Abstract: Insulation and filling material that includes a plurality of assemblages of a blend of a plurality of fiber are disclosed. The blend of fibers includes 20 to 80 wt % cellulosic fibers including a phase change material having a fiber size less than 6 denier and a specific latent heat of greater than 20 J/g in a temperature range from 15 to 45 degrees Celsius, and 20 to 80 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a fiber size less than 6 denier. The assemblages form three-dimensional structures with internal air spaces. The assemblages may be fiberballs or discrete longitudinally elongated floccules with a relatively open enlarged medial portion and relatively condensed twisted tail portions extending from opposing ends of the medial portion. The insulation or filling material has at least 0.8 clo/oz/sqyd.

Abstract: The invention provides a breathable structure that includes a fibrous substrate and a cross-linked polymer that contains hydrophobic moieties. The fibrous substrate contains a plurality of fibers, and the cross-linked polymer coats portions of the plurality of fibers.

Abstract: The invention provides migration resistant batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a first surface parallel to a second surface, and a fiber mixture that includes: 35 to 65 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 10 to 30 wt % spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers having a length of greater than or equal to 60 mm, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 20 to 50 wt % elastomeric fibers having a denier between 2.0 and 7.0; and 5 to 25 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0, said binder fibers have a bonding temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic polymeric fibers, wherein said first and second surfaces comprise a cross-linked resin. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

Abstract: The disclosure provides blowable insulation or filling material, and apparatus and methods for making same. The blowable insulation or filling material includes a plurality of discrete elongate floccules each formed of a plurality of fibers. The floccules include a relatively open enlarged medial portion. The floccules also include relatively condensed twisted tail portions extending from opposing ends of the medial portion. The floccules can be utilized by existing garment fill blowing machines without clogging thereof, and include a superior soft hand feel, thermal resistance and launderability. The floccules may be formed by forcing staple fibers through apertures of a rotating hollow drum to partially form the floccule structure within the drum. The partially formed floccules may be retained within the rotating drum for a dwell time to finalize the floccule structure.

Abstract: A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a synthetic biodegradation-enhanced fiber, methods of making such fiber, and articles including such fiber. The fiber includes a polymer material and 0.1 to 10 wt % one or more biodegradation additives at least partially contained within the polymer material. The biodegradation additives enhance the biodegradation rate of the polymer material in a biodegradation environment. The biodegradation additives may comprise at least one of an aliphatic-aromatic ester, a polylactide, an organoleptic, a monosaccharide, an aldohexose or a combination thereof. The synthetic fiber may be micro-denier fiber have a denier of less than or equal to 1, or macro-denier fiber having a denier greater than 1. The synthetic fiber may be siliconized.

Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic fiber that includes: 0.4 to 30 wt % hollow microcapsules having an average diameter of 4 to 30 ?m; and 70 to 99.6 wt % polymer material, wherein the synthetic fiber has a denier of 0.1 to 11.0. Also provided are yarn, insulation material, and articles that include the synthetic fiber, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: The disclosure provides blowable insulation or filling material, and apparatus and methods for making same. The blowable insulation or filling material includes a plurality of discrete elongate floccules each formed of a plurality of fibers. The floccules include a relatively open enlarged medial portion. The floccules also include relatively condensed twisted tail portions extending from opposing ends of the medial portion. The floccules can be utilized by existing garment fill blowing machines without clogging thereof, and include a superior soft hand feel, thermal resistance and launderability. The floccules may be formed by forcing staple fibers through apertures of a rotating hollow drum to partially form the floccule structure within the drum. The partially formed floccules may be retained within the rotating drum for a dwell time to finalize the floccule structure.

Abstract: Insulation comprises a plurality of reactive flaps that react to one or more external stimuli, e.g., humidity. The flaps are made up of a fiber mixture that includes: 20-80 wt % reactive bicomponent fibers that are reactive to an external stimulus, and have a first configuration in an unactivated state and a second configuration in an activated state, and wherein the bicomponent fibers can reversibly transform between the unactivated and activated states; 5-40 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0 denier; 0-75 wt % of a first population of synthetic fibers, being synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than 2.0 denier; and 0-75 wt % of a second population of synthetic fibers, being synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of 4.0 to 10.0 denier. Related articles and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Self-regulating insulative batting is provided. The batting includes a blend of a plurality of fibers including functional fibers and non-functional fibers. The plurality of fibers are non-woven and oriented substantially vertically along a thickness direction of the batting. The functional fibers are configured to self-regulate at least one insulative quality of the batting based on changes in at least one environmental condition interacting with the batting. At least one of the length and thickness of the functional fibers changes based on changes in at least one environmental condition interacting with the batting. Articles comprising the self-regulating batting and methods of making the self-regulating batting are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure provides blowable insulation or filling material, and apparatus and methods for making same. The blowable insulation or filling material includes a plurality of discrete elongate floccules each formed of a plurality of fibers. The floccules include a relatively open enlarged medial portion. The floccules also include relatively condensed twisted tail portions extending from opposing ends of the medial portion. The floccules can be utilized by existing garment fill blowing machines without clogging thereof, and include a superior soft hand feel, thermal resistance and launderability. The floccules may be formed by forcing staple fibers through apertures of a rotating hollow drum to partially form the floccule structure within the drum. The partially formed floccules may be retained within the rotating drum for a dwell time to finalize the floccule structure.

Abstract: A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

Abstract: A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.

Abstract: The disclosure provides blowable insulation or filling material, and apparatus and methods for making same. The blowable insulation or filling material includes a plurality of discrete elongate floccules each formed of a plurality of fibers. The floccules include a relatively open enlarged medial portion. The floccules also include relatively condensed twisted tail portions extending from opposing ends of the medial portion. The floccules can be utilized by existing garment fill blowing machines without clogging thereof, and include a superior soft hand feel, thermal resistance and launderability. The floccules may be formed by forcing staple fibers through apertures of a rotating hollow drum to partially form the floccule structure within the drum. The partially formed floccules may be retained within the rotating drum for a dwell time to finalize the floccule structure.

Abstract: The invention provides batting that includes a nonwoven web having a first surface parallel to a second surface. The nonwoven web is made up of a fiber mixture that includes: 25 to 75 wt % spiral-crimped siliconized synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of greater than 4 denier and less than 10 denier; and 20 to 75 wt % down treated with a durable water repellant, said down having a fill power of at least 550 in3/oz, and having a down cluster content of at least 85 wt %. Articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides migration resistant batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a first surface parallel to a second surface, and a fiber mixture that includes: 35 to 65 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 10 to 30 wt % spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers having a length of greater than or equal to 60 mm, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 20 to 50 wt % elastomeric fibers having a denier between 2.0 and 7.0; and 5 to 25 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0, said binder fibers have a bonding temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic polymeric fibers, wherein said first and second surfaces comprise a cross-linked resin. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

Abstract: The invention provides batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a specified fiber mixture, the non-woven web having 50 to 95 wt % of a plurality of fiberballs having an average diameter of 3.0 to 8.0 mm; and 5 to 50 wt % of a plurality of portions of the nonwoven web that are adjacent to one or more fiberballs but that do not themselves comprise one or more fiberballs or any portion thereof. The batting has a density of 2 to 12 kg/m3. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

Abstract: An insulation package and method ° fibrillation including a functional layer, a breathable water repellant insulating layer, and a highly breathable microporous membrane layer having a network of pores. The functional fabric, the highly breathable insulating layer and the microporous membrane layer are laminated to one another to form a waterproof breathable insulated fabric.

Abstract: An insulation package and method of formation including a functional layer, a breathable water repellant insulating layer, and a highly breathable microporous membrane layer having a network of pores. The functional fabric, the highly breathable insulating layer and the microporous membrane layer are laminated to one another to form a waterproof breathable insulated fabric.

Abstract: A blowable insulation material comprising natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls. The natural fibers and short cut synthetic fibers or fiber balls are individually treated with a water repellent to impart water repellency to the fibers, and later aerodynamically blended together. The water repellent fibers constitute a part or most of the blowable insulation material, thus enhancing the durability of the structure as well as water repellency, which may be advantageous during washing or laundering.