Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fiber blend useful in the manufacture of carpet yarn used for pile in carpet construction. The blend includes, by weight based on the weight of the total blend, about 40% to about 70% normally crimped fibers, about 5% to about 50% crimpset fibers and about 4% to about 40% high shrinkage fibers having a shrinkage value of from about 15% to about 50%. Carpets including pile yarn formed from the blends of the present invention exhibit superior resistance to watermarking as well as other desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A process is described whereby steel wire is made into killed twisted strand or cord having essentially no retained tensile, bending or torsional stresses which comprises twisting a plurality of steel wires to form a strand or cord, austenitizing and simultaneously homogenizing the alloy, quenching the homogenized steel strand or cord along a straight path during martensitic transformation to provide a quenched martensitic structure, essentially to the exclusion of retained austenite and, thereafter, tempering the quenched martensite to provide optimum strength and ductility. The twisted strand or cord resulting from the mechanical and heat treatment possesses nearly optimized strength properties of the alloy employed, while having no retained tensile, bending or torsional stresses and is suitable for application in steel reinforced composite and in particular as tire cord.