Abstract: Zeolite particles retaining antibacterial metal ion, such as Ag, Cu or Zn ion, at ion-exchangeable sites of the zeolite are included in a low-melting component of conjugated fibers which comprise a low-melting component and a high-melting component. Upon heating, the low-melting component spreads to cause more zeolite particles to be exposed, which yields higher antibacterial activity in a fiber article produced from the conjugated fibers.

Abstract: A fiber made of pitch having a percent elongation of about 2 percent or greater is made by melt spinning an optically isotropic pitch to form a fiber typically in the range of about 5 to about 50 microns diameter, treating the fiber with an oxidizing atmosphere, subsequently removing a certain portion of the oxidant thereby reducing the weight of the fiber, with the optional post-treatment step of repetitively stretching in the elastic range short of breakage to increase the percent elongation.

Abstract: A method for making hollow fibers having a selective permeability, wherein a majority of the hollow fibers each has on the periphery thereof 1 to 10 fins extending in the longitudinal direction, and the occupancy ratio y of the sections, defined by the peripheries, of all the hollow fibers exclusive of the fin portions in the hollow fiber bundle to the section, vertical to the axial direction of the hollow fiber bundle, of the inner wall of the shell is within a range defined by the following formula (I):41-3.1.sqroot..alpha.x.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.61-3.1.sqroot..alpha.x (I)wherein x stands for the average fin number per hollow fiber in the hollow fiber bundle, and .alpha. indicates the ratio H/d of the average fin height H (.mu.)in the hollow fiber bundle to the average outer diameter d (.mu.) of the hollow fibers exclusive of the fin portions.

Abstract: A process for producing a high modulus, high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate filament which comprises (1) spinning a solution of polyethylene terephthalate in an organic solvent through a die to produce a solution spun filament, wherein the polyethylene terephthalate has an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 1.0 dl/g and wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of (a) hexafluoroisopropanol, (b) trifluoroacetic acid, (c) mixed solvent systems containing from about 20 weight percent to about 99 weight percent hexafluoroisopropanol and from about 1 weight percent to about 80 weight percent dichloromethane, and (d) mixed solvent systems containing from about 20 weight percent to about 99 weight percent trifluoroacetic acid and from about 1 to about 80 weight percent dichloromethane; and (2) subsequently drawing the solution spun filament to a total draw ratio of at least about 7:1 to product the high modulus, high tenacity polyethylene terephthalate filament.

Abstract: A pitch-based carbon fiber having a high strength is produced by (a) treating a heavy oil at a temperature of 370.degree. to 480.degree. C. and a pressure of 2 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2 ; (b) separating and removing insoluble solids from the heat-treated oil so that the insoluble solids content is not higher than 50 ppm; (c) subjecting the oil to thin film distillation at a temperature of 250.degree. to 450.degree. C., a pressure of not higher than 100 mm Hg and a film thickness of not larger than 5 mm; (d) heat-treating the resulting pitch at a temperature of 340.degree. to 450.degree. C. while passing an inert gas at atmospheric or reduced pressure to obtain an optically anisotropic pitch having a softening point of 260.degree. to 300.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for preparing spin-oriented feed yarns that may be processed into flat yarns by draw-warping, involving the use of lower withdrawal speeds than customary hitherto for preparing spin-oriented feed yarns, and preferably low draw-tensions.

Abstract: A process for the production of highly elastic elastane fibers (spandex fibers) based on segmented polyurethane (urea) elastomers having high elasticity and, at the same time, high strength values, balanced elastic properties and excellent thermal and hydrothermal behavior, wherein relatively high molecular weight, carbonate-linked, block-like polyester of polyester etherdiols having molecular weight of 3,300 to 7,000 are reacted with macrodiols with diisocyanates in a molecular ratio of 1:2.5 to 1:4.5 to obtain NCO prepolymers which have NCO contents of 2.10 to 4.0% NCO, then the NCO prepolymer is chain-extended with (cyclo)-aliphatic diamines to fom polyurethane (urea) elastomers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a strip for carrying a plurality of small size electronic parts such as LED's enclosed hermetically in resin includes the formation of a grid-like conductor strip member by interconnecting lead wires for the electronic parts in a grid-like pattern. The conductor strip member is molded integrally with a strip segment in which the plurality of electronic parts are mutually connected by a runner member. A connecting portion is formed integrally at least at one end of the strip segment at a predetermined position such that while connecting the connecting portion of a first plastic strip segment with one end of a second plastic strip segment, wherein the predetermined position of the connecting portion is such that the distance between the preassigned mount locations for the small size electronic devices positioned on both sides of the connecting portion coincides with the predetermined pitch.

Abstract: A method for extruding silicone tubing which maintains consistently precise dimensions in the final tubing product by continuously monitoring the tubing profile after cooling and adjusting the height the loop of uncured tubing as necessary to neck the tubing down to the desired size.

Abstract: An improved dry spinning process for the production of polyurethane elastomer threads using superheated steam as the spinning medium, comprising(1) spinning polyurethane-urea elastomers prepared by chain lengthening of NCO prepolymers with diamine from a solution containing dimethylformamide or dimethylacetamide via a hot spinneret having a nozzle at not less than 100.degree. C. and at a spinning solution temperature in the nozzle of not less than 100.degree. C. into a heated spinning chimney at a chimney wall temperature of not less than 160.degree. C., while(2) introducing superheated steam into the spinning chimney at a temperature above 250.degree. C. as the spinning medium in an amount of at least 20 kg/h, if the chimney diameter is less than or equal to 28 cm, or if the chimney diameter is greater than 28 cm, in an amount of at least 20 kg/h increased by up to a factor H, wherein factor H is equal to the chimney cross-section/615 cm.sup.

Abstract: Processing by melt extrusion a surface-segregatable, melt-extrudable thermoplastic composition to form a fiber or film having a differential, increasing concentration of an additive from the center of the fiber or film to the surface thereof, which differential, increasing concentration imparts to the surface of the fiber or film at least one desired characteristic which otherwise would not be present, which composition includes at least one thermoplastic polymer and at least one defined additive. During formation of the fiber or film, the additive rapidly segregates in a controllable manner toward the newly-formed surface of the fiber or film, thereby resulting in a controllable differential concentration of the polymeric material, which concentration increases with increasing distance from the center of the fiber or film to its surface.

Abstract: A process for producing a modified ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyolefin composition, which comprises mixing a powder of an ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyolefin (A) having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 5 dl/g, a flowability improver (B) having a melting point lower than the melting point of the ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyolefin (A), a monomer (C) having an olefinically unsaturated bond and a radical initiator (D) with stirring at the melting point of the flowability improver (B) or a higher temperature but below the melting point of the ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyolefin (A), and then melt-kneading them at the melting point of the ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyolefin (A) or a higher temperature to react the monomer (C) with the ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyolefin (A).

Abstract: A carbon/carbon composite is produced by impregnating a primary-formed product consisting essentially of carbon fibers and a carbonized or graphitized matrix with a carboneceous pitch, heat-treating the thus-impregnated primary-formed product under hot isostatic pressing and carbonizing or graphitizing the thus heat-treated primary-formed product.

Abstract: Stretched articles of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene are prepared by melt-kneading a mixture of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene with an aliphatic compound (b.sub.1) of at least 8 carbon atoms having a melting point of at least 10.degree. C. and a boiling point of at least 130.degree. C. in a screw extruder while maintaining the mixture at a temperature from the melting point of the mixture to 300.degree. C. The molten mixture is melt-extruded through a die at a temperature from the melting point of the mixture to 300.degree. C. and the resulting unstretched extrudate is cooled to solidify it. The unstretched solidified extrudate is then subjected to a stretching treatment at a temperature of the melting point of the aliphatic compound (b.sub.1) to a point 20.degree. C. above the melting point of the mixture at a particular stretch ratio.

Abstract: A rapid method of infusibilizing (curing) preceramic polymers comprising treatment said polymers with gaseous nitrogen dioxide. The infusibilized polymers may be pyrolyzed to temperatures in excess of about 800.degree. C. to yield ceramic materials with low oxygen content and, thus, good thermal stability. The methods are especially useful for the production of ceramic fibers and, more specifically, to the on-line production of ceramic fibers.

Abstract: Acrylonitrile precursor fibers are subjected to a flame-resisting treatment, in an oxidizing atmosphere, while being elongated at least 3%, until a density of 1.22 g/cm.sup.3 is reached. The fibers are further treated to increase density up to 1.40 g/cm.sup.3, and then heat treated while undergoing further elongation, followed by higher temperature heat treatment while under tension. The resulting fibers have excellent properties, including high strand tenacity, high strand modulus, and high density.

Abstract: A sol gel reaction process for forming glassy articles involves the hydrolysis of silicon alkoxides with or without additional dispersions of hydrated silicon oxides, and polymerization including crosslinking. The present process involves forming glassy articles by the sol gel reaction route utilizes coagulation promoters having fatty acid hydrophobic moieties and hydrophilic moieties of primary, secondary, tertiary amines or quaternary ammonium compounds. The coagulation promoter catalyzes either and/or both of the hydrolysis and polymerization reactions. The coagulation promoter can be the only catalyst in forming the sol or can be used in addition to acid or basic catalyst. Additionally or alternatively, the coagulation promoter is added to a coagulation fluid to which shaped hydrolyzate is added.

Abstract: Cellulose derivative spinning solutions are provided, having an improved flow rate at comparable cellulose derivative content and pressure drop across the spinning nozzle, or a higher cellulose derivative content at comparable flow rate, comprising a cellulose derivative in solution in a solvent therefor, and a polyethylene glycol soluble in the solution and having an average molecular weight within the range from about 1.1 to about 4.5 million, in an amount to improve flow rate or increase cellulose derivative content; as well as a process for spinning such solutions through a spinning nozzle at improved flow rate or increased cellulose derivative content.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a partially-dissolvable and splittable conjugated microfiber with a cross-section having a matrix comprising orange-wedge shaped islands slightly connected with each other at the tips of the islands at a common matrix center. The conjugated fibers can be made into filaments and staple fibers. Filaments are spun, taken-up and then textured by means of a belt nip twister. The resulting texture yarns may then be partially dissolved, following weaving, to split. Staple fiber is processed into a non-woven fabric or, by spinning, to spun yarn and then by weaving thereof. The staple fibers can be made into fabrics such as suede fabrics, water-resistant and humidity-permeable high density fabrics, and peachskin fabrics.

Abstract: A process to detect the loss of a continuous spun web of plexifilament fibers exiting a forwarding apparatus depends on the manner in which the filament oscillate in a cross machine direction prior to depositing onto a collecting surface. The loss of these fibers, due to hang up in the filament forwarding device, can cause multiple position spinning machine loss due to the knock down of nearby spinning positions or wrap the sheet on forwarding rolls. The hang up in the forwarding device is referred to as a blow-up. This process detects the instant a blow-up occurs through the loss of electrostatic charge due to the absence of the oscillating swath at the sensor. When the instant charge is lost at the sensor, a signal indicates a blow-up has occurred.