A polyphenylene sulfide short fiber has a monofilament fineness of 0.70 to 0.95 dtex, a strength of 4.5 to 5.5 cN/dtex, a fiber length of 20 to 100 mm, and a melt flow rate (MFR) value of 200 to 295 g/10 min. The polyphenylene sulfide short fiber enables improvements to be made in the dust collection performance and mechanical strength without impairing the fiber productivity or felt productivity.

In certain aspects, the inventive subject matter is directed to production of constructs of footwear and components thereof by jet extrusion. The inventive subject matter contemplates novel processes for making such constructs using jets or streams of materials that solidify as fibers, and which form into two- or three-dimensional webs as they are collected. The webs may be in the nature of films, membranes, or mats. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter generally relates to nonwoven textiles consisting of webs of superfine fibers, i.e., fibers with diameters in nanoscale or micronscale ranges.

In certain aspects, the inventive subject matter is directed to production of constructs of footwear and components thereof by jet extrusion. The inventive subject matter contemplates novel processes for making such constructs using jets or streams of materials that solidify as fibers, and which form into two- or three-dimensional webs as they are collected. The webs may be in the nature of films, membranes, or mats. In some embodiments, the inventive subject matter generally relates to nonwoven textiles consisting of webs of superfine fibers, i.e., fibers with diameters in nanoscale or micronscale ranges.

A fiber-processing apparatus includes a feed section feeding a dispersion containing liquid and a fibrous material which contains a polysaccharide as a main component and which is dispersed in the liquid and also includes an ejection section ejecting a fluid in which the concentration of the fibrous material is lower than that in the dispersion toward the fed dispersion to crush the fibrous material in the dispersion. The feed section preferably feeds the dispersion vertically downward. Furthermore, the ejection section preferably ejects the fluid downward rather than horizontally.

A fiber-processing apparatus includes a feed section feeding a dispersion containing liquid and a fibrous material which contains a polysaccharide as a main component and which is dispersed in the liquid and also includes an ejection section ejecting a fluid in which the concentration of the fibrous material is lower than that in the dispersion toward the fed dispersion to crush the fibrous material in the dispersion. The feed section preferably feeds the dispersion vertically downward. Furthermore, the ejection section preferably ejects the fluid downward rather than horizontally.

Cord-yarn supercapacitors are disclosed herein. The cord-yarn supercapacitor can include two or more ply yarns twisted together and an electrolyte. The ply yarns can comprise an activated carbon fiber yarn and a non-activated carbon fiber yarn. The activated carbon fiber yarn can be derived from a staple yarn which has been carbonized and activated. The non-activated carbon fiber yarn can be derived from a multi filament yarn. The electrolyte can include a polymer gel. The cord-yarn supercapacitors disclosed herein provide a rope-format linear structure with great flexibility. This unique linear structure allows the supercapacitor to find use in applications such as apparel products, outdoor activity products, sports wears, and other industrial end uses. Methods of making cord-yarn supercapacitors are also disclosed.

A process for forming a high loft, nonwoven web is disclosed. The process includes introducing a single molten polymer to a die having a plurality of nozzles. Emitting the molten polymer through the nozzles to form a plurality of filaments. Using air streams to facilitate movement and drawing of the filaments. Directing the filaments, which are transformed into fibers, towards a pair of heated moving surfaces. The pair of heated moving surfaces forming a convergent passage having an entry and an exit. Depositing the fibers into the entry of the convergent passage and routing the fibers between the pair of heated moving surfaces in a machine direction to form a high loft, non-woven web. The web having a fiber size distribution of from 0 m to about 15 m with at least about 25% of the fibers being above 4 m.

A process for forming a high loft, nonwoven web is disclosed. The process includes introducing a single molten polymer to a die having a plurality of nozzles. Emitting the molten polymer through the nozzles to form a plurality of filaments. Using air streams to facilitate movement and drawing of the filaments. Directing the filaments, which are transformed into fibers, towards a pair of heated moving surfaces. The pair of heated moving surfaces forming a convergent passage having an entry and an exit. Depositing the fibers into the entry of the convergent passage and routing the fibers between the pair of heated moving surfaces in a machine direction to form a high loft, non-woven web. The web having a fiber size distribution of from 0 m to about 15 m with at least about 25% of the fibers being above 4 m.

A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.