Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer monofilament oriented from 3.0-6.0 times its original length having a diameter of 125-600 microns and containing 0.2-5.0% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament, of glitter particles or film particles having a particle size of 50-400 microns in its longest diameter, a thickness of 2-50 microns and having a diameter to thickness ratio of at least 2 to 1 and wherein the longest diameter of the particle is not greater than 80% of the diameter of the monofilament and that provide the monofilament with an attractive appearance. A core sheath monofilament is also part of this invention wherein the core is a thermoplastic polymer monofilament having a sheath of the same or different thermoplastic polymer containing the above described particles. These monofilaments are particularly useful in toothbrushes and cosmetic brushes.

Abstract: The monofilament of this invention is a polyamide of polyhexamethylene adipamide oriented from 1.0-4.0 times its original length, has a diameter of 400-1600 microns and contains 2-20% by weight, based on the weight polyamide of the monofilament, of an alkyl aryl sulfonamide plasticizer and 5.0-40.0% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament, of abrasive particles having a particle size of 10-400 microns. These monofilaments are particularly useful as bristles used in brushes that are operated under dry conditions at relatively high temperatures.

Abstract: A powdered super absorbent polymer (SAP) has heretofore been used as a water retentive material for sanitary products, such as sanitary napkin, disposable diaper and incontinence pad. This water retentive material is used by being held between two paper sheets but the powdered SAP comes off easily from absorbent member. Moreover, even when the SAP is in a dried powdered state or in a water-absorbed gel state, it is moved between a top sheet and a back sheet in accordance with the movement of a wearer of the sanitary product. Consequently, water absorbency decreases with poor shape stability. Moreover, since the SAP in a water-absorbed gel state is sticky, the wearer feels unpleasant. According to the present invention, therefore, a cellulose fiber, such as a viscose rayon fiber containing uniformly a non-cellulose based material of high water absorbency such as polyacrylate salt is manufactured.

Abstract: Polyester carpets of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) are disclosed which have excellent stain-resistance, texture retention and resistance to crushing. The bulked continuous filament yarn used to make the carpets and the process for making the yarns are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is lyocell fiber characterized by a pebbled surface as seen at high magnification and having a variable cross section and diameter along and between fibers. The fiber is produced by centrifugal spinning, meltblowing or its spunbonding variation. The fibers can be made in the microdenier range with average weights as low as one denier or less. The fibers have inherently low gloss and can be formed into tight yarns for making fabrics of very soft hand. Alternatively, the fibers can be formed into self bonded nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: A water-retentive sheet manufactured from a cellulose based fiber of high water-retentivity. The cellulose based fiber of high water rententivity includes a core formed from a component of non-cellulose based material of high absorbency uniformly contained in a cellulose fiber and a sheath formed around the core and formed from cellulose based fiber. The cellulose fiber can be viscose rayon and the non-cellulose based material of high absorbency can be polyacrylate salt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to thermo-expandable fibers and to the expanded hollow fibers or microtubes, microcellular foam or foamed composite material that results upon heating the expandable fibers. The thermo-expandable fiber of the present invention is characterized by having a polymeric wall surrounding one or more pockets or particles of blowing agent or propellant within the fiber. The polymeric wall may have reactive functional groups on its surface to give a fusible fiber. When the expandable fibers are heated, they expand to form hollow fibers or microtubes comprising polymeric shells surrounding one or more internal gaseous voids, and when the fibers are expanded while in contact with each other, a microcellular foam may be formed. The foam consists of a plurality of hollow fibers fused together, optionally aided by functional groups present on the surface of the heated fibers that act to crosslink the material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypropylene copolymer alloys which are especially suited for soft fiber and fabric applications. These alloys comprise an ethylene-propylene random copolymer having an ethylene content of from about 1.0 to 5.0% by weight, in an amount of from about 40 to 90% by weight of the alloy; and an ethylene-propylene bipolymer having an ethylene content of from about 10 to 30% by weight, in an amount of from about 10 to 60% by weight of the alloy. The present invention further relates to fiber and fabric articles made from such alloys.

Abstract: The present invention describes a composition containing cellulose formate and a solvent system. The composition is a solution at a temperature of at least equal to a value Tf, while the composition is an elastic, thermoreversible gel at a temperature appreciably less than Tf. The present invention further describes a process for preparing a regenerated cellulose article by the transformation of this composition. The composition is then formed into a fiber or a film by gelation. The resulting regenerated cellulose fibers have excellent resistance to fibrillation, in particular wherein the fiber may be a monofilament fiber. These fibers or films may be used in textile applications or in technical applications, for example to reinforce other articles, such as tires.

Abstract: Separable nanotubes are made from a transition metal oxide, preferably from a vanadium oxide of variable valence. They show a greater oxidation resistance than the carbon-based nanotubes known so far and offer many new and economic applications. The inventive nanotubes clearly show oxidation-reduction activities and are particularly suited as an active material for catalytic reactions.

Abstract: This invention pertains to melt spun fibers of copolymers formed from tetra-fluoro ethylene and perfluorovinyl monomers and a process for their formation. In the process of this invention fibers exhibiting high strength and low shrinkage are drawn from the melt at SSFs of at least 500×.

Abstract: The present invention provides cellulosic fibers having high wet bulk and methods for their preparation. In one embodiment, the invention provides cellulosic fibers catalytically crosslinked with glyoxal and, optionally, a glycol. In another embodiment, cellulosic fibers are crosslinked with a combination of glyoxal and a glyoxal-derived resin selected from the group consisting of a glyoxal/polyol condensate, a cyclic urea/glyoxal/polyol condensate, a cyclic urea/glyoxal condensate, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: In a core-shroud bicomponent fiber, which exhibits a core and a shroud at least partially enveloping the core, an elevated abrasion behavior, a low compaction under exposure to temperature and pressure and a high strength of the fibers is achieved by having the shroud consist of 45-98% w/w of a first polyamide having a melting point exceeding 280° C., and 2-20% w/w of a layer silicate.

Abstract: A process for producing a filament assembly composed of a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, which comprises melt extruding a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer through an orifice nozzle into a high-speed fluid to thereby hold filaments spun right under the spinning nozzle at a high temperature, so that the filaments are taken up at a high draft ratio by the frictional force of the high-speed fluid.

Abstract: Described is a fragrance-containing and fragrance-emitting polymeric fiber which optionally contains (i) at least one antimicrobial agent; and (ii) at least one compatible coloring material or color-forming material which is useful in the ascertainment of the exhaustion or substantial reduction of fragrance, produced by either (i) a processing comprising the steps of: (a) co-extruding fragrance and optionally (i) antimicrobial agent and/or (ii) at least one compatible coloring material or color-forming material which is useful for ascertainment of the exhaustion or substantial reduction of fragrance with a thermoplastic polymer to form an extrudate; (b) forming fragrance and (optionally (i) antimicrobial agent and/or (ii) at least one compatible coloring material or color-forming material which is useful for ascertainment of the exhaustion or substantial reduction of fragrance agent)-emitting particles which may or may not be foamed from the extrudate; and (c) extruding a fiber of from about 3 denier up to

Abstract: This invention provides a fiber comprising a polyurethaneurea and layers delaminated from a lamellar clay, said layers being dispersed in said polyurethaneurea.

Abstract: There is provided in accordance with the present invention a helically crimped conjugate fiber containing at least a first composition and a second composition. The first and second compositions respectively contain different thermoplastic polymer having different solidification periods, and at least one of the two compositions contains a nucleating agent. Additionally provided is a process for controlling the level of crimps in the conjugate fiber.

Abstract: A water-retentive sheath manufactured from a cellulose based fiber of high water-retentivity. The cellulose based fiber of high water rententivity includes a component of a non-cellulose based material of high absorbency uniformly contained in a cellulose fiber and a single component of cellulose; and these two components are attached together side by side. The cellulose fiber can be viscose rayon and the non-cellulose based material of high absorbency can be polyacrylate salt.

Abstract: A reflecting warp-knit slide fastener tape is knitted with several kinds of knitting patterns. A marginal portion onto which fastener elements are attached extends along one longitudinal edge of the tape. The marginal portion is formed by tricot-stitch yarns, weft-inlaid yarns, and chain-stitch yarns which prevent the marginal portion from stretching. In the web portion, in addition to the tricot-stitch yarns and the weft-inlaid yarns one or more reflective members, which is in the form of a strip of retroreflective or light-reserve reflective film, are knitted in between wales contiguous to the marginal portion. The reflective members are sandwiched between the weft-inlaid and tricot-stitch yarns. The tricot-stitch yarns are transparent synthetic fiber yarns in order not to obstruct the reflecting feature of the reflective members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable wiping article. The wiping article may be single-layer (single-ply), or multi-layer (multi-ply). At least one layer (the only layer in a single-layer wiping article) is a primary layer and is wet extensible. A discontinuous coating is applied to selected portions of the wet extensible primary layer and cured to form a constraining component which inhibits wet extension of the primary layer in the plane of the primary layer. As a result, the primary layer deforms, such as by buckling or puckering, in the Z-direction (perpendicular to the plane of the primary layer), resulting in increased caliper, bulk, and texture. In one embodiment, more than one primary layer may be used in a single wiping article.