Fibers, fabrics, mattresses and processes of making the fibers generally include a microencapsulated phase change material; and a polymer, wherein the microencapsulated phase change material is greater than 50 percent by weight of the fiber. The process for making the fibers is a dry jet/wet spinning process free of sonication.

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.

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 method for producing a polyacetal fiber that presents an improved whiteness unevenness is provided. According to one embodiment, there is provided a polyacetal fiber production method that yields a polyacetal fiber using an oxymethylene copolymer having a melt index, at 190° C. under a load of 2.16 kg, of 5-60 g/10 min, wherein the production method includes taking off the polyacetal fiber from the discharge nozzle of a spinning apparatus, and drawing the taken-off polyacetal fiber. The tensile elongation E1 of the polyacetal fiber after the taking off is 20%-500%; the tensile elongation E2 of the polyacetal fiber after the drawing is 10%-100%; E1≥E2; and the single fiber thickness of the polyacetal fiber after the drawing is 0.7-5.0 denier.

A method for producing a polyacetal fiber that presents an improved whiteness unevenness is provided. According to one embodiment, there is provided a polyacetal fiber production method that yields a polyacetal fiber using an oxymethylene copolymer having a melt index, at 190° C. under a load of 2.16 kg, of 5-60 g/10 min, wherein the production method includes taking off the polyacetal fiber from the discharge nozzle of a spinning apparatus, and drawing the taken-off polyacetal fiber. The tensile elongation E1 of the polyacetal fiber after the taking off is 20%-500%; the tensile elongation E2 of the polyacetal fiber after the drawing is 10%-100%; E1≥E2; and the single fiber thickness of the polyacetal fiber after the drawing is 0.7-5.0 denier.

The present invention provides a mucoadhesive patch for attachment to a mucosal surface in a patient, the patch comprising a fibrous polymeric mat substrate and a plurality of polymeric flock particles that are attached to the substrate.

A fiber may comprise an electrospun polymer and a pharmaceutical. The pharmaceutical may be dispersed within the electrospun polymer, and may have the form of a crystal, an oil, or a combination thereof. A method of making an electrospun fiber may comprise configuring a receiving surface to receive a polymer fiber, applying a charge to one or more of the receiving surface, a polymer injection system, and a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system, and depositing a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system onto the receiving surface. The polymer solution may comprise a polymer and a pharmaceutical. A method of treating a disorder in a subject may comprise obtaining such a fiber having an effective amount of a pharmaceutical, applying the fiber to an oral region of the subject, and allowing the fiber to disintegrate, thereby delivering the effective amount of the pharmaceutical to the subject.

A fiber may comprise an electrospun polymer and a pharmaceutical. The pharmaceutical may be dispersed within the electrospun polymer, and may have the form of a crystal, an oil, or a combination thereof. A method of making an electrospun fiber may comprise configuring a receiving surface to receive a polymer fiber, applying a charge to one or more of the receiving surface, a polymer injection system, and a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system, and depositing a polymer solution ejected from the polymer injection system onto the receiving surface. The polymer solution may comprise a polymer and a pharmaceutical. A method of treating a disorder in a subject may comprise obtaining such a fiber having an effective amount of a pharmaceutical, applying the fiber to an oral region of the subject, and allowing the fiber to disintegrate, thereby delivering the effective amount of the pharmaceutical to the subject.

A process for producing a polymer strand involves: inserting a nucleation element into a pre-strand composition, the pre-strand composition comprising a polymer mixed with a solvent, the polymer having a concentration in the pre-strand composition that is greater than or equal to an overlap concentration (c*) of the polymer in the pre-strand composition; and, withdrawing the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition so that a strand comprising the polymer is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition, the nucleation element being withdrawn at a rate such that a pull time (τ.sub.pull) of the nucleation element is less than reptation time (τ.sub.rep) required to relax polymer entanglements in the pre-strand composition, thereby inducing a viscoelastic response in the pre-strand composition as the strand is pulled by the nucleation element from the pre-strand composition.