Nonwoven textile fabrics in accordance with the present invention are formed primarily of individualized bast fibers substantially free of pectin. The nonwoven fabric can include staple fibers to a lesser extent than the individualized bast fibers. Individualized bast fibers include fibers derived from the flax and hemp plants. The nonwoven textile fabric is formed into a web while in a dry state and subsequently bonded to produce a nonwoven fabric.

A method produces a flat semi-finished product from a fiber composite material that contains individual carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles, or a mixture thereof in a defined anisotropic fiber orientation and a thermoplastic matrix material. The anisotropy of the carbon fibers is created in a carding process using the high orientability of admixed non-carbon textile fibers, at least some of the non-carbon textile fibers being thermoplastic, and the carbon fibers having been isolated from waste or used parts. The flat fibrous web which is produced by a carding process and which has a specific orientation of the carbon fibers in the longitudinal direction is compressed into a sheet material under the effect of heat. This enables the use of carbon fibers, for example from production waste, as reinforcing fibers, whereby a less expensive raw material is provided and the carbon fibers are contained in the waste materials are recycled.

A method produces a flat semi-finished product from a fiber composite material that contains individual carbon fibers, carbon fiber bundles, or a mixture thereof in a defined anisotropic fiber orientation and a thermoplastic matrix material. The anisotropy of the carbon fibers is created in a carding process using the high orientability of admixed non-carbon textile fibers, at least some of the non-carbon textile fibers being thermoplastic, and the carbon fibers having been isolated from waste or used parts. The flat fibrous web which is produced by a carding process and which has a specific orientation of the carbon fibers in the longitudinal direction is compressed into a sheet material under the effect of heat. This enables the use of carbon fibers, for example from production waste, as reinforcing fibers, whereby a less expensive raw material is provided and the carbon fibers are contained in the waste materials are recycled.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a knitting machine having a processor programmed to cause the knitting machine to knit a wool pile fabric having a plurality of footwear components and simultaneously knitting wool fibers and a scrim to form the wool pile fabric including the footwear components.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a knitting machine having a processor programmed to cause the knitting machine to knit a wool pile fabric having a plurality of footwear components and simultaneously knitting wool fibers and a scrim to form the wool pile fabric including the footwear components.

A yarn comprising gel forming filaments or fibers particularly one used to make a woven or knitted wound dressing or other gelling fabric structure. The invention provides a yarn comprising a blend of from 30% to 100% by weight of gel-forming fibers and 0% to 70% by weight of textile fibers. Process for making the yarns are also described including those using rotor spinning.

A yarn comprising gel forming filaments or fibers particularly one used to make a woven or knitted wound dressing or other gelling fabric structure. The invention provides a yarn comprising a blend of from 30% to 100% by weight of gel-forming fibers and 0% to 70% by weight of textile fibers. Process for making the yarns are also described including those using rotor spinning.

A nonwoven material is composed of a nonwoven batt of a plurality of bundles formed of carbon fibers. At least some of the bundles have a curved progression that includes a curved vertex area of a first curvature between the bundle ends and at least one bundle end area of a second curvature extending from said one bundle end to the vertex. The first curvature is greater than the second curvature, in particular it is greater by at least 50%.

A nonwoven material is composed of a nonwoven batt of a plurality of bundles formed of carbon fibers. At least some of the bundles have a curved progression that includes a curved vertex area of a first curvature between the bundle ends and at least one bundle end area of a second curvature extending from said one bundle end to the vertex. The first curvature is greater than the second curvature, in particular it is greater by at least 50%.

This invention relates to polyvinyl alcohol fibers, methods of making polyvinyl alcohol fibers and products manufactured from polyvinyl alcohol fibers. The invention relates particularly but not exclusively to products comprising extruded polyvinyl alcohol fibers, methods of making extruded polyvinyl alcohol fibers and products incorporating such fibers.