A bi-component continuous filament has a sheath-core arrangement including a first polymer component forming a sheath and including a polyamide, a polyolefin, or a polyester; a second polymer component forming a core and including a polyamide, a polyolefin, or a polyester; and a binding agent adhering the first polymer component to the second polymer component along a length of the filament such that the filament has a generally uniform cross-sectional shape along the length. The binding agent preferably includes a polyolefin modified by an acid anhydride. Articles made from such bi-component continuous filaments include, for example, bulk continuous filament (BCF) fibers and floor coverings, such as mats, rugs, and carpets.

A method of manufacturing a color-changing fiber includes loading a polymeric material and a thermochromic pigment material into a fiber fabrication machine that comprises an extruder and a spinneret, operating the extruder to provide a molten mixture of the polymeric material and the thermochromic pigment material, providing a volume of the molten mixture to the spinneret, and operating the spinneret to coat an electrically conductive core with the molten mixture to form a coating layer around the electrically conductive core to produce the color-changing fiber. The polymeric material and the thermochromic pigment material are provided as (a) a first raw material comprising the polymeric material and a second raw material comprising the thermochromic pigment material or (b) a thermochromic pigment and polymer mixture.

A method of manufacturing a color-changing fiber includes loading a polymeric material and a thermochromic pigment material into a fiber fabrication machine that comprises an extruder and a spinneret, operating the extruder to provide a molten mixture of the polymeric material and the thermochromic pigment material, providing a volume of the molten mixture to the spinneret, and operating the spinneret to coat an electrically conductive core with the molten mixture to form a coating layer around the electrically conductive core to produce the color-changing fiber. The polymeric material and the thermochromic pigment material are provided as (a) a first raw material comprising the polymeric material and a second raw material comprising the thermochromic pigment material or (b) a thermochromic pigment and polymer mixture.

Provided is a crimped fiber constituted of the following first component and second component, wherein the first component is a propylene-based resin composition containing a propylene-based polymer (1-A) in which a melting point (Tm-D) obtained under a specified condition exceeds 120 C. and a propylene-based polymer (1-B) satisfying the conditions that (a) a weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 10,000 to 200,000, (b) a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) is less than 4.0, and (c) a melting point (Tm-D) obtained under a specified condition is 0 to 120 C.; and the second component is a propylene-based polymer (2) in which a melt flow rate (MFR) under the foregoing measurement condition is 1 g/10 min or more and 2,000 g/10 min or less, and a melting point (Tm-D) observed under the foregoing measurement condition by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) exceeds 120 C., or a propylene-based resin composition containing the propylene-based polymer (2).

Provided is a crimped fiber constituted of the following first component and second component, wherein the first component is a propylene-based resin composition containing a propylene-based polymer (1-A) in which a melting point (Tm-D) obtained under a specified condition exceeds 120 C. and a propylene-based polymer (1-B) satisfying the conditions that (a) a weight average molecular weight (Mw) is 10,000 to 200,000, (b) a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) is less than 4.0, and (c) a melting point (Tm-D) obtained under a specified condition is 0 to 120 C.; and the second component is a propylene-based polymer (2) in which a melt flow rate (MFR) under the foregoing measurement condition is 1 g/10 min or more and 2,000 g/10 min or less, and a melting point (Tm-D) observed under the foregoing measurement condition by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) exceeds 120 C., or a propylene-based resin composition containing the propylene-based polymer (2).

A system for preparing a polylactic acid (PLA) spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided. In particular, the system includes a first PLA source configured to provide a stream of molten or semi-molten PLA resin; a spin beam in fluid communication with the first PLA source, the spin beam configured to extrude and draw a plurality of PLA continuous filaments; a collection surface disposed below an outlet of the spin beam onto which the PLA continuous filaments are deposited to form the PLA spunbond nonwoven fabric; a first ionization source positioned and arranged to expose the PLA continuous filaments to ions; and a calender positioned downstream of the first ionization source.

A system for preparing a polylactic acid (PLA) spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided. In particular, the system includes a first PLA source configured to provide a stream of molten or semi-molten PLA resin; a spin beam in fluid communication with the first PLA source, the spin beam configured to extrude and draw a plurality of PLA continuous filaments; a collection surface disposed below an outlet of the spin beam onto which the PLA continuous filaments are deposited to form the PLA spunbond nonwoven fabric; a first ionization source positioned and arranged to expose the PLA continuous filaments to ions; and a calender positioned downstream of the first ionization source.

A system for preparing a polylactic acid (PLA) spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided. In particular, the system includes a first PLA source configured to provide a stream of molten or semi-molten PLA resin; a spin beam in fluid communication with the first PLA source, the spin beam configured to extrude and draw a plurality of PLA continuous filaments; a collection surface disposed below an outlet of the spin beam onto which the PLA continuous filaments are deposited to form the PLA spunbond nonwoven fabric; a first ionization source positioned and arranged to expose the PLA continuous filaments to ions; and a calender positioned downstream of the first ionization source.

A system for preparing a polylactic acid (PLA) spunbond nonwoven fabric is provided. In particular, the system includes a first PLA source configured to provide a stream of molten or semi-molten PLA resin; a spin beam in fluid communication with the first PLA source, the spin beam configured to extrude and draw a plurality of PLA continuous filaments; a collection surface disposed below an outlet of the spin beam onto which the PLA continuous filaments are deposited to form the PLA spunbond nonwoven fabric; a first ionization source positioned and arranged to expose the PLA continuous filaments to ions; and a calender positioned downstream of the first ionization source.

The present invention relates to a crimped fiber including one component thereof containing a thermoplastic resin (A) and another component thereof containing a thermoplastic resin (B) and a thermoplastic resin (C), wherein a half-crystallization time at 25 C. of the thermoplastic resin (A) is shorter than a half-crystallization time at 25 C. of the thermoplastic resin (B), and a half-crystallization time at 25 C. of the thermoplastic resin (C) is longer than the half-crystallization time at 25 C. of the thermoplastic resin (B).