STIFF FABRIC COMPOSITE AND METHOD OF MAKING

摘要

2102412 9221806 PCTABS00017 A woven or non-woven fibrous material (18) has a substrate (22) formed of first (30) and second (32) thermoplastic fibers. The fabric (18) is passed through an oven (50) at a temperature sufficient to melt the first fibers (30) thereby fusing at least some of the first fibers (30) and second fibers (32) one to the other. The second fibers (32) retain their discrete definition within the composite whereby the composite is provided such that, when cut for use, for example, to form a slat (16) of vertical blind (10) or a wall panel (fig. 2A), the composite (18) retains its shape.