An intimate blend of staple fibers, and a yarn, fabric, and article of clothing providing surprising arc performance and coloration capability, comprising a mixture of a first staple fiber made from a flame resistant polymer that retains at least 90 percent of its weight when heated to 425 degrees Celsius at a rate of 10 degrees per minute and comprises 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles; and either (a) a second staple fiber from a flame resistant polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having an L* lightness coordinate of 70 or greater and being capable of accepting a dye or coloration, or (b) a second staple fiber blend being free of discrete carbon particles and comprising at least one second staple fiber from a flame resistant polymer and having an L* lightness coordinate of 70 or greater and being capable of accepting a dye or coloration; the mixture having a total content of 0.5 to 3 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

A composite polymer solution comprising a homogeneous mixture of a first polymer solution comprising a first polymer having a structure derived from the reaction of one or more amine monomers and a plurality of acid monomers, wherein i) the one or more amine monomers includes at least 60 mole percent 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and ii) the plurality of acid monomers include those having a structure of
Cl—CO—Ar.sub.1—CO—Cl and Cl—CO—Ar.sub.2—CO—Cl wherein Ar.sub.1 is a para-oriented aromatic group and Ar.sub.2 is a meta-oriented aromatic group, and wherein the plurality of acid monomers has at least 50 mole percent of the monomer containing Ar.sub.2; and a second polymer solution comprising a second polymer having a structure derived from the reaction of metaphenylene diamine and isophthaloyl chloride.

The present invention relates to a process for making a hydrophilic polyamide without excessive foaming by delaying the introduction of the hydrophilic monomer. The hydrophilic monomer may be added to the polymerization process after at least a portion of the water has been removed from the process.

Disclosed is a high-strength copolymerized aramid fiber which includes aramid copolymers containing an aromatic group substituted with a cyano group (—CN), so as to have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 6.0 to 8.5, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.5 to 2.0, a strength of 23 to 32 g/d, and an elastic modulus of 1,100 to 1,300 g/d. The high-strength copolymerized aramid fiber may be prepared by a method which includes, when para-phenylenediamine, cyano-para-phenylenediamine, and terephthaloyl dichloride are sequentially added to an organic solvent and reacted together to prepare a copolymerized aramid fiber, adding and dispersing a neutralizing agent in the organic solvent before the reaction of the para-phenylenediamine, cyano-para-phenylenediamine and terephthaloyl dichloride, which were dissolved in the organic solvent.

The present invention concerns methods for producing a yarn comprising the steps of: (a) producing a plurality of dope filaments by spinning a polymer solution in sulfuric acid through a multi-hole spinneret, the polymer comprising imidazole groups; (b) coagulating the plurality of dope filaments into an as-spun yarn; (c) contacting the yarn with an aqueous base having a pKa less than or equal to 11; and (d) rinsing the yarn.

Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.

Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.

Described herein are multi-functionalized hollow fiber organocatalysts, processes for producing multi-functionalized hollow fiber organocatalysts, and processes that utilize multi-functionalized hollow fiber organocatalysts for reacting chemicals. A variety of chemical reactions may be enhanced with the multifunctional hollow fiber organocatalysts. The multi-functionalized hollow fiber organocatalysts are particularly advantageous when used as heterogeneous organocatalysts and continuous-flow reactors.

A breathable water resistant film includes a substrate and a nanofiber layer disposed on the substrate. The nanofiber layer is formed by an electrospinning process. An electrospinning solution used in the electrospinning process includes a first additive, an alcohol, and a second additive. The first additive includes nylon copolymer, and the second additive includes polysilazane.

A breathable water resistant film includes a substrate and a nanofiber layer disposed on the substrate. The nanofiber layer is formed by an electrospinning process. An electrospinning solution used in the electrospinning process includes a first additive, an alcohol, and a second additive. The first additive includes nylon copolymer, and the second additive includes polysilazane.