Provided is a carbon fiber bundle for obtaining a fiber-reinforced plastic having high mechanical characteristics. An acrylonitrile swollen fiber for a carbon fiber having openings of 10 nm or more in width in the circumference direction of the swollen fiber at a ratio in the range of 0.3 openings/m.sup.2 or more and 2 openings/m.sup.2 or less on the surface of the swollen fiber, and the swollen fiber is not treated with a finishing oil agent. A precursor fiber obtained by treating the swollen fiber with a silicone-based finishing oil agent has a silicon content of 1700 ppm or more and 5000 ppm or less, and the silicon content is 50 ppm or more and 300 ppm or less after the finishing oil agent is washed away with methyl ethyl ketone by using a Soxhlet extraction apparatus for 8 hours. The fiber is preferably an acrylonitrile copolymer containing acrylonitrile in an amount of 96.0 mass % or more and 99.7 mass % or less and an unsaturated hydrocarbon having at least one carboxyl group or ester group in an amount of 0.3 mass % or more and 4.0 mass % or less.

A filter segment for use in a filter of a smoking article includes a substrate loaded with at least one smoke-modifying agent. The substrate is located within the body of the filter segment and is formed from filter plug wrap having an air permeability ranging from about 6,000 Coresta units to about 24,000 Coresta units.

The invention relates to a laminar textile material for covering a pasty active mass on a battery electrode. The invention further relates to a battery electrode having such a material, to a battery, and to a method for producing battery electrodes. Potential improvements of lead batteries are disclosed that are more practical than previously known solutions, and that stabilize the pasty active mass on the battery electrodes. A laminar textile material is disclosed to this end, comprising glass fibers and fibers made of a thermoplastic, e.g. polyester.

Provided herein are methods for the manufacture of fibers from solution-phase peptide-based polymers by electrospinning, and compositions produced thereby. In particular embodiments, various embodiments provide electrospinning supramolecular fibers from low concentration peptide amphiphile filaments.

The present invention is directed toward an apparatus comprising a high speed rotating disk or bowl for nanofiber spinning from the rotational sheared thin film fibrillation at the enclosed serrations with the optimized stretching zone to produce the defects-free nanofibrous web and nanofibrous membrane comprising a nanofiber network with a number average nanofiber diameter less than 500 nm that yield the crystallinity higher than the polymer resin used in making the web.

A carbon fiber bundle, wherein an average single-fiber fineness is from 1.0 to 2.4 dtex and a roundness is from 0.7 to 0.9 in a shape of a cross-section perpendicular to a fiber axis of a single fiber; the roundness being determined with equation (1): roundness=4S/L.sup.2, where S is a cross-sectional area of the single fiber and L is a circumferential length of the single fiber, and S and L are obtained by observing, under an SEM, the cross-section of the single fiber perpendicular to the fiber axis of the single fiber and analyzing the obtained image.

A pulp fiber with an enhanced carboxyl content resulting in improved antimicrobial, anti-yellowing and absorptive properties. Methods for making the kraft pulp fiber and products made from it are also described.

A pulp fiber with an enhanced carboxyl content resulting in improved antimicrobial, anti-yellowing and absorptive properties. Methods for making the kraft pulp fiber and products made from it are also described.

A composition of matter is provided, including anhydrite calcium sulfate whiskers having a mean aspect ratio of at least 30. Another composition of matter is provided, including alpha-derived anhydrite calcium sulfate whiskers. Yet another composition of matter is provided, including fine alpha particle-derived anhydrite calcium sulfate whiskers.

Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.