An article includes a substrate with a surface, and a coating disposed over the surface. The coating includes a binder material and a plurality of UV scattering porous polymer particles having pores with a light scattering effective pore size of no more than 100 nm. The coating has a scattering opacity of no more than 20% in the wavelength band from 500 to 3000 nm.

A method and an apparatus for desizing and/or shrinking a textile fabric, the textile fabric having a length and a width, the method including moving, lengthwise, the fabric, and wetting the fabric within a first pool of liquid, the first pool of liquid including water; passing the fabric through a chamber, and in the chamber contacting the fabric with at least one heatable roller heated at a treatment temperature; soaking the fabric with a main pool of liquid, the main pool of liquid including water; and treating the fabric with ozone. The apparatus includes a first module for wetting the fabric, a second module with a heatable roller for heating the fabric, a third module for soaking the fabric, and fourth module for treating the fabric with ozone. The second module may optionally be integrated with the first module.

A method and an apparatus for desizing and/or shrinking a textile fabric, the textile fabric having a length and a width, the method including moving, lengthwise, the fabric, and wetting the fabric within a first pool of liquid, the first pool of liquid including water; passing the fabric through a chamber, and in the chamber contacting the fabric with at least one heatable roller heated at a treatment temperature; soaking the fabric with a main pool of liquid, the main pool of liquid including water; and treating the fabric with ozone. The apparatus includes a first module for wetting the fabric, a second module with a heatable roller for heating the fabric, a third module for soaking the fabric, and fourth module for treating the fabric with ozone. The second module may optionally be integrated with the first module.

Processes and apparatus are disclosed which substantially eliminate the formation of oxidized indigo dye before and during dye application onto a natural fiber yarn or fabric while allowing the leuco-indigo dye molecule to diffuse fully into the natural fibers of the yarn where it can fix to the fibers prior to oxidation (i.e., exposure of the leuco-dyed yarns to oxygen). Indigo dyed textile products (e.g., dyed cotton yarns that may be twill woven to form a denim fabric) exhibit exceptionally high colorfastness as determined by the AATCC Crock Test.

Processes are disclosed which substantially eliminate the formation of oxidized indigo dye before and during dye application onto a natural fiber yarn or fabric while allowing the leuco-indigo dye molecule to diffuse fully into the natural fibers of the yarn where it can fix to the fibers prior to oxidation (i.e., exposure of the leuco-dyed yarns to oxygen). Indigo dyed textile products (e.g., dyed cotton yarns that may be twill woven to form a denim fabric) exhibit exceptionally high colorfastness as determined by the AATCC Crock Test.

Processes are disclosed which substantially eliminate the formation of oxidized indigo dye before and during dye application onto a natural fiber yarn or fabric while allowing the leuco-indigo dye molecule to diffuse fully into the natural fibers of the yarn where it can fix to the fibers prior to oxidation (i.e., exposure of the leuco-dyed yarns to oxygen). Indigo dyed textile products (e.g., dyed cotton yarns that may be twill woven to form a denim fabric) exhibit exceptionally high colorfastness as determined by the AATCC Crock Test.

There is provided an impregnated natural fiber including a cuticle and an interior lumen, the cuticle circumscribing the interior lumen; and insoluble particulates possessing a preselected property embedded in the fiber. The particulates comprise at least 0.1-30 wt. % of the impregnated fiber and the particulates are embedded on the cuticle and within the lumen of the fiber. The fiber has an increased strength, micronaire value and rate of water absorption. Also provided is a system for surface treating cellulose sliver fibers. The system includes a vessel containing a moist paste which comprises at least one particulate material possessing one or more preselected desired properties, a thickening agent and water. The paste from the vessel is dispensed directly onto sliver fiber ribbon(s). A bore sonotrode generates ultrasonic waves which embed the particulate material(s) in the sliver fibers.

A nonwoven fabric having improved fluid management properties is provided. The fabric is formed of a plurality of the fibers that include at least an aliphatic polyester polymer. The aliphatic polyester polymer defines at least a portion of an outer surface of the fibers, and includes a natural-based finish composition that is adhered thereto.

An apparatus for manufacturing open carbon fiber superfine yarn comprises a yarn feeding part for feeding a carbon fiber bundle; a tank for storing water for opening carbon fiber to immerse the carbon fiber bundle in the water for opening carbon fiber; a first drying part for drying the open carbon fiber bundle formed by the immersion in the water for opening carbon fiber; an application part for applying a catalyst to the dried open carbon fiber bundle; a second drying part for drying the catalyst-applied open carbon fiber bundle to obtain open carbon fiber resin tape; a slitting part for slitting the open carbon fiber resin tape longitudinally; and a twisting part for twisting a plurality of the open carbon fiber resin tapes slit by the slitting part to form open carbon fiber superfine yarn.

An apparatus for manufacturing open carbon fiber superfine yarn comprises a yarn feeding part for feeding a carbon fiber bundle; a tank for storing water for opening carbon fiber to immerse the carbon fiber bundle in the water for opening carbon fiber; a first drying part for drying the open carbon fiber bundle formed by the immersion in the water for opening carbon fiber; an application part for applying a catalyst to the dried open carbon fiber bundle; a second drying part for drying the catalyst-applied open carbon fiber bundle to obtain open carbon fiber resin tape; a slitting part for slitting the open carbon fiber resin tape longitudinally; and a twisting part for twisting a plurality of the open carbon fiber resin tapes slit by the slitting part to form open carbon fiber superfine yarn.