The present invention is directed to eyectrochromic, supercapacitor yarns and the related fabrics. An electrochromic yarn formed by two interwind threads has been invented. The yarn is electrically isolated by a transparent, uncolored polymer. Each thread is the superposition of three concentric layers. The most internal one, the core, has the function of support and/or conductive layer, the second one is the eiectrochromic layer containing conductive nanoparticies, the third layer is a polymer dielectric blend. The yarns described above allows to generate electrochromic fabrics in which the colour can be varied by the application of small electric voltages fed by a battery with variable power supply controlled by a microprocessor connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth technology. A specific application on the smartphone allows to change the voltage supply to the fabrics, in order to get the desired chromatic change.

Provided herein are a controllable liquid transport material, a controllable liquid transport system and a method for preparing a controllable liquid transport material, where a first region of the controllable liquid transport material is treated to be hydrophobic, while a plurality of second regions partially contacted or completely separated with different shapes are treated to have a gradient or varied wettabilities and/or pore sizes for passively controllable liquid transport, and/or integrated with a smart material for actively controllable liquid transport driven by an external force, allowing efficiently and controllably directional transport of a liquid e.g., sweat. The controllable liquid transport system comprises a controllable liquid transport material used as a liquid transport layer and a breathable, waterproof protective layer.

This patent document discloses a method of fabricating an electrically conductive fiber coated with polythiophene and a carbon material. The low-cost method is amenable to modifications to suit the practical needs in various applications.

Systems and devices for continuous, high-throughput production of electrically conductive yans, fibers or fabrics. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first process chamber for coating the yarn, fiber or fabric with an electrically conductive material and a second process chamber for encapsulating the electrically conductive yarn, fiber or fabric with an encapsulating material. In another embodiment, device for printing an encapsulated electrically conductive material on a yarn, fiber or fabric, includes print head(s) for coating and encapsulating a yarn, fiber or fabric.

The present invention relates to a surgical suture having excellent biocompatibility and low friction, and to a method for manufacturing same. The suture according to the present invention has excellent biocompatibility and low friction, thereby reducing pain that may occur in a patient during suturing and minimizing the occurrence of inflammation in cells at a suture site, and also has excellent contact properties with cells, thereby capable of being used for various medical and surgical operations.

An oligomer represented by the formula

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or methyl, R.sup.2 is an alkyl group having from 2 to 18 carbons, inclusive, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or hydroxyl, Y is hydrogen or an initiator residue, Z is a single bond or methylene, and n is an integer from 9 to 40, inclusive. Acrylate oligomer emulsions including the disclosed oligomer and fluorine-free treating compositions including the acrylate oligomer emulsion. Methods of making and using such compositions are also disclosed.

A textile includes a substrate and a coating applied to a surface of the substrate. The coating includes a plurality of bilayers positioned one on top of the other. Each bilayer includes a first layer including a cationic polymer and a second layer comprising an anionic polymer. The cationic polymer in the first layer includes a polyethyleneimine (PEI), a poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm), a poly(allyl amine) (PAAm), a polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA), or a chitosan (CH). The anionic polymer in the second layer includes a poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), a poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS), a poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), a poly(sodium phosphate) (PSP), or a poly(vinyl sulfate) (PVS).

According to the invention there is provided a method of treating textile fibers including the steps of: providing a polymeric precursor which includes a group of sub-formula (I) where R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from (CR.sup.7R.sup.8).sub.n, or a group CR.sup.9R.sup.10, CR.sup.7R.sup.8CR.sup.9R.sup.10 or CR.sup.9R.sup.10CR.sup.7R.sup.8 where n is 0, 1 or 2, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo or hydrocarbyl, and either one of R.sup.9 or R.sup.10 is hydrogen and the other is an electron withdrawing group, or R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 together form an electron withdrawing group, and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are independently selected from CH or CR.sup.11 where R.sup.11 is an electron withdrawing group, the dotted lines indicate the presence or absence of a bond, X.sup.1 is a group CX.sup.2X.sup.3 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is absent and a group CX.sup.2 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is present, Y.sup.1 is a group CY.sup.2Y.sup.3 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is absent and a group CY.sup.2 where the dotted line bond to which it is attached is present, and X.sup.2, X.sup.3, Y.sup.2 and Y.sup.3 are independently selected from hydrogen, fluorine or other substituents, R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen, halo, nitro, hydrocarbyl, optionally substituted or interposed with functional groups, or —R.sup.3-R.sup.5≡Y.sup.1, and R.sup.13 is C(O) or S(O).sub.2; coating the textile fibers with the polymeric precursor; and polymerizing the polymeric precursor so as to produce a polymeric coating on the textile fibers. ##STR00001##

The invention relates to an electroconductive staple fibers, fabrics and other substrates. The invention further relates to fibers fabrics and other articles of manufacture produced using the method. The method and articles of manufacture find particular use in functional wearable garments, e.g., outerwear, gloves, and in devices in which electroconductivity is desirable. Exemplary devices include a fiber, fabric or leather substrate or component.

A polymer latex composition for fibre binding includes: a) 50 to 98 wt.-% based on the total weight of latex particles in the composition of first latex particles having a volume average particle size of 80 to 1000 nm, wherein the first latex particles optionally bear functional groups and if functional groups are present they are selected from functional groups consisting of acid functional groups and salts, amides or anhydrides thereof, silane functional groups, and combinations thereof; b) 2 to 50 wt.-% based on the total weight of latex particles in the composition of second latex particles having a volume average particle size of 5 to 70 nm bearing epoxy functional groups, to the use of that composition for fibre binding, to a fibre structure including the dried residue of that composition and to a method for increasing the strength of a fibre structure.