Compounds for use in the textile field, and more particularly the use of compounds of the 4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene family for the manufacture of fluorescent fibers, the fluorescent compound being chosen from those of formula I: ##STR00001##
Also, processes for producing the fluorescent fibers and also to the uses thereof, notably for the provision of security to products.

A composite material including a black pigment and a textile material. The composite material has a reflectivity toward near infrared electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from 800 nm to 2500 nm of greater than or equal to 12%, and has a reflectivity toward visible light having a wavelength from 350 nm to 750 nm of less than or equal to 10%. The composite material also has a blackness (M.sub.y) from 125 to 165.

A textile recycling method receives textile-waste-to-be-recycled, sorts the waste to isolate cellulose-containing articles from non-cellulose-containing articles, and re-sizes at least some of the cellulose-containing articles to create feedstock. The feedstock is processed in a cellulose solvent reactor, which has at least one ionic liquid. The ionic liquid dissolves intermolecular cellulose bonds of the feedstock to create a spinning dope. Cellulose fibers dissolved in the cellulose-bearing spinning dope solution are extruded in a cellulose coagulation bath reservoir to reconstitute at least some of the cellulose fibers, and the reconstituted fibers are wet-spun to form a continuous cellulose thread that is commercially indistinguishable from virgin fiber thread. Synthetic fiber material is vacuum-extracted or mechanically extracted from the cellulose-bearing solution and recycled into a continuous synthetic thread. Original color of textile-waste-to-be-recycled can be retained or removed, and new color can be added.

A method for preparing a color masterbatch with a natural dye is disclosed. The new method uses a phase change material tetradecane as one of the solvents to extract the natural dye, the extracted natural dye as a core material, and polybutylene succinate as a wall material to microencapsulate the natural dye containing the phase change material by a solvent evaporation method to prepare natural dye microcapsules, then melt-blends with a carrier resin, extrudes and granulates to obtain the color masterbatch with the natural dye. The microencapsulation improves the thermal stability of natural dye and compatibility with carrier resin The obtained color masterbatch with natural dye has excellent heat resistance, and the fabric obtained after spinning with it has good color fastness to hot pressing.

A method for preparing a color masterbatch with a natural dye is disclosed. The new method uses a phase change material tetradecane as one of the solvents to extract the natural dye, the extracted natural dye as a core material, and polybutylene succinate as a wall material to microencapsulate the natural dye containing the phase change material by a solvent evaporation method to prepare natural dye microcapsules, then melt-blends with a carrier resin, extrudes and granulates to obtain the color masterbatch with the natural dye. The microencapsulation improves the thermal stability of natural dye and compatibility with carrier resin The obtained color masterbatch with natural dye has excellent heat resistance, and the fabric obtained after spinning with it has good color fastness to hot pressing.

A system comprising: (1) a grinding unit configured to receive and grind recycled PET bottles into a group of polymer flakes comprising up to about ten percent colored polymer flakes and balance substantially clear polymer flakes; (2) a washing unit configured to wash the group of polymer flakes; and (3) an extruder configured to extrude material in a plurality of different extrusion streams. The extruder may be further configured to: (1) receive a concentrate-polymer mixture comprising a mixture of the polymer flakes and a color concentrate; (2) melt the concentrate-polymer mixture to produce a polymer melt; (3) reduce a pressure within the extruder; and (4) pass the polymer melt through the extruder so that the polymer melt is divided into the plurality of extrusion streams. The system may then filter the polymer melt through at least one filter and form the polymer melt into bulked continuous carpet filament.

Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.

Embodiments of the invention relate to flame resistant fabrics containing fibers having at least one energy absorbing and/or reflecting additive incorporated into the fibers. Inclusion of such fibers into the fabric increases the arc rating/fabric weight ratio of the fabric while still complying with all requisite thermal protective requirements.

A method for controlling fiber cross-alignment in a nanofiber membrane, comprising: providing a multiple segment collector in an electrospinning device including a first and second segment electrically isolated from an intermediate segment positioned between the first and second segment, collectively presenting a cylindrical structure, rotating the cylindrical structure around a longitudinal axis proximate to an electrically charged fiber emitter; electrically grounding or charging edge conductors circumferentially resident on the first and second segment, maintaining intermediate collector electrically neutral; dispensing electrospun fiber toward the collector, the fiber attaching to edge conductors and spanning the separation space between edge conductors; attracting electrospun fiber attached to the edge conductors to the surface of the cylindrical structure, forming a first fiber layer; increasing or decreasing rotation speed of the cylindrical structure to alter the angular cross-alignment relationship between aligned nanofibers in adjacent layers, the rotation speed being altered to achieve a target relational angle.

Fabrics containing hydrophilic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers and at least one non-ePTFE fiber are provided. The fabric provides a combination of high breathability and controlled moisture management. In exemplary embodiments, the fabric may be a woven, knit, or fleece fabric. The fabrics contain at least 15% ePTFE fibers based on the final fabric. The hydrophilic ePTFE fibers in the fabrics may be used to control moisture such as water vapor, liquid water, or sweat within the fabric by storing the moisture within the hydrophilic ePTFE fiber network. Also, little to none of the moisture remains on the outside of the hydrophilic ePTFE fibers, making the fabric feel dry even where there is moisture therein. A polymer membrane and/or a textile may be laminated to the fabric to produce a laminated article.