Cellulose fiber

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cellulose fibre which is characterized by a biodegradation rate of less than 60% after 20 weeks and/or in which the note for the susceptibility to Eurotium rubrum amounts to less than 2 after 4 weeks at an air humidity of 85%.

1 . A method for producing an antimicrobial effect in a textile article comprising cellulosic material, comprising manufacturing the textile article to include an antimicrobial substance consisting of Lyocell fiber to which no further antimicrobial substance has been added, wherein the amount of Lyocell fiber constitutes at least ten percent by weight of the textile article; and demonstrating the antimicrobial property of the article.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial property demonstrated is the reduced growth rate of a microbe.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic material in the textile article contains between 30 and 100 percent Lyocell fiber.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.  
   
   
       16 . A method for reducing biodegradation of a textile article comprising cellulosic material, comprising manufacturing the textile article to comprise Lyocell fiber, wherein no further antimicrobial substance is added to the Lyocell fiber, and demonstrating a reduced degradation rate of the textile article.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reduced degradation rate demonstrated is the reduced loss in weight of the article.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cellulosic material in the textile article contains between 30 and 100 percent Lyocell fiber.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.  
   
   
       31 . A method for producing a mite-resistant textile article comprising cellulosic material, comprising manufacturing the textile article to include a bioactive product consisting of Lyocell fiber, wherein the amount of Lyocell fiber constitutes at least ten percent by weight of the textile article; and demonstrating the mite-resistance of the article.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the cellulosic material in the textile article contains between 30 and 100 percent Lyocell fiber.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a yarn, a fabric, a knitted fabric, and a non-woven fabric.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the textile article is selected from the group consisting of a pillow and a mattress.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the textile article is a blanket.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the textile article is a piece of furniture having a textile component.