A system that receives nanomaterials, forms nanofibrous materials therefrom, and collects these nanofibrous materials for subsequent applications. The system include a housing coupled to a synthesis chamber within which nanotubes are produced. A spindle may extend from within the housing, across the inlet, and into the chamber for collecting nanotubes and twisting them into a yarn. A body portion may be positioned at an intake end of the spindle. The body portion may include a pathway for imparting a twisting force onto the flow of nanotubes and guide them into the spindle for collection and twisting into the nanofibrous yarn. Methods and apparatuses for forming nanofibrous are also disclosed.

A polymer fiber comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an inorganic filler, wherein the filler content, based on the polymer fiber, is more than about 10% by weight and the mean particle size (D.sub.50) of the filler is less than or equal to about 6 m. A textile fabric, especially nonwoven, produced from the polymer fiber.

A garment of the present invention is a garment (1) including: a covering fabric; padding to be filled inside the covering fabric; and quilting stitches (2a, 2b). The padding is a polyester staple fiber cotton including fibers having a circular outer peripheral cross section and has an open fiber structure. The fibers constituting the padding have an irregular diameter, and a smoothing agent is fixed to surfaces of the fibers. Thus, it is possible to provide a garment free from problems of uneven distribution of padding after repeated washing, fatigue, etc., and having favorable water removability at the time of washing, quick dryability, and a favorable sliding property between fibers even though synthetic fiber cotton is used as the padding. This garment is suitable as a garment for sports to be washed repeatedly. Further, since the garment can be worn in a puffy state even when wet with sweat, rain, snow, water, etc., it dries quickly by the body temperature and prevents the coldness of the body.

A system that receives nanomaterials, forms nanofibrous materials therefrom, and collects these nanofibrous materials for subsequent applications. The system include a housing coupled to a synthesis chamber within which nanotubes are produced. A spindle may extend from within the housing, across the inlet, and into the chamber for collecting nanotubes and twisting them into a yarn. A body portion may be positioned at an intake end of the spindle. The body portion may include a pathway for imparting a twisting force onto the flow of nanotubes and guide them into the spindle for collection and twisting into the nanofibrous yarn. Methods and apparatuses for forming nanofibrous are also disclosed.

A nonwoven fabric has: a base section that is spread in a flat manner and that comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite each other; and a plurality of protrusions that protrude from the first surface of the base section in the thickness direction. Each of the protrusions is provided with a peripheral surface section that rises from the first surface of the base section in the thickness direction and a peak surface section comprising a peak surface formed on the vertex of the protrusion. The fiber density of the peripheral surface section is higher than the fiber density of the peak surface section. At least part of a peak surface peripheral edge part of the peak surface section is configured as a thickest section having the thickest thickness of the nonwoven fabric.

A method for producing a carbon nanotube web includes a step of preparing a carbon nanotube array disposed on a substrate, the carbon nanotube array including a plurality of carbon nanotubes vertically aligned relative to the substrate; and a step of drawing a carbon nanotube web from the carbon nanotube array, the carbon nanotube web including a plurality of carbon nanotube single yarns arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting the direction carbon nanotube single yarns extend, and the carbon nanotube single yarns including a plurality of continuously connected carbon nanotubes. In the step of drawing a carbon nanotube web, the drawing position of the carbon nanotube web from the carbon nanotube array is kept at the same position in the drawing direction of the carbon nanotube web.

The present invention relates to a thermal insulating structure including at least one baffle, to an article of wear and a sleeping bag including such a thermal insulating structure, and to a method for manufacturing such a thermal insulating structure. In some embodiments, the baffle includes a plurality of natural and/or synthetic down fibers and a plurality of low-melt fibers, wherein the low-melt fibers have been melted to the natural and/or synthetic down fibers by heating inside the baffle.

A melt spinnable fiber is provided that comprises a first component comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a second component comprising thermoplastic starch where the second component is not encompassed by another component or components or if encompassed by another component or components then the second component encompasses a hollow core. A particular use of such a fiber is for removal of the second component in the presence of a solvent in order to produce fibers with desired properties. An agent may be present in the second component for controlling the rate of removal of the second component thereby allowing for physical manipulation of the fiber prior to complete removal of the component. The invention is also directed to nonwoven webs and disposable articles comprising the fibers.

A blend of polyester staple fibers and insulation fill materials useful as a replacement for natural down in articles such as outdoor apparel, sleeping bags, bedding, etc. The blend includes first, second and optionally third polyester staple fiber formats that differing in terms of average diameter. A length of substantially all the fibers of the blend is in the range of about 16 to about 63 mm, alternatively 20-40 mm. At least a majority of the fibers of the blend are opened. In some embodiments, some or substantially all of the fibers of the blend are crimped and/or include a lubricant (e.g., siliconized). One non-limiting example blend includes 20-30 weight percent of not greater than 1 Denier fibers, 20-30 weight percent of greater than 1 up to 2 Denier fibers, and 40-60 weight percent of greater than 2 Denier fibers.

The laminated filler provided by the present invention comprises: a first fiber batt (1) and a second fiber batt (2) compounded to the first fiber batt. In the present invention, by providing the fiber batts in layers, the resulted filler is allowed to have good bulkiness and warmness, and an independent and flexible delamination and diversified combination of different component fibers can be achieved. The results show that the laminated filler provided by the invention has a thickness of 1 to 10 cm and a do value 5.0.