| abstract |
THE INVENTION DISCLOSED RELATES TO THE PRODUCTION OF PILE FABRICS FROM SILVER KNIT FABRICS. THE PROCESS CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF CUTTING A LAYER OF PILE FIBRES FROM THE SILVER KNIT FABRIC, TRANSFERRING THE LAYER OF FIBRES TO A LAYER OF ADHESIVE AND PRESSING THE FIBRE ENDS INTO CONTACT WITH THE ADHESIVE AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE. THE HEAT AND PRESSURE ARE PREFERABLY APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THE ASSEMBLY OF PILE FIBRES AND ADHESIVE, FOR EXAMPLE BY A HEATED FLAT PRESS OR HEATED ROLLS. THE ADHESIVE LAYER MAY BE CARRIED ON A RELEASE SURFACE, FROM WHICH IT MAY BE STRIPPED AS A COHERENT FILM AFTER THE PILE FIBRES HAVE BEEN BONDED TO IT, OR IT MAY BE FORMED ON A PERMANENT BACKING SHEET, OR INDEED IT MAY BE FORMED IN SITU ON THE FIBRE ENDS THEMSELVES. A BACKING SHEET MAY BE BONDED TO THE ADHESIVE LAYER AFTER THE FIBRES HAVE BEEN BONDED TO IT. THE PROCESS YIELDS PILE FABRICS WHICH CAN BE USED IN MANY APPLICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE CLOTHING OR SHOE INDUSTRIES OR IN PAINT ROLLERS. |