Fire retardant compositions and methods and apparatuses for making the same

An apparatus for producing an intermediate for the production of goods, comprising:

• a feeding component having at least one feeding element for providing a drafting component with at least one continuous precursor feeding material in a substantially flat, minimally twisted state;
• wherein said drafting component has a least one drafting element for converting said at least one continuous precursor feeding material into a continuous mass of a randomly arranged collection of minimally twisted wool-like structures;
• wherein said feeding component and said drafting component are integrated into a single unit for continuous operation;
• wherein said feeding component is adapted to receive at least one spool of a starting material for delivery to said at least one feeding element;
• wherein said feeding component provides a passive process for maintaining the feeding material in said substantially flat configuration, with a minimum twist that is no more than about double the twist of the starting material;
• wherein said feeding component, said drafting component and said spinning component are integrated into a single unit for providing a continuous operation;
• wherein the spinning component is configured to provide a twist count in the range of 100 to 1000 twists per meter;
• and
• wherein the starting material is selected from a group of starting materials consisting of filamentary materials and fibrous materials.