A process for the manufacture of inorganic fibres comprises: (a) selecting a composition and proportion of: (i) silica sand; (ii) lime comprising at least 0.10 wt % magnesia; and (iii) optional additives comprising a source of oxides or non-oxides of one or more of the lanthanides series of elements, or combinations thereof; (b) mixing the silica sand; lime; and optional additives to form a mixture; (c) melting the mixture in a furnace; and (d) shaping the molten mixture into inorganic fibres. The raw materials selection comprises composition selection and proportion selection of the raw materials to obtain an inorganic fibre composition comprising a range of from 61.0 wt % and 70.8 wt % silica; less than 2.0 wt % magnesia; less than 2.0% incidental impurities; and no more than 2.0 wt % of metal oxides and/or metal non-oxides derived from said optional additives; with calcia providing the balance up to 100 wt %; and wherein the inorganic fibre composition comprises no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

A process for the manufacture of inorganic fibres comprises: (a) selecting a composition and proportion of: (i) silica sand; (ii) lime comprising at least 0.10 wt % magnesia; and (iii) optional additives comprising a source of oxides or non-oxides of one or more of the lanthanides series of elements, or combinations thereof; (b) mixing the silica sand; lime; and optional additives to form a mixture; (c) melting the mixture in a furnace; and (d) shaping the molten mixture into inorganic fibres. The raw materials selection comprises composition selection and proportion selection of the raw materials to obtain an inorganic fibre composition comprising a range of from 61.0 wt % and 70.8 wt % silica; less than 2.0 wt % magnesia; less than 2.0% incidental impurities; and no more than 2.0 wt % of metal oxides and/or metal non-oxides derived from said optional additives; with calcia providing the balance up to 100 wt %; and wherein the inorganic fibre composition comprises no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

A 3D printing machine includes a first spinning part moving in directions of three axes, i.e., X-, Y-, and Z-axes, to melt and spin a base material; and a second spinning part moving along a moving direction of the first spinning part to spin reinforcing fiber onto an upper surface of the spun base material, and moving clockwise or counterclockwise so that the reinforcing fiber is spun onto the upper surface of the base material at a moment when the first spinning part changes a moving direction thereof to the X- or Y-axis direction.

A 3D printing machine includes a first spinning part moving in directions of three axes, i.e., X-, Y-, and Z-axes, to melt and spin a base material; and a second spinning part moving along a moving direction of the first spinning part to spin reinforcing fiber onto an upper surface of the spun base material, and moving clockwise or counterclockwise so that the reinforcing fiber is spun onto the upper surface of the base material at a moment when the first spinning part changes a moving direction thereof to the X- or Y-axis direction.

A process for producing a thermoformable and bondable fabric in which the fabric is biodegradable and/or compostable. The process comprises extruding a polymeric blend to form a plurality of filaments, the filaments collectively comprising the fabric.

A process for producing a thermoformable and bondable fabric in which the fabric is biodegradable and/or compostable. The process comprises extruding a polymeric blend to form a plurality of filaments, the filaments collectively comprising the fabric.

A melt spinning device for producing synthetic threads includes at least a spinneret apparatus, a cooling apparatus, a processing apparatus and a winding apparatus. An automatic operating device is provided for carrying out at least one operator action. The automatic operating device has at least one movable robotic arm, which can be coupled selectively to one of a plurality of exchangeable tools in order to selectively carry out a plurality of operator actions during a start-up and/or during a maintenance interval and/or during thread production. Thus, a high level of flexibility in the automated operation of the melt spinning device is ensured.

A melt spinning device for producing synthetic threads includes at least a spinneret apparatus, a cooling apparatus, a processing apparatus and a winding apparatus. An automatic operating device is provided for carrying out at least one operator action. The automatic operating device has at least one movable robotic arm, which can be coupled selectively to one of a plurality of exchangeable tools in order to selectively carry out a plurality of operator actions during a start-up and/or during a maintenance interval and/or during thread production. Thus, a high level of flexibility in the automated operation of the melt spinning device is ensured.

Various implementations include a method of forming a bulked continuous filament (BCF) yarn. The method includes providing N molten streams of polymer, providing M spinnerets, and spinning the N molten streams of polymer through the M spinnerets. At least a first group of filaments and a second group of filaments are spun through the M spinnerets. The first group of filaments each have a first average denier per filament along a length of the filaments and the second group of filaments each having a second average denier per filament along a length of the filaments, the first and second average denier per filament being different. The method further includes combining the filaments from the M spinnerets together and texturizing the spun filaments.

A quad-polymer composition includes monomers of (a) acrylonitrile, (a) vinylimidazole, (c) methyl acrylate and (d) either acrylic acid or itaconic acid. Such quad-polymer compositions may be used to form fibers (such as by melt spinning) that may then be annealed, stabilized, and/or carbonized to produce carbon fibers. The quad-polymer composition may be used for supercapacitors, lithium battery electrodes once carbonized, and as synthesized, it may be used for wound healing fibers, fabrics, coatings, and films, and anti-bacterial/anti-microbial fibers, fabrics, coatings and films. The carbon fibers formed from the quad-polymer composition may be used for the fiber composites for automobile, aerospace structures, marine structures, military equipment/parts, sporting goods, robotics, furniture, and electronic parts.