Fleece, synthetic

Since the glass mat supplies sufficient stiffness, high backweb thickness was no longer needed These fleeces are made of organic fibers (polyester and polypropylene, as well as so-called synthetic pulp , i.e., fibrillated polypropylene) on paper machines. 

In experimenting with recycled PET, Feuerstein came up with a high-tech use for "inferior" polyester fiber. He invented a warm, synthetic fleece that he called Polar Fleece (later changed to PolartecJ.Then he struck a deal with the outfitting company Patagonia to market outdoor apparel made from his PET fleece (Fenichell 1996),... 

Synthetic fleece is lightweight, water resistant, and very warm. In addition,"fleece" garments became fashionable, in part, perhaps, because they were first marketed by an upscale retail company. By turning a cheap, readily available resource into a useful product, he saved his family mill and was able to continue to offer employment to local workers. 

CNC ARIDRY AA is a wax-type aluminum water repellent which is used as an excellent all-purpose repellent for synthetics. The product is also a napping aid for nylon and/or orlon fleece fabrics. 

Some fibrous absorbents contain a proportion of acrylamide or other synthetic polymeric fiber. They frequently enhance the absorptive performance and give body to the fleece thus improving fluid retention and avoiding squeeze out which is caused by fleece collapse after wetting. 

Synthetic wood-pulp separators (SWP). So-called synthetic wood-pulp (SWP) separators are used widely in Japan for automotive batteries. These are fleeces made from fibrillated polyethylene or polypropylene and small amounts of additional fibres (e.g., polyester fibres) sometimes, the fleeces are also filled with silica. The organic sheets are laminated with a glass mat, which serves to stabilize the positive active-material [39]. 

Patagonia s Worn Wear programme involves the company s commitment to buy back (own label) used (but in good conditirai) shells, fleece, down and synthetic insulation, and ski and alpine pants at designated Patagcmia stores in the United States. 

Papers are thin and flat porous products. The classical papers are produced by felting short fibers consequently, they are fiber fleeces. Some of the newer synthetic papers, however, are based on films. Papers should be stiff, crease resistant, opaque, and printable. 

A distinction is made between synthetic papers and plastic papers with papers from synthetic materials. Synthetic papers are fiber mats or fleeces, whereas plastic papers are films. Poly(ethylene), poly(propylene), polyamides, or polyesters are used to make synthetic papers. These are converted to filaments by, for example, flash spinning. The filaments are then cut into short fibers. Fiber-like products from poly(ethylene) or poly(propylene) which can be processed like cellulose pulp on conventional paper making machinery are also known as synthetic pulp synthetic pulp is consequently not a cellulose product. Synthetic papers are often coated to improve printability. 

Composites are often constructed by bonding two materials together as in the laminating technique. In the case of synthetic leathers, called poromers, layers of different plastics are bonded together. Corfam, the first product of this type, consists, for example, of an upper layer of vapor-permeable polyurethane and a central layer of a mixed fabric consisting of porous 95% poly(ethylene terephthalate) fleece held together by an elastomeric polyurethane cord. The fleece is produced from fibrils (see Section 12.3.1). 

Since up to 40 percent of the body s heat is lost through the exposed head, some form of head protection is vital for cold-weather workers. Available options range from knit caps to balaclavas, a type of cloth headgear that covers the head and most of the face, leaving only the eyes or eyes and mouth exposed. For someone who will be wearing a hard hat or hearing protection, a knit ear band or knit or flannel hard-hat liner may provide sufficient protection. Insulated earmuffs made of fleece and lined with synthetic materials will keep the ears warm but they are not as effective as hats at conserving overall body heat. 

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer formed by the reaction of ethylene glycol (HOCH2CH2OH) and terephthalic acid. Because PET is lightweight and impervious to air and moisture, it is commonly used for transparent soft drink containers. PET is also used to produce synthetic fibers, sold under the trade name of Dacron. Of the six most common synthetic polymers, PET is the most easily recycled, in part because beverage bottles that bear the recycling code "1" are composed almost entirely of PET. Recycled polyethylene terephthalate is used for fleece clothing and carpeting. In Chapter 30, we learn about the preparation and properties of synthetic polymers like polyethylene terephthalate. 

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