A yarn containing a plurality of potential-generating filaments. The yarn is characterized in that the plurality of potential-generating filaments are constructed such that the yarn has a specific permittivity of 4.5 or less. In a specific configuration, the plurality of potential-generating filaments are constructed such that the distance between the potential-generating filaments is about 0 μm to about 10 μm. Also provided is a fabric that contains the yarn.

A yarn containing a plurality of potential-generating filaments. The yarn is characterized in that the plurality of potential-generating filaments are constructed such that the yarn has a specific permittivity of 4.5 or less. In a specific configuration, the plurality of potential-generating filaments are constructed such that the distance between the potential-generating filaments is about 0 μm to about 10 μm. Also provided is a fabric that contains the yarn.

Waterproof composite fabrics comprising a textile layer and a continuous polymer layer that comprises adjoining first and second regions with different physical or visual properties, and knife-over-roll coating methods for 5 manufacturing said composite fabrics. The waterproof composite fabrics described are particularly suitable for covering medical support surfaces, for instance mattresses.

Waterproof composite fabrics comprising a textile layer and a continuous polymer layer that comprises adjoining first and second regions with different physical or visual properties, and knife-over-roll coating methods for 5 manufacturing said composite fabrics. The waterproof composite fabrics described are particularly suitable for covering medical support surfaces, for instance mattresses.

Esters of polylactic acid, including polyethylene glycol esters of polylactic acid are disclosed. Exemplary esters of polylactic acid can be used as textile finishes. Methods of making the esters of polylactic acid via direct and transesterification reactions are also disclosed.

Esters of polylactic acid, including polyethylene glycol esters of polylactic acid are disclosed. Exemplary esters of polylactic acid can be used as textile finishes. Methods of making the esters of polylactic acid via direct and transesterification reactions are also disclosed.

A fiber structure contains polyester fibers 1 and a hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent, wherein part 2a of a molecule 2 of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent is absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers 1, and the remainder 2b of the molecule extends along the surface of the polyester fibers 1 to hydrophilize the surface. The fiber structure has the properties below: (1) antifouling properties of grade 4 or higher according to the gray scale assessment determined by applying 200 g of muddy water, which is a mixture of normal staining soil and sand and distilled water at a ratio of 1:1, to the fiber structure, followed by standing for 24 hours, washing, and drying; (2) water absorbability of 10 seconds or less according to the falling-drop method; and (3) diffusivity of 55 minutes or less according to the diffusible residual water content test (dropping 0.6 mL of water). Thus, the present invention provides a fiber structure not involving curing to keep a good texture while having high antifouling properties, water absorbability, diffusivity, etc.

A fiber structure contains polyester fibers 1 and a hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent, wherein part 2a of a molecule 2 of the hydrophilic polyester resin treatment agent is absorbed in at least part of the polyester fibers 1, and the remainder 2b of the molecule extends along the surface of the polyester fibers 1 to hydrophilize the surface. The fiber structure has the properties below: (1) antifouling properties of grade 4 or higher according to the gray scale assessment determined by applying 200 g of muddy water, which is a mixture of normal staining soil and sand and distilled water at a ratio of 1:1, to the fiber structure, followed by standing for 24 hours, washing, and drying; (2) water absorbability of 10 seconds or less according to the falling-drop method; and (3) diffusivity of 55 minutes or less according to the diffusible residual water content test (dropping 0.6 mL of water). Thus, the present invention provides a fiber structure not involving curing to keep a good texture while having high antifouling properties, water absorbability, diffusivity, etc.

Provided is a method for splitting a carbon fiber tow, which comprises heating a carbon fiber tow sized with a first sizing material to soften the first sizing material and form a spread carbon fiber tow; passing the spread carbon fiber tow through at least one splitter and corresponding cutter to obtain multiple carbon fiber strands spaced apart; and sizing the carbon fiber strands with a second sizing material. With the method, multiple small carbon fiber tows having better tensile strength and/or modulus than the commercially available small carbon fiber tow products can be obtained. Products made of the small carbon fiber tows obtained by the present invention are lighter but stronger, and the production cost is relatively reduced. The present invention also achieves the purpose of energy saving and carbon reduction.

In various exemplary embodiments, a system and an associated method to retrieve information related to marketplace items within an electronic environment are disclosed. A network architecture comprises a listing module to store the information related to the marketplace items. The related information includes one or more user-created items such as an image of a model with one or more tagged items worn by the model. Each of the one or more tagged items has associated descriptive metadata. A communications module is arranged to receive a query including search terms related to social fashion items from an end-user. A query engine is coupled to the communications module to match the search terms contained within the query to the associated descriptive metadata of the tagged items in the listing module. A processing module then displays to the end-user the model and the one or more tagged items.