The invention provides an antimicrobial fiber which exhibits excellent antimicrobial properties even without the addition of antimicrobial agents and can remain antimicrobial even after repeated washing. The antimicrobial fiber comprises a fiber having on a surface thereof a polyacetal copolymer (X) containing oxyalkylene groups, the molar amount of oxyalkylene groups in the polyacetal copolymer (X) being 0.2 to 5 mol % relative to the total of the molar amount of oxymethylene groups and the molar amount of oxyalkylene groups.

The invention provides an antimicrobial fiber which exhibits excellent antimicrobial properties even without the addition of antimicrobial agents and can remain antimicrobial even after repeated washing. The antimicrobial fiber comprises a fiber having on a surface thereof a polyacetal copolymer (X) containing oxyalkylene groups, the molar amount of oxyalkylene groups in the polyacetal copolymer (X) being 0.2 to 5 mol % relative to the total of the molar amount of oxymethylene groups and the molar amount of oxyalkylene groups.

A fabric having particularly good translucent properties with regard to UVA and UVB radiation, in particular for use in garments for the sport and leisure sector, with the transparency being reduced at the same time. The fabric comprises a first yarn made of cellulose-based fiber or regenerated fiber, and a second yarn made of polymer fiber. The proportion by weight of the first and second yarns is at least 80% by weight. The wale density is in the range from 10 to 30 per cm and the course density is in the range from 15 to 33 per cm. The second yarn has a fineness in the range from 45 to 300 dtex and the first yarn has a fineness in the range from 150 to 300 dtex. The grammage of the fabric is between 70 and 150 g/m{circumflex over ( )}2.

Provided are a cloth and a protective product, which allow for any color appearance and have excellent protection performance against electric arcs. The cloth has a woven fabric structure, wherein a front-surface spun yarn containing an infrared absorber- and/or electrically conductive agent-containing fiber and not containing carbon is located on a front surface, while a back-surface spun yarn containing a carbon-containing fiber is located on a back surface, and the cloth has an ATPV value of 8.0 cal/cm.sup.2 or more in Arc Resistance Test ASTM F1959-1999.

Provided are a cloth and a protective product, which allow for any color appearance and have excellent protection performance against electric arcs. The cloth has a woven fabric structure, wherein a front-surface spun yarn containing an infrared absorber- and/or electrically conductive agent-containing fiber and not containing carbon is located on a front surface, while a back-surface spun yarn containing a carbon-containing fiber is located on a back surface, and the cloth has an ATPV value of 8.0 cal/cm.sup.2 or more in Arc Resistance Test ASTM F1959-1999.

A webbing for use with a tiedown or sling which has overall increase strength efficiency when compared to known tiedowns or slings which use texturized yarn. The webbing contains non-texturized yarn material having reduced elongation characteristics in the core, combined with non-texturized yarn having higher elongation and improved wear characteristics on the exterior surfaces.

A webbing for use with a tiedown or sling which has overall increase strength efficiency when compared to known tiedowns or slings which use texturized yarn. The webbing contains non-texturized yarn material having reduced elongation characteristics in the core, combined with non-texturized yarn having higher elongation and improved wear characteristics on the exterior surfaces.

A water dispersible sulfopolyester is provided wherein the sulfopolyester comprises: (a) residues of one or more dicarboxylic acids; (b) at least 10 mole percent of residues of at least one sulfomonomer; and (c) residues of two or more diols, wherein said diols comprise ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, and wherein the sulfopolyester exhibits a glass transition temperature of at least 58° C., wherein the sulfopolyester comprises a diethylene glycol to ethylene glycol molar ratio of less than 0.65, wherein the sulfopolyester contains substantially equimolar proportions of acid moiety repeating units (100 mole percent) to hydroxy moiety repeating units (100 mole percent), and wherein all stated mole percentages are based on the total of all acid and hydroxy moiety repeating units being equal to 200 mole percent. Woven and nonwoven articles comprising the water dispersible sulfopolyester are also provided.

A water dispersible sulfopolyester is provided wherein the sulfopolyester comprises: (a) residues of one or more dicarboxylic acids; (b) at least 10 mole percent of residues of at least one sulfomonomer; and (c) residues of two or more diols, wherein said diols comprise ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol, and wherein the sulfopolyester exhibits a glass transition temperature of at least 58° C., wherein the sulfopolyester comprises a diethylene glycol to ethylene glycol molar ratio of less than 0.65, wherein the sulfopolyester contains substantially equimolar proportions of acid moiety repeating units (100 mole percent) to hydroxy moiety repeating units (100 mole percent), and wherein all stated mole percentages are based on the total of all acid and hydroxy moiety repeating units being equal to 200 mole percent. Woven and nonwoven articles comprising the water dispersible sulfopolyester are also provided.

A water dispersible sulfopolyester is provided wherein the sulfopolyester comprises: (a) residues of one or more dicarboxylic acids; (b) at least 10 mole percent of residues of at least one sulfomonomer; and (c) residues of two or more diols, wherein the diols comprise 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and diethylene glycol, wherein the sulfopolyester exhibits a glass transition temperature of at least 57° C., wherein the sulfopolyester contains substantially equimolar proportions of acid moiety repeating units (100 mole percent) to hydroxy moiety repeating units (100 mole percent), and wherein all stated mole percentages are based on the total of all acid and hydroxy moiety repeating units being equal to 200 mole percent. Woven articles and nonwoven articles are also provided.