A product having powder-like properties, the product comprising animal fibres, e.g. wool, having a length less than 10 mm, preferably less than about 3 mm, more preferably less than about 2 mm. Surprisingly, animal fibres having a length below a certain fibre length have powder-like properties, such as improved rheological properties, increased density, increased surface area and increased porosity. Also described are processes for preparing compositions and composites thereof, and uses thereof, e.g., as a filter aid, in a dietary supplement, in a filler and in a hair thickener.

A product having powder-like properties, the product comprising animal fibres, e.g. wool, having a length less than 10 mm, preferably less than about 3 mm, more preferably less than about 2 mm. Surprisingly, animal fibres having a length below a certain fibre length have powder-like properties, such as improved rheological properties, increased density, increased surface area and increased porosity. Also described are processes for preparing compositions and composites thereof, and uses thereof, e.g., as a filter aid, in a dietary supplement, in a filler and in a hair thickener.

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.

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.

Provided are a cellulose fiber containing cellulose II, the cellulose fiber having improved heat resistance, as well as a fiber reinforced resin composition, a method for producing the cellulose fiber, and a method for producing the fiber reinforced resin composition. The cellulose fiber contains the cellulose II having a content of an imidazolium salt of 1% by mass or less.

For imparting enhanced water-repellency and oil-repellency properties to substrates compositions comprising blends of (A) one or more ester oligomers and (B) one or more polycarbodiimides. Also methods for applying such compositions and articles treated with such compositions.

For imparting enhanced water-repellency and oil-repellency properties to substrates compositions comprising blends of (A) one or more ester oligomers and (B) one or more polycarbodiimides. Also methods for applying such compositions and articles treated with such compositions.

Methods to increase structural performance, strength, and durability of textile-reinforced composite materials are provided. The textile reinforcement may be knitted, for example, in a flat bed weft knitting machine. The method may include pre-stressing a textile reinforcement preform by applying tension. A polymeric precursor may be introduced to the pre-stressed textile reinforcement preform. The polymeric precursor may then be cured or consolidated, followed by releasing of the applied tension to form the composite article comprising polymer and the pre-stressed textile reinforcement. In other aspects, a composite article is provided that has a pre-stressed textile reinforcement structure and a cured polymer. The textile reinforcement may be a knitted, lightweight, seamless, unitary structure. The knitted reinforcement structure may have distinct first and second knitted regions with different levels of pre-stress, thus providing enhanced control over strength, rigidity, and flexibility of the composite article.

Methods to increase structural performance, strength, and durability of textile-reinforced composite materials are provided. The textile reinforcement may be knitted, for example, in a flat bed weft knitting machine. The method may include pre-stressing a textile reinforcement preform by applying tension. A polymeric precursor may be introduced to the pre-stressed textile reinforcement preform. The polymeric precursor may then be cured or consolidated, followed by releasing of the applied tension to form the composite article comprising polymer and the pre-stressed textile reinforcement. In other aspects, a composite article is provided that has a pre-stressed textile reinforcement structure and a cured polymer. The textile reinforcement may be a knitted, lightweight, seamless, unitary structure. The knitted reinforcement structure may have distinct first and second knitted regions with different levels of pre-stress, thus providing enhanced control over strength, rigidity, and flexibility of the composite article.

A carbon fiber production method includes a carbon fiber production step including an oxidation step and a carbonization step; and an exhaust gas processing step including a heat exchange step; an external air mixing step; and a mixed external air supplying step in which the mixed external air is supplied to at least one step that uses heated gas in the steps in the carbon fiber production step; and among the exhaust gases, a high heating value exhaust gas having a heating value of 250 kcal/Nm.sup.3 or higher is supplied to an inlet side of an exhaust gas combustion apparatus and a low heating value exhaust gas having a heating value lower than 150 kcal/Nm.sup.3 is supplied to an outlet side of the exhaust gas combustion apparatus, respectively.