Cellulose and semi-cellulose based fibers and yarns embedded with mineral particles and methods of making the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to relates to fibers, yarns, fabrics and other materials that interact with electromagnetic radiation, wherein these materials are made from a carrier material (such as a cellulose or semi-cellulose) and a plurality of mineral particles as well as methods of making these materials. Specifically, the materials interact with electromagnetic radiation by absorption, reflection, refraction, polarization, or wavelength shifting. The fibers, yarns, fabrics and other materials of the disclosure are useful in a variety of products including furniture upholstery, sportswear and fashion applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An active fiber material, comprising:
 a cellulose or semi-cellulose carrier material; and   a plurality of mineral particles disposed within the carrier material,   wherein the mineral particles comprise about 1.25% to about 10% by weight of the fiber material.   
     
     
         2 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose or semi-cellulose carrier material comprises lyocell, modal, rayon, or viscose, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The active fiber material of  claim 2 , wherein the cellulose or semi-cellulose material is viscose. 
     
     
         4 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose or semi-cellulose carrier material is made from bamboo, soy or sugar cane. 
     
     
         5 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose or semi-cellulose carrier material is made from tree wood. 
     
     
         6 . The active fiber material of  claim 5 , wherein the tree wood comprises spruce, pine, fir, larch, hemlock, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The active fiber material of  claim 5 , wherein the tree wood comprises oak, beech, birch, aspen, poplar, eucalyptus, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The active fiber material of  claim 7 , wherein the tree wood is not eucalyptus. 
     
     
         9 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , where in the mineral particles are electromagnetically-active mineral particles. 
     
     
         10 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral particles have an average particle size of less than about 2.0 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral particles comprise silicon carbide (SiC), calcium carbide (CaC2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silicon dioxide (SiO2), Lapis, zirconium oxide, quartz, boron, tourmaline, manganese, Kaolin clay, Silica, Carbon, Citrine, Carnelian, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the active fiber material permits electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 630 to about 800 nm to pass through. 
     
     
         13 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier material is transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of between about 0.5 μm to about 11 μm. 
     
     
         14 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the active fiber material absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the range between about 400 nm to about 14,000 nm. 
     
     
         15 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the active fiber material polarizes electromagnetic radiation in the range between about 400 nm to about 14,000 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the active fiber material emits light in the range between about 200 nm and about 1,100 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the dry tenacity of the active fiber material is about 20 cN/tex to about 28 cN/tex. 
     
     
         18 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the breaking elongation (dry conditions) of the active fiber material is about 16% to about 25%. 
     
     
         19 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the finish of the active fiber material is about 0.15% to about 0.40%. 
     
     
         20 . The active fiber material of  claim 1 , wherein the active fiber material is in the form of a yarn. 
     
     
         21 . A method of making an active fiber material, comprising:
 suspending a plurality of mineral particles in a cellulose or semi-cellulose carrier material to provide an active fiber material, wherein the mineral particles comprise about 1.25% to about 10% by weight of the fiber material.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising reducing the average particle size of the mineral particles to less than about 2.0 μm prior to suspending said mineral particles in the carrier material. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising spinning the active fiber material to provide a yarn. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising weaving or knitting the yarn with one or more natural or synthetic fibers to provide a fabric. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising preparing a non-woven fabric from the active fiber material. 
     
     
         26 . An active fiber material prepared by the process of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         27 . A fabric prepared by the process of  claim 21 .