A method of manufacturing an artificial muscle fiber device includes: tethering an artificial muscle fiber around one or more shape-setting pieces; annealing the artificial muscle fiber so that the artificial muscle fiber will retain specific shapes established by the shape-setting pieces; and removing the shape-setting pieces from the artificial muscle fiber.

A method of manufacturing an artificial muscle fiber device includes: tethering an artificial muscle fiber around one or more shape-setting pieces; annealing the artificial muscle fiber so that the artificial muscle fiber will retain specific shapes established by the shape-setting pieces; and removing the shape-setting pieces from the artificial muscle fiber.

A bead for a tire in accordance with the present invention includes a core with at least one yarn of a multifilament textile fiber embedded in an organic matrix having a density between 0.9 g/m.sup.3 and 2.0 g/m.sup.3 and an outer sheath layer including at least one metal wire wound around, and in contact with, the core. The core has a diameter between 5.0 mm and 30.0 mm.

A bead for a tire in accordance with the present invention includes a core with at least one yarn of a multifilament textile fiber embedded in an organic matrix having a density between 0.9 g/m.sup.3 and 2.0 g/m.sup.3 and an outer sheath layer including at least one metal wire wound around, and in contact with, the core. The core has a diameter between 5.0 mm and 30.0 mm.

A method of continuous production of thermochromic nanofiber yarns is described. The method includes applying a first thermochromic material to a nanofiber sheet, and then twisting that nanofiber sheet into a first thermochromic yarn. A second thermochromic material is optionally applied to the first thermochromic yarn to produce a second thermochromic yarn. Alternatively, a homogeneous mixture of the first and the second thermochromic materials is applied to a nanofiber sheet in a single layer to produce a thermochromic nanofiber yarn. The thermochromic yarn can be a single ply yarn or a multi-ply yarn depending on the color to be displayed.

A method of continuous production of thermochromic nanofiber yarns is described. The method includes applying a first thermochromic material to a nanofiber sheet, and then twisting that nanofiber sheet into a first thermochromic yarn. A second thermochromic material is optionally applied to the first thermochromic yarn to produce a second thermochromic yarn. Alternatively, a homogeneous mixture of the first and the second thermochromic materials is applied to a nanofiber sheet in a single layer to produce a thermochromic nanofiber yarn. The thermochromic yarn can be a single ply yarn or a multi-ply yarn depending on the color to be displayed.

A thread made from extruded silicone rubber that is cross-linked after the extrusion and woven into a fabric having warp threads and/or weft threads and a coating including cross-linked silicone rubber, the thread or the coating including a fluorinated rubber portion. The invention also relates to a method for producing such threads and woven fabrics. The object of the invention is to improve thermal and chemical resistance. To this end the fluorinated rubber part is produced only by surface fluorination of the cross-linked thread or the coating by means of a fluorinated gas.

A thread made from extruded silicone rubber that is cross-linked after the extrusion and woven into a fabric having warp threads and/or weft threads and a coating including cross-linked silicone rubber, the thread or the coating including a fluorinated rubber portion. The invention also relates to a method for producing such threads and woven fabrics. The object of the invention is to improve thermal and chemical resistance. To this end the fluorinated rubber part is produced only by surface fluorination of the cross-linked thread or the coating by means of a fluorinated gas.

A welding process may be configured to convert a substrate comprised of short staple fibers into a welded substrate having significantly increased strength as compared to the raw substrate. When applied to a one-dimensional substrate, such as a yarn, the welding process may also reduce the diameter of the welded substrate compared to that of the raw substrate. Additionally, the welding process may be configured to impart superior color properties to the welded substrate compared to the color properties of the raw substrate, which superior color properties may be very pronounced when performing a welding process on a raw substrate comprised of colored and/or dyed recycled fibers.

A welding process may be configured to convert a substrate comprised of short staple fibers into a welded substrate having significantly increased strength as compared to the raw substrate. When applied to a one-dimensional substrate, such as a yarn, the welding process may also reduce the diameter of the welded substrate compared to that of the raw substrate. Additionally, the welding process may be configured to impart superior color properties to the welded substrate compared to the color properties of the raw substrate, which superior color properties may be very pronounced when performing a welding process on a raw substrate comprised of colored and/or dyed recycled fibers.