurality of electrospun polycrystalline, aluminosilicate ceramic filaments that form a cohesive nonwoven mat. Each of the aluminosilicate ceramic filaments in the mat have an average diameter of about 200 nm to about 1000 nm as determined with electron microscopy, and the aluminosilicate ceramic filaments have an average crystalline mullite content of about 15 wt % to about 80 wt %.

A nonwoven article includes a plurality of electrospun polycrystalline, aluminosilicate ceramic filaments that form a cohesive nonwoven mat. Each of the aluminosilicate ceramic filaments in the mat have an average diameter of about 200 nm to about 1000 nm as determined with electron microscopy, and the aluminosilicate ceramic filaments have an average crystalline mullite content of about 15 wt % to about 80 wt %.

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.

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.

The sheet material according to the present invention has a polymer elastic body and a fibrous base material comprising ultrafine fibers, wherein the average single fiber diameter of the ultrafine fibers is 0.1 .Math.m to 10.0 .Math.m, the polymer elastic body has a hydrophilic group and an N-acylurea bond and/or an isourea bond, and the following conditions are satisfied : the longitudinal stiffness, in accordance with method A (45° cantilever method) in the text of “8.21 Stiffness” of JIS L 1096:2010 “Testing Methods for Woven and Knitted Fabrics”, is 40 mm to 140 mm ; and after immersion for 24 hours in N,N-dimethylformamide, the following are obtained in wear testing using a pressing load of 12.0 kPa and 20,000 friction cycles in accordance with method E (Martindale method) in the text of “8.19 Wear Strength and Friction Discoloration” of JIS L 1096:2010 “Testing Methods for Woven and Knitted Fabrics”: a grade of at least 4 and a wear loss of not more than 25 mg.

A method for consolidating a fibrous material of plant-based fibers, such as cellulose fibers and/or poly-lactic acid fibers, the method including: applying to the fibrous material an aqueous solution including a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof, and an acid, the aqueous solution having a pH within the range of from 3 to 7, optionally within the range of from 3 to 6, optionally within the range of from 3 to 4.5; and drying the bonded fibrous material, optionally at 100° C. or higher. Also, a fibrous material formed by the method, an aqueous binder solution including a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof, and an acid, and a nonwoven material including airlaid plant-based fibers being consolidated by a bio-based binder in the presence of a carboxylic acid, the bio-based binder being a cellulose derivative, and/or a salt thereof.

An example method includes combining an interlayer and a carbon fiber fabric, wherein the interlayer comprises a highly oriented milled carbon fiber ply comprising a plurality of out-of-plane carbon fibers. The method further includes winding the interlayer and the carbon fiber fabric around a core to form a composite fiber preform comprising a plurality of layers defining an annulus extending along a central axis. The method further includes densifying the composite fiber preform.

An example composite building material includes one or more layers of polymeric fibers, binding agent, and optional fillers, and at least one surface layer of resin-impregnated paper disposed above and/or below the one or more layers. The one or more layers can include a core layer with longer polymeric fibers and top and bottom layers with shorter polymeric fibers. A method of manufacturing the composite building material includes forming the one or more layers, applying the at least one surface layer above and/or below the one or more layers, and heating and pressing the combined layers.

Some aspects of the present disclosure generally relates to materials such as nonwoven materials, e.g., comprising fibers. Some examples of fibers include polyester, rayon, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl acetate, etc. In some embodiments, the material may be functionalized in some manner. For example, a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethylene oxide may be bonded to at least some of the fibers and/or to itself. In some cases, the hydrophilic polymer may be substantially uniformly bonded to the fibers. In some cases, the functionalized material may be relatively permeable, which may allow fluids to flow therethrough. For example, the material may have a relatively high permeability to air, e.g., of at least 5 ft.sup.3/min/ft.sup.2. Other aspects are generally directed to methods of making or using such materials, kits including such materials, etc.

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.