Abstract: The invention is concerned with the production of filaments or fibers each of which carries a recognizable "signature" (encoding). These filaments or fibers are produced by taking a film (preferably a plastics film) applying a code directly onto the film across the effective width of the film and then dividing the film substantially at right angles to the code into longitudinal filaments, so that the encoding is then present in each of the filament in exactly the same "signature" as in the code applied to the film.

Abstract: A fibrefill blend comprising, and a bonded batt formed from, (a) from 90 to 50% by weight of slickened crimped hollow polyester fibre having a cavity volume of 10 to 30% and, complementally, to total 100% conjugate fibre, the hollow polyester fibres and the conjugate binding fibres having substantially the same density and decitex (and so diameter).

Abstract: A coverstock fabric comprising an area-bonded non-woven fabric containing a plurality of homofilament staple fibres and a plurality of heterofilament staple fibres, the fabric having a soak through less than 3.5 seconds, a re-wet moisture less than 0.2 grams and a K factor less than 0.6 and preferably less than 0.4.

Abstract: A bonded non-woven fabric comprises a non-woven layer containing multicomponent, preferably bicomponent, fibers or filaments bonded to each other at cross-over points by means of adhesive derived from at least one of the components, with flock fibers bonded to at least some of the fibers or filaments of the non-woven layer, said flock fibers being oriented in all directions and some, preferably most of the flock fibers penetrating into or through the non-woven layer.A method of making such non-woven fabrics comprises forming and bonding a non-woven layer of multicomponent fibers or filaments, applying adhesive thereto, applying flock fibers, preferably as a suspension in a gaseous fluid, and finally drying or curing the adhesive.