US Patent 7641962 Fibre privacy or room-divider panel

Rigid, non-woven fibre panels that are used as privacy screens, partitioning, room dividers or as workstation surrounds, for example, are described. The panels are strong and may be self supporting, have good acoustic properties, and preferably have a substantially smooth surface. They are made from a single, substantially homogeneous, layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres, of which a substantial proportion may be of recycled PET. The panels are generally produced by mixing PET fibres into a web, which is then carded, cross-lapped, needle punched, calendered and thermally bonded, preferably using a heated roller.