ACETATE TOW AND FILTERS WITH SHAPE AND SIZE USED FOR CODING

摘要

Disclosed are acetate tow bands comprising identification fibers which can be used for tracking and tracing the acetate tow band through at least part of the supply chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the acetate tow band, including the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band. The distinct features are detectable in a filter comprising the acetate tow band.

主权项

1. An acetate tow band comprising fibers,
wherein the fibers comprise standard fibers and identification fibers, wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature, wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply chain component associated with the acetate tow band.