A method for producing a filling material comprising goose and/or duck down and vegetable kapok fibres comprises feeding vegetable kapok fibre to a mixing chamber (16), separating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other from the vegetable kapok fibre in the mixing chamber (16) by directing jets and/or blades of a pressurized fluid against the vegetable kapok fibre, feeding goose and/or duck down to the mixing chamber (16) and incorporating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other into the flakes (101) of goose and/or duck down (100) by mixing the elementary kapok filaments (210) and the goose and/or duck down in the mixing chamber (16) by means of said jets and/or blades of pressurized fluid fed for example by suitably oriented nozzles (33).

A method for producing a filling material comprising goose and/or duck down and vegetable kapok fibres comprises feeding vegetable kapok fibre to a mixing chamber (16), separating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other from the vegetable kapok fibre in the mixing chamber (16) by directing jets and/or blades of a pressurized fluid against the vegetable kapok fibre, feeding goose and/or duck down to the mixing chamber (16) and incorporating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other into the flakes (101) of goose and/or duck down (100) by mixing the elementary kapok filaments (210) and the goose and/or duck down in the mixing chamber (16) by means of said jets and/or blades of pressurized fluid fed for example by suitably oriented nozzles (33).

A method for producing water repellent down includes soaking cleaned down in an aqueous solution having a pH ranging from 4 to 7; adding to the solution a cross-linking agent composed of a material having an isocyanate or acrylic acid functional group to provide a solution having a weight ratio of the down and the cross-linking agent ranging between 1:0.005 and 1:0.06; adding to the solution a water-drawing agent composed of a material having a siloxane functional group to provide a solution having a weight ratio of the down and the water-drawing agent ranging between 1:0.01 and 1:0.1; stirring the solution for at least 15 minutes to react the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent and form a water repellent layer on the surface of the down; separating the down from the solution; and oven drying the down with hot air having a temperature of at least 120° C.

A method for producing water repellent down includes soaking cleaned down in an aqueous solution having a pH ranging from 4 to 7; adding to the solution a cross-linking agent composed of a material having an isocyanate or acrylic acid functional group to provide a solution having a weight ratio of the down and the cross-linking agent ranging between 1:0.005 and 1:0.06; adding to the solution a water-drawing agent composed of a material having a siloxane functional group to provide a solution having a weight ratio of the down and the water-drawing agent ranging between 1:0.01 and 1:0.1; stirring the solution for at least 15 minutes to react the cross-linking agent and the water-drawing agent and form a water repellent layer on the surface of the down; separating the down from the solution; and oven drying the down with hot air having a temperature of at least 120° C.

Methods, apparatus and kits for modifying natural feathers that are used in sporting goods that result in long lasting feathers with increased mechanical stability, reliability and durability as well as improved flight consistency are disclosed. Some of the sporting goods that use natural feathers are badminton shuttlecocks, arrow fletchings, and darts. The disclosed methods consist of controlled treatment of feather shuttlecocks with crosslinking agents to crosslink the keratin protein present on the natural feathers of the shuttlecock.

Methods, apparatus and kits for modifying natural feathers that are used in sporting goods that result in long lasting feathers with increased mechanical stability, reliability and durability as well as improved flight consistency are disclosed. Some of the sporting goods that use natural feathers are badminton shuttlecocks, arrow fletchings, and darts. The disclosed methods consist of controlled treatment of feather shuttlecocks with crosslinking agents to crosslink the keratin protein present on the natural feathers of the shuttlecock.

A stuffing structure, including a stuffing substrate and a carbon layer, is provided. The carbon layer is directly attached to a surface of the stuffing substrate. The carbon layer exhibits an irregular shape, and the carbon layer is configured to radiate infrared. A manufacturing method of the stuffing structure is also provided.

The present invention relates to fabric softeners and washing detergents comprising water soluble 1,3:1,4-β-D-glucans (β-glucans) for treating and softening textiles and fabrics derived from cellulose and/or protein-based fibers, and a method for treating and softening such textiles and fabrics.

The present invention relates to fabric softeners and washing detergents comprising water soluble 1,3:1,4-β-D-glucans (β-glucans) for treating and softening textiles and fabrics derived from cellulose and/or protein-based fibers, and a method for treating and softening such textiles and fabrics.

The present invention relates to a process for cleaning and/or washing down and/or feathers comprising: (a) mixing the down and/or feathers with a solution of an alkyl polyglucoside; (b) optionally adding simultaneously or sequentially a solution of a Group 4 metal salt to the mixture of (a); (c) removing excess liquid; and (d) optionally drying the down and/or feathers. Down and/or feathers prepared according to such a process are also disclosed. The invention additionally relates to a down and/or feather washing and/or cleaning composition for rendering the down and/or feathers hydrophobic comprising a solution of an alkyl polyglucoside, optionally a solution of a Group 4 metal salt, and a water-repellent treatment. The invention further relates to a kit for cleaning and/or washing down and/or feathers and rendering the down and/or feathers water repellent.