It is an object of the present invention to provide ultrafine cellulose fibers capable of exhibiting favorable dispersibility even in an organic solvent. The present invention relates to cellulose fibers having a fiber width of 1000 nm or less and having phosphoric acid groups or phosphoric acid group-derived substituents, wherein the content of the phosphoric acid groups or phosphoric acid group-derived substituents is 0.5 mmol/g or more, and the supernatant yield measured by an measurement method (a) is 70% or less.

A method for ultra-hydrophilic surface treatment of a polymer fiber substrate according to the present invention comprises the steps of: forming a thermosetting coating layer on the surface of a polymer substrate; forming a carboxylate group (—COO—) on the surface of the thermosetting coating layer; forming an amide bond (—CONH—) between the thermosetting coating layer and hydrogel monomers; and forming a hydrophilic polymer layer by crosslinking the hydrogel monomers.

This document presents algae-derived antimicrobial fiber substrates, and a method of making the same. The fiber may be a synthetic fiber, but can also be formed as a cellulosic (e.g., cotton). In various implementations, an algae-derived antimicrobial fiber substrate can be made to have identical properties and characteristics of nylon-6 of nylon 6-6 polymer or the like, and yet contain antimicrobial, anti-viral, and/or flame retardant algal derived substances. Any of various species of red algae, brown algae, blue-green algae, and brown seaweed (marine microalgae and/or macroalgae) are known to contain a high level of sulfated polysaccharides with inherent antimicrobial, antiviral, and flame-retardant properties, and can be used as described herein. Additionally disclosed are algae-derived flexible foams, whether open-cell or closed-cell, with inherent antimicrobial, antiviral, and flame resistant properties. Further, a process of manufacturing is presented wherein the process may include one or more of the steps of: harvesting algae-biomass; sufficiently drying the algae biomass; blending the dried algae biomass with a carrier resin and various foaming ingredients; adding an algal-derived antimicrobial compound selected from various natural sulfated polysaccharides present in brown algae, red algae, and/or certain seaweeds (marine microalgae); and adding a sufficient quantity of dried algae biomass to the formulation to adequately create a fire resistant flexible foam material.

A method for bonding or adding thermo-reactive minerals, such as tourmaline, and/or antimicrobial to fibers, fabrics, textiles and/or any organic, synthetic, or combination therof, hard surfaces for the therapeutic benefits associated with thermo-reactive minerals. The improved method includes an optical brightener for visually determining the presence and distribution of the mineral and antimicrobial.

A method for plasma ion processing is described, including flowing a gas into porous material; and exposing the gas to a pulsed electric field whilst the gas is in the pores. The pulsed electric field ionises the gas to generate a plasma. The method may additionally include exposing the porous material to a gas so as to generate functionality. The method may additionally include exposing the functionalised porous material to a functional species so as to covalently attach said functional species to the surfaces of the pores.

A process for preparing surface-modified carbon, comprising adding carbon material to a solution of a reaction product of primary aromatic amine and excess molar amount of nitrite source, and recovering surface-modified carbon bearing redox-active sites. Surface-modified carbon material, electrodes and capacitors based thereon are also provided.

A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of −40 to −45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

A textile fabric having improved properties, variously including surface stability, abrasion resistance, resistance to edge fraying, moisture control, and resistance to fluid penetration is created by introducing a polymeric solution or a plurality of low-melting particles suspended in a liquid into the textile fabric while leaving a plurality of surface fibers exposed and maintaining a textile feel on the surface.

A ply fibrous product comprises at least one ply selected from a nonwoven ply and a tissue paper ply, wherein the at least one ply selected from a nonwoven ply and a tissue paper ply comprises cellulosic fibers comprising an organic polycarboxylic acid and wherein the organic polycarboxylic acid has at least one carboxyl group covalently bound to the cellulosic fibers and at least one free carboxyl group. Due to the presence of covalent chemical bonds between a carboxyl group of the polycarboxylic acid and hydroxy groups of the cellulosic fibers present in all substrates, the ply fibrous products display a long-lasting acidic pH even after having been rinsed with water. In some embodiments a long-lasting acidic pH may be achieved in the nonwovens treated with an organic polycarboxylic acid even after washing with a washing detergent.

Described are methods and systems for cationizing and dyeing a natural fiber-containing textile, which uses a mono- or di-quaternized cationizing agent. The method includes a step of heating the textile to a temperature in the range of 90° C. to less than 110° C. for a period of time in the range of 1 min to 10 min to react the cationizing agent with the textile. The cationization step in the presence of heat using the halogenated cationization agent of the invention facilitates improved dyeing.