Unique blends of fibers that incorporate synthetic cellulosic fibers to render fabrics made with such blends more durable than fabrics made with natural cellulosic fibers such as cotton. While more durable than cotton, the synthetic cellulosic fibers used in the blends are still inexpensive and comfortable to the wearer. Thus, the benefits of cotton (affordability and comfort) are still attained while a drawback of cotton—low durability—is avoided. In one embodiment, the fiber blend includes FR modacrylic fibers and synthetic cellulosic fibers, preferably, but not necessarily non-FR lyocell fibers such as TENCEL™ and TENCEL A100™. Other fibers may be added to the blend, including, but not limited to, additional types of inherently FR fibers, anti-static fibers, anti-microbial fibers, stretch fibers, and/or high tenacity fibers. The fiber blends disclosed herein may be used to form various types of FR fabrics. Desired colors may be imparted in a variety of ways and with a variety of dyes to the fabrics disclosed herein. Fabrics having the fibers blends disclosed herein can be used to construct the entirety of, or various portions of, a variety of protective garments for protecting the wearer against electrical arc flash and flames, including, but not limited to, coveralls, jumpsuits, shirts, jackets, vests, and trousers.

A hoisting device rope has a width larger than a thickness thereof in a transverse direction of the rope. The rope includes a load-bearing part made of a composite material, the composite material including non-metallic reinforcing fibers, which include carbon fiber or glass fiber, in a polymer matrix. An elevator includes a drive sheave, an elevator car and a rope system for moving the elevator car by means of the drive sheave. The rope system includes at least one rope that has a width that is larger than a thickness thereof in a transverse direction of the rope. The rope includes a load-bearing part made of a composite material. The composite material includes reinforcing fibers in a polymer matrix.

A thermal barrier configured to be rolled and unrolled while providing a thermal value of greater than about R=3. The thermal barrier comprises multiple layers including a first layer comprising a fiber mesh core and material selected from the group comprising: polyurethane, rubber, and polyvinylchloride, a second layer bonded to the first layer, the second layer comprising material selected from the group comprising: polyolefin foam, polyurethane foam and rubber based foam, and a third layer bonded to the second layer, the third layer comprising a thin film or fabric material selected from the group comprising: polyester, polyolefin, polyurethane and nylon, wherein the composite material maintains a consistent linear dimension within about 1% of total length in a coiled configuration compared with a linear configuration.

Exemplary embodiments of a thermoplastic polyolefin membrane are provided. The colored TPO membrane can have a cap layer having a top color layer and a white sub-layer having a solar reflectance underneath the top color layer, and a core layer underneath the cap layer. The colored TPO roofing membrane can have a reinforcing polyester scrim between the cap layer and the core layer. The white sub-layer can be made up of one or more layers.

In a laminated steel plate in which steel plates are joined to both faces of a core layer, the core layer is formed of a meshed wire group formed using wires in a mesh form and a resin sheet, the wires forming the meshed wire group have a tensile strength of 601 MPa or higher, and an opening of the meshed wire group is equal to or less than ten times the thickness of the steel plates. By thus defining the tensile strength of the wires, light-weightness can be achieved compatibly with high rigidity and shock resistance, and by defining the opening of the meshed wire group, workability and shape stability after being processed can be improved.

The present invention relates to a flooring material and a fabrication method thereof. Since the invention forms the flooring material using bio-degradable resin which can be fabricated with materials extracted from the reproducible resources, the invention solves the supply and demand problem of raw materials caused by the depletion of oil resources. Further, the invention improves the production efficiency of the flooring materials by applying a calendaring method during the fabrication process, emits few environmentally-harmful materials including CO.sub.2 or the like, and provides the environmentally-friendly flooring material which is discarded easily. In addition, the invention can solve the problem caused by the size change which occurs when a bio-degradable sheet is used, whereby a stably and continuously-usable flooring material is provided.

A hoisting device rope has a width larger than a thickness thereof in a transverse direction of the rope. The rope includes a load-bearing part made of a composite material, said composite material comprising non-metallic reinforcing fibers, which include carbon fiber or glass fiber, in a polymer matrix. An elevator includes a drive sheave, an elevator car and a rope system for moving the elevator car by means of the drive sheave. The rope system includes at least one rope that has a width that is larger than a thickness thereof in a transverse direction of the rope. The rope includes a load-bearing part made of a composite material. The composite material includes reinforcing fibers in a polymer matrix.

The present invention provides for concentrated aqueous silk fibroin solutions and an all-aqueous mode for preparation of concentrated aqueous fibroin solutions that avoids the use of organic solvents, direct additives, or harsh chemicals. The invention further provides for the use of these solutions in production of materials, e.g., fibers, films, foams, meshes, scaffolds and hydrogels.

A roofing membrane comprising an olefinic rubber; and from about 20 to about 250 parts by weight of a silica filler per 100 parts by weight rubber; wherein the silica filler is chemically coupled to the olefinic rubber; and wherein the roofing membrane is non-black.

A carbon nanofiber aggregate (CNFA) system and method provides self-sensing capabilities that can be used to detect strain, moisture, and temperature changes. The CNFA may include cement, aggregate, silica fume, high-range water reducer (HRWR), and/or carbon nanofibers. The metal meshes in the CNFA may be utilized to monitor the electric properties of the CNFA to detect strain, moisture, and temperature changes. The CNFA may be embedded in concrete structures to allow detection of strain, moisture, and temperature changes that may cause damage to structures. Several metal meshes may be embedded in the CNFA.