The present invention relates to a process for producing an esterquat by a transesterification reaction of a fatty acid oil or a mixture comprising one or more fatty acid oils and one or more fatty acids with a tertiary hydroxy amine and then a quaternization reaction. Esterquats obtained by the method of the invention show beneficial properties in particular when used as active component in fabric softener materials.

The toy product of the present invention incorporates an antimicrobial agent that is introduced during the manufacturing process, to render the resultant product hypoallergenic and resistant to stains and odors during use, even after repeated washings.

In a preferred embodiment, the toy product is a stuffed plush animal in which some or all of the yarn/fabric used in fabricating the toy product is treated with an antimicrobial agent during the knitting or weaving of the yarn to create the plush. While many different antimicrobial agents may be used, a preferred microbial agent is a solution containing silver nitrate, silver chloride, and/or alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

An apparatus and process for disinfecting, and, optionally, sterilizing, fibers and non-woven materials produced from the fibers is disclosed, as well as processes for converting fibers into disinfected and/or sterilized non-woven materials. The process involves contacting the fibers and/or non-woven materials with high temperature steam, and then with UV light, which is preferably UV-C light, or another disinfectant process, such as ozone treatment. The process can also involve process steps such as blending fibers, applying fibers to an air card, subjecting the fibers to one or more carding steps, subjecting the carded fibers to non-woven process steps, and chemically treating the fibers and/or non-woven materials. The resulting non-woven materials can be used, for example, in personal care, baby care (including baby wipes), cosmetic applications, household cleaning, automotive, industrial cleaning applications, industrial uses, and the like.

A wash-durable mask is formed including a textile material, where the textile material is obtained by a process including a first process cycle. The first process cycle includes treating a starting textile material using an exhaust process, where the liquor includes one or more antimicrobial agents selected from a quaternary ammonium organosilane compound, polyglucosamine, polyhexamethylene biguanide, and propiconazole, and subjecting the treated textile to a curing at an ambient temperature of at least 150° C. and of at most 205° C.

A wash-durable mask is formed including a textile material, where the textile material is obtained by a process including a first process cycle. The first process cycle includes treating a starting textile material using an exhaust process, where the liquor includes one or more antimicrobial agents selected from a quaternary ammonium organosilane compound, polyglucosamine, polyhexamethylene biguanide, and propiconazole, and subjecting the treated textile to a curing at an ambient temperature of at least 150° C. and of at most 205° C.

A fiber for artificial hair, having a base fiber, a cationic polymer, a cationic surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant, in which the cationic polymer, the cationic surfactant, and the nonionic surfactant are present in at least a part of a surface of the base fiber, the cationic polymer has, as a monomer unit, a monomer having at least one selected from the group consisting of a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, acid-neutralized groups of these groups, and a quaternary ammonium group, the cationic surfactant has a carbon chain having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, the nonionic surfactant has a carbon chain having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, an HLB value of the nonionic surfactant is 13.0 or more, and a content of the cationic polymer is 0.005% by mass or more based on a total amount of the fiber for artificial hair.

A fiber for artificial hair, having a base fiber, a cationic polymer, a cationic surfactant, and a nonionic surfactant, in which the cationic polymer, the cationic surfactant, and the nonionic surfactant are present in at least a part of a surface of the base fiber, the cationic polymer has, as a monomer unit, a monomer having at least one selected from the group consisting of a primary amino group, a secondary amino group, a tertiary amino group, acid-neutralized groups of these groups, and a quaternary ammonium group, the cationic surfactant has a carbon chain having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, the nonionic surfactant has a carbon chain having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, an HLB value of the nonionic surfactant is 13.0 or more, and a content of the cationic polymer is 0.005% by mass or more based on a total amount of the fiber for artificial hair.

A high density mineral fibre board having a formaldehyde free binder has acceptable strength and good dimensional stability.

A high density mineral fibre board having a formaldehyde free binder has acceptable strength and good dimensional stability.

A high density mineral fibre board having a formaldehyde free binder has acceptable strength and good dimensional stability.