We have developed an environmentally-friendly new process for producing textile yarns. The process involves chemical modification of cellulose with subsequent dissolution of the chemically modified cellulose with chitosan or other amine group-containing compounds which yields a highly viscous gel. The chemical modification of cellulose employs a known process of periodate oxidation which we have modified to obtain fibers with a low degree of aldehyde groups (2 mmol/g cellulose) that still remain insoluble in water. After washing, the chemically modified fibers can be cross-linked with chitosan or other amine group-containing compounds to produce the viscous gel. The viscous gel can then be extruded through a syringe nozzle in the form of textile yarns.

Provided is a fabric comprising a layer of yarns combined (by weaving, braiding, knitting, or non-woven) to form the fabric wherein the yarns comprise one or a plurality of graphene-based long or continuous fibers. The long or continuous fiber comprises chemically functionalized graphene sheets that are chemically bonded with one another having an inter-planar spacing d.sub.002 from 0.36 nm to 1.5 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction and a non-carbon element content of 0.1% to 40% by weight, wherein the functionalized graphene sheets are substantially parallel to one another and parallel to the fiber axis direction and the fiber contains no core-shell structure, have no helically arranged graphene domains, and have a length no less than 0.5 cm and a physical density from 1.5 to 2.25 g/cm.sup.3. The graphene fiber typically has a thermal conductivity from 300 to 1,600 W/mK, an electrical conductivity from 600 to 15,000 S/cm, or a tensile strength higher than 1.0 GPa.

Provided is a fabric comprising a layer of yarns combined (by weaving, braiding, knitting, or non-woven) to form the fabric wherein the yarns comprise one or a plurality of graphene-based long or continuous fibers. The long or continuous fiber comprises chemically functionalized graphene sheets that are chemically bonded with one another having an inter-planar spacing d.sub.002 from 0.36 nm to 1.5 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction and a non-carbon element content of 0.1% to 40% by weight, wherein the functionalized graphene sheets are substantially parallel to one another and parallel to the fiber axis direction and the fiber contains no core-shell structure, have no helically arranged graphene domains, and have a length no less than 0.5 cm and a physical density from 1.5 to 2.25 g/cm.sup.3. The graphene fiber typically has a thermal conductivity from 300 to 1,600 W/mK, an electrical conductivity from 600 to 15,000 S/cm, or a tensile strength higher than 1.0 GPa.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a woven twill or percale textile fabric, the fabric including: from about 90 to about 2400 ends per inch warp of texturized polyester yarn; and from about 45 to about 600 picks per inch Cotton yarn, wherein total content of cotton present in the fabric is at least about 50% by weight of the fabric, further wherein total thread count in the fabric ranges from about 135 to about 3000. The advantageous fabric realized in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can find utility as home textiles.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a woven twill or percale textile fabric, the fabric including: from about 90 to about 2400 ends per inch warp of texturized polyester yarn; and from about 45 to about 600 picks per inch Cotton yarn, wherein total content of cotton present in the fabric is at least about 50% by weight of the fabric, further wherein total thread count in the fabric ranges from about 135 to about 3000. The advantageous fabric realized in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure can find utility as home textiles.

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate torsional actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize coiled yarns/polymer fibers and can be either neat or comprising a guest. In some embodiments, the torsional fiber actuator includes a first polymer fiber (exhibiting a first polymer fiber diameter) and a torsional return spring in communication with the first polymer fiber. The first polymer fiber is configured to include a first plurality of twists in a first direction to produce a twisted polymer fiber. The first polymer fiber is further configured to include a plurality of coils in the twisted polymer fiber in a second direction each coil having a mean coil diameter. In some embodiments, the torsional nanofiber actuator includes a first carbon nanofiber yarn (having a yarn diameter) and a torsional return spring in communication with the first carbon nanofiber yarn. The first carbon nanofiber yarn includes a plurality of twists in a first direction to produce a twisted carbon nanofiber yarn. The first carbon nanofiber yarn further includes a plurality of coils in the twisted carbon nanofiber yarn, with each coil having a mean coil diameter greater than the yarn diameter.

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twist-spun nanofiber yarn or twist-inserted polymer fibers generate torsional actuation when powered electrically, photonically, chemically, thermally, by absorption, or by other means. These artificial muscles utilize coiled yarns/polymer fibers and can be either neat or comprising a guest. In some embodiments, the torsional fiber actuator includes a first polymer fiber (exhibiting a first polymer fiber diameter) and a torsional return spring in communication with the first polymer fiber. The first polymer fiber is configured to include a first plurality of twists in a first direction to produce a twisted polymer fiber. The first polymer fiber is further configured to include a plurality of coils in the twisted polymer fiber in a second direction each coil having a mean coil diameter. In some embodiments, the torsional nanofiber actuator includes a first carbon nanofiber yarn (having a yarn diameter) and a torsional return spring in communication with the first carbon nanofiber yarn. The first carbon nanofiber yarn includes a plurality of twists in a first direction to produce a twisted carbon nanofiber yarn. The first carbon nanofiber yarn further includes a plurality of coils in the twisted carbon nanofiber yarn, with each coil having a mean coil diameter greater than the yarn diameter.

The invention provides an insulation material that includes exothermic fibers, heat capturing fibers capable of retaining heat, and synthetic fibers. The heat capturing fibers having a density of at least 1.17 g/cm.sup.3 or 2.0 Dtex linear density. Also provided are articles comprising, and methods of making the inventive insulation material.

The invention provides an insulation material that includes exothermic fibers, heat capturing fibers capable of retaining heat, and synthetic fibers. The heat capturing fibers having a density of at least 1.17 g/cm.sup.3 or 2.0 Dtex linear density. Also provided are articles comprising, and methods of making the inventive insulation material.

A process for manufacturing a fiber including polyetherketoneketone including the steps of: mixing polyetherketoneketone and sulfuric acid having a concentration of at least 90 wt % to obtain a spin dope and passing the spin dope through a spinneret into a coagulation bath, wherein the polyetherketoneketone is dissolved in the sulfuric acid to a concentration of 12 to 22 wt %. Also disclosed are fibers obtainable by the process and polyetherketoneketone fibers having a sulfur content of 0.001 to 5 wt %, based on the weight of the fiber, in particular such fibers having low or high crystallinity, as well as, hybrid yarns and composite materials.