The invention provides a filter fabric for providing anti pathogenic properties which has been coated with a composition comprising (a) 0.0001-99.9999% by weight of a compound of such as zinc pyrithione and (b) 0.0001-99.9999% by weight of an additional zinc salt selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, zinc propionate, zinc oxalate, zinc benzoate, zinc gluconate, zinc ascorbate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc glycolate, zinc maleate, zinc fumarate, zinc polyacrylate and zinc polymaleate. The invention also provides a composition for imparting anti-viral properties to a breathable substrate material comprising two or more zinc salts selected from the group consisting of zinc acetate, zinc propionate, zinc oxalate, zinc benzoate, zinc gluconate, zinc ascorbate, zinc citrate, zinc lactate, zinc glycolate, zinc maleate, zinc fumarate, zinc EDTA, zinc glycinate, zinc polyacrylate, zinc polylactate, zinc polyglycolate and zinc polymaleate said zinc salts being present in effective amounts to impart anti-pathogenic properties.

The present invention relates to a positively charged filter material with excellent ability for removing charged particles efficiently, and a method for producing the same, and more specifically to a positively charged filter material having the ability to selectively remove efficiently, in water, negatively charged organic/inorganic particles, heavy metal ions and pathogenic microorganisms, and a method for producing the same.

A woven fabric formed of fabric fibers or threads coated with a hydrogel, wherein said hydrogel is not crosslinked or is partially crosslinked to the fabric fibers or thread, wherein the hydrogel has a number of excess reactive molecules that are available for a reaction with one or more molecules solvated in an aqueous solution, and wherein the reactive molecules of the hydrogel can reversibly bond with the molecules solvated in an aqueous solution, such that the reactive molecules of the hydrogel attract the molecules solvated in aqueous solution when the hydrogel coated fabric substrate is exposed to an aqueous solution.

The invention relates to a textile protective material, in particular providing protection against radioactive harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against biological harmful and/or toxic substances and/or against chemical harmful and/or toxic substances, preferably a textile adsorption filter material, and to a method for the production thereof. The textile protective material is suitable in particular for producing protective equipment and protective objects and filters and filter materials of all types.

An electret is disclosed including: a carrier, and polytetrafluoroethylene having a melting point of 35 C. or higher and 320 C. or lower deposited on the carrier, wherein the electret imparts an electrostatic charge to at least one of the carrier and the polytetrafluoroethylene, and has two or more melting point peaks in simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. An electret filter is disclosed which preferably is used for a filter which requires durability to tobacco smoke. An electret filter is also disclosed having a fluorine-containing component deposited on a fiber surface, wherein an initial QF value is 0.5 mmAq.sup.1 or more in collection efficiency of particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 to 0.5 m at a wind speed of 5 cm/s, and a filter deterioration rate by tobacco smoke loading is 8/(g/m.sup.2) or more.

Textile fabrics consolidated with a binder that is made from a binder system are described. The binder system may include: a) 30% or less by dry weight of at least one polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol; b) 70% or more by dry weight of at least one starch, wherein the at least one starch comprises 50% by weight or more of one or more natural starches based on the total weight of the at least one starch; c) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one crosslinker; d) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one filler; and e) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one additive, wherein a sum of components a) through e) is 100% by dry weight of the binder system. Method of making the textile fabrics consolidated with binders made from the binder systems are also described.

A filter element comprising two layers of weft (1) interlaced with warp (2). Additionally laid-in (3) yarns are provided in-between the two weft layers. The laid-in yarns are not interlaced with the weft.

Textile fabrics consolidated with a binder that is made from a binder system are described. The binder system may include:

a) 30% or less by dry weight of at least one polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol;

b) 70% or more by dry weight of at least one starch, wherein the at least one starch comprises 50% by weight or more of one or more natural starches based on the total weight of the at least one starch;

c) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one crosslinker;

d) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one filler; and

e) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one additive,

wherein a sum of components a) through e) is 100% by dry weight of the binder system. Method of making the textile fabrics consolidated with binders made from the binder systems are also described.

Textile fabrics consolidated with a binder that is made from a binder system are described. The binder system may include: a) 30% or less by dry weight of at least one polymer based on polyvinyl alcohol; b) 70% or more by dry weight of at least one starch, wherein the at least one starch comprises 50% by weight or more of one or more natural starches based on the total weight of the at least one starch; c) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one crosslinker; d) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one filler; and e) 0 to 10% by dry weight of at least one additive, wherein a sum of components a) through e) is 100% by dry weight of the binder system. Method of making the textile fabrics consolidated with binders made from the binder systems are also described.

Fiber webs that may be coated and used in filter media are provided. In some embodiments, the fiber web is a non-woven web that is coated with a resin including at least two components (e.g., a first component and a second component) that may react with one another to form a copolymer. In some embodiments, the coated fiber web may be sufficiently self-supporting, durable, and strong, such that filter media and/or elements formed of the web do not require additional support structures (e.g., a scrim).