Abstract: Carboxymethyl cellulose fiber having a degree of substitution of at least 0.1, preferably 0.2-0.5, carboxymethyl groups per glucose unit is derived from solvent-spun cellulose fiber, for example by reaction with a strong alkali and a monochloroacetate reagent. The fiber has an absorbency of at least 8 grams, usually at least 15 grams, 0.9% saline solution per gram of fibre and a tenacity of at least 10, usually at least 15, cN/tex. It can be used for absorbent personal products.

Abstract: Dyed cellulosic regenerated elongate members such as fibers are produced by dyeing the regenerated members with a cationic direct dye after formation but before first drying. A method of producing the dyed elongate members comprises forming a dope containing cellulose or a cellulose compound in solution in a solvent, extruding the dope through at least one orifice into a bath containing water to form an elongate extrudate from which solvent is dissolved and/or the cellulose compound is converted to cellulose so as to form the elongate member, dyeing the formed but never dried elongate member with a cationic direct dye and optionally also with an anionic direct dye and then drying for the first time the dyed elongate member.

Abstract: Viscose filaments, preferably in staple fibre form, which have a decitex of less than 5.0 and a multi-limbed cross-section, the limbs having a length-to-width aspect ratio of at least 2:1. Examples of multi-limbed cross-sectional shapes are Y--, X--, H-- and T-- shapes. The fibre can be formed into woven, non-woven or knitted fabrics, and is especially useful for absorbent products.

Abstract: Regenerated cellulosic fibers are delustered by the incorporation therein of hollow beads, suitably spherical beads of a diameter between 1.5 and 0.25 microns which have water permeable walls.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for providing a solvent-spun cellulose fibre with a reduced fibrillation tendency. The fibre is treated with a chemical reagent, preferably substantially colourless, having 2 to 6 functional groups reactive with cellulose, suitably dissolved in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: Triazine compounds useful as flame retardants have the formula: ##STR1## where Am represents an amino group, Pp represents a phosphonate group and Z represents an amino group or a phosphonate group, or are polymers comprising repeating units of the formula: ##STR2## where ##STR3## is a diamine residue. The triazine compounds are used as flame retardants in plastics materials, particularly polyurethane foam or artificial fibres, or in intumescent fire protection compositions.

Abstract: Regenerated cellulose fiber with a reduced tendency to fibrillation can be prepared by treating never-dried fiber with an aqueous solution or dispersion of a polymer having a plurality of cationic ionisable groups. Suitable polymers include those carrying imidazoline and azetidinium groups. The fiber may additionally be treated with an aqueous emulsion of an emulsifiable polymer.

Abstract: Viscose filaments, preferably in staple fibre form, which have a decitex of less than 5.0 and a multi-limbed cross-section, the limbs having a length-to-width aspect ratio of at least 2:1. Examples of multi-limbed cross-sectional shapes are Y-, X-, H- and T-shapes. The fibre can be formed into woven, non-woven or knitted fabrics, and is especially useful for absorbent products.

Abstract: The absorbency of regenerated viscose filaments is improved by overfeeding a continuous tow of partially regenerated filaments onto a moving foraminous support so that regeneration occurs prior to and after the filament tow is overfed onto the moving support.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions of an amine N-oxide such as N-methyl morpholine N-oxide used in the manufacture of regenerated cellulose can be purified by passage through a strongly basic anion-exchange resin. The resin is regenerated by treatment with (1) an aqueous solution of a strong inorganic acid such as hydrochloric or sulphuric acid and (2) an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.

Abstract: An elongate member of cellulosic material, such as fiber, having a reduced tendency to fibrillation is produced by a solvent-spinning process which includes the steps of: (i) dissolving cellulose in a solvent miscible with water to produce a dope; (ii) forcing the dope through at least one orifice to produce an elongate form; (iii) passing the elongate form through at least one water-containing bath to remove the solvent and produce the elongate member, and (iv) drying the elongate member to produce a dry elongate member, and is characterized in that the pH of each of the baths through which the elongate form and the elongate member pass during processing between production of the elongate form and the drying of the elongate member is maintained at a figure of 8.5 or less.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for providing a solvent-spun cellulose fiber with a reduced fibrillation tendency. The fiber is treated with a chemical reagent, preferably substantially colorless, having 2 to 6 functional groups reactive with cellulose, suitably dissolved in an aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of knitting a double needle bed fabric in which an inlay thread or yarn 12 is interlaced into the fabric by transferring stitches from the active needles (10) of one needle bed to the needles of the other bed. In this way the inlay 12 is interlaced or "woven" into the fabric without actually forming loops in the inlay 12. This enables materials that cannot be knitted to be incorporated into fabrics securely.

Abstract: An inflatable pressure vessel (1), which may be a decompression chamber for treating divers, has a flexible elongate casing (2) made of a silicone elastomer material reinforced with windings of reinforcing filaments and one or more removable end members (7,8) to provide access. An end member may be a rigid plate which seals against a frame (3,4) defining the entrance under internal vessel pressure. A transparent plastic plate gives illumination and allows inspection of a diver under treatment in a decompression chamber. Two pressure vessels (31,32) may be connected by a linking element (24) comprising a male part (25) which seals within a female part (33,34) under internal pressure and which has inter-engaging projections (29,35) and depressions (30,36) to prevent the parts from sliding apart axially under that pressure.

Abstract: A laminated fabric suitable as a thermal insulator or fire barrier. The fabric comprises a layer (10) of a knitted glass fabric, to provide flexibility, and layers of heat reflecting materials (11), to reflect the heat, and woven glass fabric (12) to provide an effective thermal barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a flexible sheet workpiece is disclosed. The apparatus includes workstations arranged in at least two parallel series. Each workstation is adapted to carry out at least one operation on the workpiece, which can then be transferred to the next workstation in the series or, if desired, from a workstation in one series to a workstation in an adjacent series across an interchange area between the two series.

Abstract: A process for making cellulose acetate from wood pulp takes wet wood pulp and instead of converting it into dry pulp sheet which is the usual feedstock for acetate, dries and mechanically separates the pulp into a cellulose flock using a pin mill through which a hot drying gas is passed. Deactivation of the cellulose is avoided by control of the drying gas exit temperature to 80.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. and of the moisture content of the cellulose flock to 4 to 15% by weight. The flock produced may be acetylated directly without any need for reactivation treatments additional to the normal activation with acetic acid.

Abstract: A composite element comprising a reinforcing fabric framework comprising at least one assembly of separate tubular fabric formations bonded in an impregnating synthetic resin material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for determining the periodicity of a changeable characteristic of a textile fabric. The method includes the steps of sensing a property related to the characteristic at pairs of positions which are spaced apart by a distance, S, along a length of the fabric and generating signals representative of the magnitude of the property at the positions. The generated signal values are stored and the products of the signals generated at each pair of positions are summed in accordance with the formula:.SIGMA.X.sub.(y) .multidot.X.sub.(y+s)from y=O to y=Ywhere the parameters are defined in the specification. These steps are repeated for different dimensions, S. The value of S at which the summation of the signals is a maximum is determined and used to generate an output signal representing the value of the periodicity.

Abstract: A highly filled yarn is formed by melt spinning a thermoplastic fibre-forming polymer containing at least 25% by weight of a particulate filler through a spinneret to form a continuous multi-filament yarn. The filaments are drawn away from the spinneret at a rate sufficient to orientate the yarn at least partially. The filaments pass around a guide between the spinneret and the draw means; the direction of travel of the filaments is diverted by means of the guide through an angle of at least 30.degree.. The yarns produced have increased strength and decreased extensibility.