Abstract: A low density body such as a sheet, board or molding usable as a cushioning material, heat-insulating material, sound-absorbing material, filter, low density base paper or the like is provided. The low density body having a density of 0.05 to 0.45 g/cm.sup.3 is prepared by dewatering a slurry containing fine fibers having a bond-reinforcing factor of at least 0.15 and curled fibers having a wet curl factor of 0.4 to 1.0, and drying the resultant product.

Abstract: A hollow monofilament of a high temperature spinnable thermoplastic such as Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) which is substantially hollow by up to about 80% by volume and has an outer diameter in the range from about 0.07 to 0.80 mm. is used in the construction of braiding in substitution for solid monofilaments with the advantage of lower cost and increased abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A monofilament prepared from a vinylidene fluoride resin and satisfying the following relationship between the elastic modulus at a tensile elongation of 15% (Y15) and the initial elastic modulus (Y0): 0.85.ltoreq.(Y15/Y0).ltoreq.1.3, and a Y15 value ranging from 200 to 350 kg/mm.sup.2 ; and a fishing line prepared from the monofilament and having a feature that undesirable curling is difficult to occur and, even when curling occurs, it can be readily relieved.

Abstract: A carpet yarn is a plurality of fibers spun from a multiconstituent polymer alloy composed of 60 wt. % or more of nylon 6; up to about 37 wt. % of a stereoregular polyolefin having a melt flow index of from about 2 to about 100; and 3-37 wt. % of a polyolefin that is at least partially modified by one or more type of polar monomer. Upon steam heatsetting at about 124.degree. C., the yarn shrinks less than about 20%.

Abstract: The internal channels (22) of wicking fibers (20) are filled with a selected liquid (18) form of a prepolymerized polymer or monomers and related reagents and then the polymerization reaction is carried out under suitable conditions to form a fiber with desired properties. Fibers with the properties of the formed polymeric products are conveniently obtained thereafter. This provides a convenient way to obtain engineered fibers by directly polymerizing the monomers in the wicking fiber (20) channels (22). The wicking fibers (20) include internal longitudinal cavities or channels (22) each with a relatively small longitudinal extending opening (24). The wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected liquid through capillary action by which the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected liquid, with which they comes into contact, through the internal cavities (22).

Abstract: This invention is a poly(vinyl alcohol) microfibrillar short fiber and its method of preparation, especially manufacturing a microfibrillar poly(vinyl alcohol) short fiber having high tensile strength, high tensile modulus, high fineness, and excellent alkali resistance using a special saponifying agent and through an advanced mechanical shearing operation in the course of saponification of poly(vinyl pivalate) to poly(vinyl alcohol) without requiring spinning, drawing, and heat treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to thermoformable ion-sensitive compositions having improved processability. In addition, the present invention is directed to a process of making water-dispersible fibers, films and fabrics, which maintain their structural integrity and strength when in use, but dissolve and disperse when placed in contact with large amounts of water, such as in a conventional sink or toilet. Moreover, the present invention is directed to water-dispersible products, including flushable products such as personal care products, diapers, incontinence devices, release liners, feminine napkins, product packaging, etc., which contain fibers, films and fabrics formed from the water-sensitive compositions.

Abstract: A nonwoven filter media or mat (10) formed from a plurality of elongated generally hollow fibers (20) each having an internal cavity (22) which has an opening (24), smaller than the cavity width, to the fiber (20) surface and each retaining within the internal cavity (22) an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be a large number of relatively small conductive solid particles (18). The small solid particles (18), which can be graphite are permanently entrapped within the longitudinal cavities (22) of the fibers (20) without the use of an adhesive. The electrically conductive material can also be a selected liquid. In the case of a liquid, the wicking fibers (20) are filled with the selected conductive liquid through capillary action by which the individual wicking fibers (20) rapidly draw the selected electrically conductive liquid, with which they come into contact, through the internal cavities (22).

Abstract: A PTFE fiber that is adapted to be sewn at high speeds. The fiber has a toughness greater than about 0.36 grams per denier (g/d). A range for the toughness is from about 0.36 to about 1.01 g/d, with a preferred range being from about 0.50 to about 0.80 g/d. The toughness of the inventive PTFE fiber is most preferably about 0.60 g/d. The inventive fiber has a peak engineering stress greater than about 1.6 g/d and a break strain greater than about 15.5 percent. A preferred range for the peak engineering stress is from about 3.0 g/d to about 5.0 g/d, and a preferred range for the break strain is from about 20 percent to about 50 percent. Most preferably, the peak engineering stress is about 4.4 g/d, and the break strain is about 24 percent. In another aspect, this invention provides a process for making a fiber that involves providing a PTFE fiber and heating the PTFE fiber to a temperature of from about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A silk nanofiber composite network produced by forming a solution of silk fiber and hexafluroisopropanol, wherein the step of forming is devoid of any acid treatment, where the silk solution has a concentration of about 0.2 to about 1.5 weight percent silk in hexafluroisopropanol, and where the silk is selected from Bombyx mori silk and Nephila clavipes silk; and electrospinning the solution, thereby forming a non-woven network of nanofibers having a diameter in the range from about 2 to about 2000 nanometers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing polyarylene sulfide fibers, particularly polyphenylene sulfide fibers, comprising melt blowing a blend of polyarylene sulfide and a polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin is present in the blend in an amount of up to about 40% by weight of the total blend. The present invention also provides fibers, webs, and other products prepared in accordance with the present inventive method.

Abstract: A high surface area carbon nanofiber is provided. The carbon nanofiber has an outer surface on which a porous high surface area layer is formed. A method of making the high surface area carbon nanofiber includes pyrolizing a polymeric coating substance provided on the outer surface of the carbon nanofiber at a temperature below the temperature at which the polymeric coating substance melts. The polymeric coating substance used as the high surface area around the carbon nanofiber may include phenolics-formaldehyde, polyacrylonitrile, styrene, divinyl benzene, cellulosic polymers and cyclotrimerized diethynyl benzene. The high surface area polymer which covers the carbon nanofiber may be functionalized with one or more functional groups.

Abstract: A yarn having good entanglement and good quality, preferably a multifilament polyamide yarn, a method for making the yarn, and a woven fabric made from the yarn wherein the yarn comprises the following properties: the yarn length per defect is greater than or equal to about 3000 meters per defect; the maximum skip length is less than or equal to about 120 millimeters; the ratio between yarn length per defect to maximum skip length is greater than or equal to about 50; the entanglements per meter times the average entanglement strength is greater than or equal to about 120; and the yarn can be woven sizeless. The yarn of the invention is useful in the sizeless weaving of fabric used in air bags.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber made of cellulose formate which exhibits high tenacity and modulus properties, combined with improved values of elongation at break and of energy at break. The elongation at break, in particular, is greater than 6%. The invention also provides a method of producing the fiber by spinning a liquid crystal solution of cellulose formate according to the so-called dry-jet-wet spinning method, the coagulation stage and the neutral washing stage which follow both being carried out in acetone.

Abstract: Yarns of melt-spun polymeric filaments are rapidly quenched, whereby the filaments are cooled by quenching gas that is accelerated along the threadline by being passed through a tube of reduced dimensions with the filaments before they emerge. In particular, a yarn is produced which has an elongation to break of about 100% or more. The yarn is comprised of filaments numbering from 25 to 150. The filaments are less than 4 denier per filament and makeup yarns having low denier spread.

Abstract: Undrawn, tough, durably melt-bondable, macrodenier, thermoplastic, multicomponent filaments, such as sheath-core and side-by-side filaments, comprising a first plastic component and a second lower-melting component defining all or at least part of the material-air boundary of the filaments. The filaments can be made by melt-extruding thermoplastics to form hot filaments, cooling and solidifying the hot filaments, and recovering the solidified filaments without any substantial tension being placed thereon. Aggregations of the filaments can be made in the form of floor matting and abrasive articles.

Abstract: A plurality of glass fiber strands are parallel-arranged and primary-twisted into a primary twist yarn. A plurality of the primary twist yarns are parallel-arranged, are dipped in an adhesion treatment liquid containing as a main ingredient a mixture of a precondensate of resorcine formaldehyde and latex, are returned from the liquid and are then subjected to heat treatment. Thereafter, the plurality of primary twist yarns are final-twisted thereby forming a tension member for belt having a large adhesive property between the adjacent primary twist yarns.

Abstract: A multifilament pintle wire comprises a polyolefin material optionally in combination with another material.

Abstract: A mat, in which a pile yarn is tufted onto a base cloth and the entire or a part of pile shape is a cut pile. A part of or the entire pile yarn on a mat surface comprises a twist yarn formed by twisting two or more temporary twist yarns together. Each temporary twist yarn is formed by twisting a paralleled yarn comprising a great number of single yarns of one-kind fiber selected voluntarily from BCF nylon, vinylon, rayon, acryl, polyester and cotton; and one or more nylon monofilament single yarns. A number of kind of paralleled yarn fiber is one or two or larger in the entire temporary twist yarn of the twist yarn. In this mat, merits of both: conventional outdoor and indoor mats, can be provided and demerits of them can be compensated.

Abstract: Diverse dyeable polypropylene fibers are manufactured by making polypropylene resin composition chips by dispersing 100 parts by weight of polypropylene, 1-10 parts by weight of semi-crystalline functional high polymer, 0.05-5 parts by weight of amorphous functional polymer, and 0.1-3 parts by weight additives and melting and spinning the polypropylene resin composition chips.