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AssigneeNational Nonwovens Inc.
InventorsMark Gregory Lawrence, Conrad Anthony D'Elia, Anthony Joseph Centofanti, Paul Anthony Viveiros
Estimating the term…
The present invention generally relates to composites and articles made from nonwoven structures. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to nonwoven structures which are heated and/or pressed to form a substantially rigid article. In some cases, the nonwoven structure may be heated to temperatures greater than the glass transition temperature but less than the melting temperature of a polymer within the nonwoven structure. Such articles may exhibit creep of the polymer around other fibers in the nonwoven structure, but without any evidence of melting and/or flow. In addition, in some embodiments, such articles may have relatively large void volumes, or exhibit properties such as low flammability, smoke resistance, or acoustic insulation. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to systems and methods for making such articles, methods of use of such articles, kits comprising such articles, etc.
An article, comprising polyetherimide and fibers comprising poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide), wherein the article has an average void volume of at least about 50% and a density of at least about 0.1 g/cm3.
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A unitary article, comprising fibers comprising a poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide) and a polyetherimide disposed on at least some of the fibers, wherein the article has a void volume of at least about 50%.
An article having a nonwoven structure, comprising a first polymer and fibers comprising a second polymer, the nonwoven structure formed by heating at least a portion of the nonwoven structure to a temperature that is greater than or equal to the glass transition temperature of the first polymer, less than or equal to the melting temperature of the first polymer, and less than or equal to the glass transition temperature, the melting temperature, or the decomposition temperature of the second polymer.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.