An impregnation liquid is provided, which includes (A) phenolic resin, (B) diazonaphthoquinone-based compound or a derivative thereof, (C) ionic compound, and (D) organic solvent. The weight of (A) phenolic resin and the weight of (B) diazonaphthoquinone-based compound or a derivative thereof have a ratio of 0.2:0.8 to 0.9:0.1, and the weight of (C) ionic compound and the total weight of (A) phenolic resin and (B) diazonaphthoquinone-based compound or a derivative thereof have a ratio of 0.2:1 to 1.4:1. The impregnation liquid can be used to form an activated carbon layer to wrap and to be directly in contact with the surface of a mesh.

An impregnation liquid is provided, which includes (A) phenolic resin, (B) diazonaphthoquinone-based compound or a derivative thereof, (C) ionic compound, and (D) organic solvent. The weight of (A) phenolic resin and the weight of (B) diazonaphthoquinone-based compound or a derivative thereof have a ratio of 0.2:0.8 to 0.9:0.1, and the weight of (C) ionic compound and the total weight of (A) phenolic resin and (B) diazonaphthoquinone-based compound or a derivative thereof have a ratio of 0.2:1 to 1.4:1. The impregnation liquid can be used to form an activated carbon layer to wrap and to be directly in contact with the surface of a mesh.

A hydrophilic fluororesin tube includes a tube wall that contains a fluororesin fiber deposited to form a nonwoven fabric, and satisfies the following requirement (1): requirement (1); the tube wall of the hydrophilic fluororesin tube demonstrating an average transmittance, when immersed in water at 25° C. for 1 minute, of 40% or larger at 400 to 700 nm wavelength.

A hydrophilic fluororesin tube includes a tube wall that contains a fluororesin fiber deposited to form a nonwoven fabric, and satisfies the following requirement (1): requirement (1); the tube wall of the hydrophilic fluororesin tube demonstrating an average transmittance, when immersed in water at 25° C. for 1 minute, of 40% or larger at 400 to 700 nm wavelength.

Various embodiments directed towards methods of applying sizing to fibers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, solvent can be used to dissolve a sizing material into a solution, which can then be used to coat the fibers. In some embodiments, a water bath is used to coagulate a sizing on the fiber surface and to remove the remove solvent after coating the fibers, so that water vapor can be created during a subsequent drying step as opposed to solvent vapors. In some embodiments, strong acids or strong bases can be used as the solvent.

Various embodiments directed towards methods of applying sizing to fibers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, solvent can be used to dissolve a sizing material into a solution, which can then be used to coat the fibers. In some embodiments, a water bath is used to coagulate a sizing on the fiber surface and to remove the remove solvent after coating the fibers, so that water vapor can be created during a subsequent drying step as opposed to solvent vapors. In some embodiments, strong acids or strong bases can be used as the solvent.

Provided is a fiber sizing agent including a vinyl ester resin (A), an epoxy compound (B), and an aqueous medium. The vinyl ester resin (A) has an alkoxy polyoxyalkylene structure and a urethane linkage. The fiber sizing agent exhibits excellent binding ability for various fibers, such as glass fibers and carbon fibers. Molded articles produced from a molding material including the fiber sizing agent have various excellent physical properties, and examples of the physical properties include flexural strength, compressive strength, and interlaminar shear strength. Accordingly, the molded articles can be used, for example, in automotive parts, aircraft parts, windmill parts, industrial parts, and the like.

To provide a fluorinated copolymer dispersion, whereby it is possible to obtain an article being excellent in water-and-oil repellency and less susceptible to a decrease in the water-and-oil repellency by alkali, etc. and which presents little impact to the environment by an organic solvent; a method for its production; and an article which is excellent in water-and-oil repellency and is less susceptible to a decrease in the water-and-oil repellency by alkali, etc. The fluorinated copolymer dispersion comprises an aqueous medium and a fluorinated copolymer dispersed in the aqueous medium, wherein the fluorinated copolymer has units based on the following monomer (a) and units based on the following monomer (b), the proportion of the units based on the monomer (a) being from 20 to 60 mol % to all units constituting the fluorinated copolymer, and the fluorinated copolymer has a number average molecular weight of from 10,000 to 100,000: Monomer (a): a compound represented by CH.sub.2═CH—R.sup.f (R.sup.f is a C.sub.1-8 perfluoroalkyl group); and Monomer (b): a monomer copolymerizable with the monomer (a).

An environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, aqueous binder composition that includes a carbohydrate, a crosslinking agent, and a pre-reacted product of an alcohol or polyol and monomeric or polymeric polycarboxylic acid or polyglycerol is provided. The pre-reacted product may include glycerol and esters of citric acid such a monoglyceryl citrate, diglyceryl citrate, and triglyceryl citrate as well as other higher molecular weight citric acid-based esters. The inclusion of the pre-reacted product in the binder composition helps to speed the crosslinking reaction, induces faster water evaporation, decreases the viscosity of the binder, helps to reduce the amount of water needed for application of the binder, decreases tackiness, and helps to achieve a maximum vertical expansion of the insulation pack in the transfer zone. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven chopped strand mats.

An environmentally friendly, formaldehyde-free, aqueous binder composition that includes a carbohydrate, a crosslinking agent, and a pre-reacted product of an alcohol or polyol and monomeric or polymeric polycarboxylic acid or polyglycerol is provided. The pre-reacted product may include glycerol and esters of citric acid such a monoglyceryl citrate, diglyceryl citrate, and triglyceryl citrate as well as other higher molecular weight citric acid-based esters. The inclusion of the pre-reacted product in the binder composition helps to speed the crosslinking reaction, induces faster water evaporation, decreases the viscosity of the binder, helps to reduce the amount of water needed for application of the binder, decreases tackiness, and helps to achieve a maximum vertical expansion of the insulation pack in the transfer zone. The binder composition may be used in the formation of insulation materials and non-woven chopped strand mats.