The composite structure includes a fiber-containing layer, such as a fiberboard layer or other layer having fibers from natural and/or synthetic sources, and a mineral-containing layer covering the fiber-containing layer. The fiber-containing layer and mineral-containing layer can be shaped, sized and manufactured such that the composite structure formed therefrom is capable of being machined to form a storage article. The composite structure has advantages in that it can improve whiteness, opacity, ink adhesion, materials reduction, barrier properties, recyclability, and printability. The composite can reduce polymer mass requirements for heat seal, barrier, and fiber adhesion. Further improvements include economics, pliability, and flexibility that is increased over the pliability of the fiber-containing layer alone.

The composite structure includes a fiber-containing layer, such as a fiberboard layer or other layer having fibers from natural and/or synthetic sources, and a mineral-containing layer covering the fiber-containing layer. The fiber-containing layer and mineral-containing layer can be shaped, sized and manufactured such that the composite structure formed therefrom is capable of being machined to form a storage article. The composite structure has advantages in that it can improve whiteness, opacity, ink adhesion, materials reduction, barrier properties, recyclability, and printability. The composite can reduce polymer mass requirements for heat seal, barrier, and fiber adhesion. Further improvements include economics, pliability, and flexibility that is increased over the pliability of the fiber-containing layer alone.

A fabric belt on which, when used as intended in a machine for producing spunbonded fabric webs, such spunbonded fabric webs are formed and transported. The belt has longitudinal threads and transverse threads that bind with the longitudinal threads. The threads are formed substantially of a polymer material and some of the longitudinal and/or transverse threads include electrically conductive material. The longitudinal threads form, on the web material contact side, convex longitudinal thread offsets with a knuckle, and the transverse threads have first transverse threads which form, on the web material contact side, first transverse thread offsets with a knuckle. A height difference between the knuckle crowns of at least some of the convex longitudinal thread offsets and the knuckle crowns of at least some of the first convex transverse thread offsets on the web material contact side is less than 220 μm or even less than 150 μm.

A fabric belt on which, when used as intended in a machine for producing spunbonded fabric webs, such spunbonded fabric webs are formed and transported. The belt has longitudinal threads and transverse threads that bind with the longitudinal threads. The threads are formed substantially of a polymer material and some of the longitudinal and/or transverse threads include electrically conductive material. The longitudinal threads form, on the web material contact side, convex longitudinal thread offsets with a knuckle, and the transverse threads have first transverse threads which form, on the web material contact side, first transverse thread offsets with a knuckle. A height difference between the knuckle crowns of at least some of the convex longitudinal thread offsets and the knuckle crowns of at least some of the first convex transverse thread offsets on the web material contact side is less than 220 μm or even less than 150 μm.

The current invention concerns a fire retardant composition for use in wood composite panels, either comprising a fire retardant agent or an intumescent formulation, whereby the pH of a 10% aqueous solution of said composition lies between 3.5 and 8.5. The present invention also provides for a specific use of the composition in fire retardant wood composite panels, the respective method for producing those panels, as well as the resulting wood composite panels themselves.

The current invention concerns a fire retardant composition for use in wood composite panels, either comprising a fire retardant agent or an intumescent formulation, whereby the pH of a 10% aqueous solution of said composition lies between 3.5 and 8.5. The present invention also provides for a specific use of the composition in fire retardant wood composite panels, the respective method for producing those panels, as well as the resulting wood composite panels themselves.

A method of preparing a fiberboard is described herein, the method comprising treating a particulate plant-derived material with plasma to obtain a plasma-treated particulate material, and compressing the plasma-treated particulate material. Further described herein is a fiberboard comprising a particulate plant-derived material, and being substantially devoid of an adhesive, or substantially devoid of an adhesive which is urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, and/or phenol formaldehyde resin. The fiberboard may be characterized by a density of less than 500 kg/m.sup.3, a particulate plant-derived material particle area of at least 1 mm.sup.2, and/or a particulate plant-derived material water contact angle of no more than 20°.

A method of preparing a fiberboard is described herein, the method comprising treating a particulate plant-derived material with plasma to obtain a plasma-treated particulate material, and compressing the plasma-treated particulate material. Further described herein is a fiberboard comprising a particulate plant-derived material, and being substantially devoid of an adhesive, or substantially devoid of an adhesive which is urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, polyurethane resin, epoxy resin, and/or phenol formaldehyde resin. The fiberboard may be characterized by a density of less than 500 kg/m.sup.3, a particulate plant-derived material particle area of at least 1 mm.sup.2, and/or a particulate plant-derived material water contact angle of no more than 20°.

The invention relates to a process for producing a thermoformable and/or embossable particle/polymer composite using a substrate S based on shredded polymer-coated paper and a thermoplastic polymer P, therewith providing a new method of recycling/upcycling paper waste. Furthermore, a process for the manufacturing of a molded article obtained from the paper-based particle/polymer composite and its use as an element in buildings or in furniture are disclosed.

The invention relates to a process for producing a thermoformable and/or embossable particle/polymer composite using a substrate S based on shredded polymer-coated paper and a thermoplastic polymer P, therewith providing a new method of recycling/upcycling paper waste. Furthermore, a process for the manufacturing of a molded article obtained from the paper-based particle/polymer composite and its use as an element in buildings or in furniture are disclosed.