MODIFIED FIBER, YARN AND WOVEN MATERIALS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USES THEREOF

A fiber material and/or yarn is described that includes: a) at least one staple fiber component; b) at least one base fiber component, wherein the at least one staple fiber component is at least about 50% shorter in length than the at least one base fiber component and wherein each of the at least one staple fiber component and th e at least one base fiber component has at least one melting point. Methods are also provid ed herein that include: a) providing at least one staple fiber component having at least on e melting point; b) providing at least one base fiber component having at least one melting point, wherein at least one of the melting points of the staple fiber component is lower th an at least one of the melting points of the base fiber component; c) mixing the at least one staple fiber component with the base fiber component to form a blend material; d) processing the blend material to form a fiber bundle or a yarn bundle; and e) applying a thermal energy source to the fiber bundle or yarn bundle to form the modified fiber bundle and/or yarn bundle.