The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to low thermal conductivity carbon materials and methods of producing the same. In some embodiments, the carbon materials are doped with low thermally conductive nanoparticles. In some embodiments, carbon fibers are prepared by electrospinning a mixture of polymers; and/or incorporating a low thermal conductivity additive, such as nanoparticles.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to low thermal conductivity carbon materials and methods of producing the same. In some embodiments, the carbon materials are doped with low thermally conductive nanoparticles. In some embodiments, carbon fibers are prepared by electrospinning a mixture of polymers; and/or incorporating a low thermal conductivity additive, such as nanoparticles.

A molybdenum disulfide/graphene/carbon composite material having a hierarchical pore structure includes a composite nanofiber having a diameter of 60 to 500 nm. The composite nanofiber comprises, in mass percentage, 3% to 35% of molybdenum disulfide, 0.2% to 10% of graphene, and 60% to 95% of carbon. The composite nanofiber has a hierarchical pore structure distributed along the axial direction, and has a pore diameter continuously distributed between 0.1 nm and 5 ?m and an average pore diameter between 1.5 nm and 25 nm. On the basis of the pore volume, in the hierarchical pore structure, a micropore structure accounts for 25% to 60%, and a mesoporous structure accounts for 40% to 75%. The microporous structure is distributed on the surface of the nanofiber and the pore wall of the mesoporous structure.

Provided is a fiber having superior bulkiness despite being a synthetic fiber, and wadding. The fiber contains inorganic particles having an average particle diameter of 1 m to 20 m within the fiber and fiber pores having a maximum width of 0.1 m to 5 m and maximum length of 1 m to 50 m are formed in fiber cross-sections in the axial direction of the fiber. The wadding contains a fiber A, and the content of fiber A in the wadding (100% by weight) is 50% by weight to 100% by weight, down power is 270 cm.sup.3/g to 400 cm.sup.3/g, and the fiber A contains inorganic particles having an average particle diameter of 1 m to 20 m within the fiber.

Disclosed are methods for preparing a lignin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fiber and for preparing a lignin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber. The methods can comprise adding a dope of lignin and PVA or a dope of lignin and PAN to a coagulation bath containing a solvent comprising one or more components, wherein the one or more components are present in the solvent in concentrations based on the hydrogen bonding character (f.sub.H) of the solvent, the polar character (f.sub.P) of the solvent, and the dispersive character (f.sub.D) of the solvent; and gel-spinning a lignin/PVA fiber or a lignin/PAN fiber from the coagulation bath.

A color-changing monofilament includes an electrically conductive core and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The coating includes a layer of polymeric material having a color-changing pigment.

A color-changing monofilament includes an electrically conductive core and a coating disposed around and along the electrically conductive core. The coating includes a layer of polymeric material having a color-changing pigment.

A flame-retardant upholstered furniture includes an inner structure, and a flame-blocking fabric that covers the inner structure. The flame-blocking fabric contains flame-retardant modacrylic fibers (A) in an amount of 60 mass % or more and 90 mass % or less, and cellulose fibers (B) in an amount of 10 mass % or more and 40 mass % or less, with respect to the overall mass of the fabric. The flame-retardant modacrylic fibers (A) contain a magnesium compound. The flame-blocking fabric contains the magnesium compound in an amount of 1.5 mass % or more and 13.5 mass % or less with respect to the overall mass of the fabric. Time until both afterflame and afterglow go out of the flame-retardant upholstered furniture is 120 seconds or less when measured through a flammability test based on BS 5852: 2006.

A process is disclosed herein comprising the steps: a) contacting an esterifying agent and a polysaccharide in the presence of a first solvent and suitable reaction conditions for a reaction time sufficient to form a product comprising a polysaccharide ester composition, the polysaccharide ester composition comprising a polysaccharide ester having a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3; wherein the esterifying agent comprises an acyl halide, a phosphoryl halide, a carboxylic acid anhydride, a haloformic acid ester, a carbonic acid ester, or a vinyl ester; and the ratio of esterifying agent to polysaccharide is in the range of about 0.001:1 to about 3:1 on a molar equivalent basis; b) combining the product obtained in step a) with polyacrylonitrile; and c) spinning fibers.

A process is disclosed herein comprising the steps: a) contacting an esterifying agent and a polysaccharide in the presence of a first solvent and suitable reaction conditions for a reaction time sufficient to form a product comprising a polysaccharide ester composition, the polysaccharide ester composition comprising a polysaccharide ester having a degree of substitution of about 0.001 to about 3; wherein the esterifying agent comprises an acyl halide, a phosphoryl halide, a carboxylic acid anhydride, a haloformic acid ester, a carbonic acid ester, or a vinyl ester; and the ratio of esterifying agent to polysaccharide is in the range of about 0.001:1 to about 3:1 on a molar equivalent basis; b) combining the product obtained in step a) with polyacrylonitrile; and c) spinning fibers.