Fusible bicomponent spandex

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016122907-A1
Application number	US-201414952192-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 29, 2014
Priority date	May 29, 2013
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Included are segmented polyurethane elastic fibers or spandex fibers, capable of bonding to polymer fiber such as nylon or polyamide fibers, in addition to bonding to itself, for apparel textile applications. More particularly the invention relates to bicomponent spandex fibers, with a heat resistant core and a heat sensitive sheath, spun from polymer solutions. The nylon fabrics containing such spandex fibers have enhanced stretch performance and improved surface appearance after heat treatment to activate the fusing and bonding between nylon fibers and spandex fibers.

First claim

1 . An article comprising a bicomponent spandex yarn comprising:
(a) a polyurethane bicomponent fiber including a cross-section having a core and a sheath; and (b) said sheath comprising a hot melt adhesive.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said core and said sheath include independently selected polyurethane compositions.

3 . The article of claim 2 , wherein said core and said sheath both include a polyurethane-urea.

4 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said bicomponent spandex is solution-spun.

5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said core and said sheath independently include:
(1) a polyurethane, (2) a blend of at least one polyurethane and at least one polyurethane-urea or, (3) a polyurethane-urea.

6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said core is heat resistant and said sheath is heat sensitive.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said core is at least about 80% by weight of said fiber.

8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said core is about 80% to about 95% by weight of said fiber.

9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said hot melt adhesive is a polyamide-based hot melt adhesive.

10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said hot melt adhesive has a melting temperature less than 180° C.

11 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said hot melt adhesive has a melting temperature has a temperature of about 120° C. to about 180° C.

12 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said hot melt adhesive is present in the sheath in an amount greater than about 20%.

13 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said hot melt adhesive is present in the sheath in an amount of about 20% to about 80%, by weight of the sheath.

14 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the core and sheath of the fiber are extruded through the same capillary into a single filament.

15 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said fiber is solution-spun.

16 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said cross-section is non-round.

17 . The article of claim, wherein said article is a fabric.

18 . The article of claim 17 , wherein said fabric is selected from woven, nonwoven, and knit.

19 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said bicomponent spandex is covered with another yarn.

20 . A process comprising:
(a) providing a core polymer compositions comprising a first polyurethane solution (b) providing a sheath polymer composition comprising a second polyurethane solution including a hot melt adhesive; (c) combining the core and sheath compositions through distribution plates and orifices to form filaments having a sheath-core cross-section; (d) extruding the filaments through a common capillary; and (e) removing solvent from said filaments.

21 . The process of claim 20 , wherein the solvent is removed from the filament by hot inert gas.

22 . The process of claim 20 , wherein more than one multiple component fiber is made simultaneously.

23 . The process of claim 20 , wherein said core is at least about 80% by weight of said fiber.

24 . The process of claim 20 , wherein said hot melt adhesive is a polyamide-based hot melt adhesive.

25 . The process of claim 20 , wherein said hot melt adhesive has a melting temperature less than 180° C.

26 . An article comprising a fabric including a polyamide fusible sheath-core bicomponent spandex fiber.

27 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said bicomponent spandex fiber includes:
(a) a polyurethane bicomponent fiber including a cross-section having a core and a sheath; and (b) said sheath comprising a polyamide hot melt adhesive.

28 . The article of claim 26 , wherein the bicomponent spandex fiber

29 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said core and said sheath include independently selected polyurethane compositions.

30 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said core and said sheath both include a polyurethane-urea.

31 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said bicomponent spandex is solution-spun.

32 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said core is about 80% to about 95% by weight of said fiber.

33 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said hot melt adhesive has a melting temperature less than 180° C.

34 . The article of claim 26 , wherein said hot melt adhesive is present in the sheath in an amount greater than about 20%.

35 . A process comprising:
(a) providing a polymer yarn, (b) providing a polyamide fusible sheath-core bicomponent spandex fiber; (c) combining said polyamide yarn and said bicomponent spandex fiber to form a fabric; and (d) fusing said polyamide yarn to said bicomponent spandex within said fabric by exposing the fabric to a temperature from about 150° C. to about 200° C.

36 . The process of claim 35 , wherein said polymer yarn is a polyamide yarn.

37 . The process of claim 35 , wherein said fusing occurs during a fabric heat-setting process.

38 . The process of claim 35 , wherein said fabric is a knit or woven fabric or nonwoven.

Assignees

• Invista North America Sarl
• Invista North America S A R I

Inventors

• Liu Hong
• Smith Steven Wayne
• Bivigou Koumba Achille Mayelle
• Hietpas Geoffey Davis
• Bakker Willem
• Blab Andreas J
• Liao Tianyi
• Pi Lijuan

Classifications

• D04H3/009

  Condensation or reaction polymers · CPC title

• D01F8/16 Primary

  with at least one other macromolecular compound obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds as constituent · CPC title

• D02G3/402

  the adhesive being one component of the yarn, i.e. thermoplastic yarn · CPC title

• D04B1/18

  elastic threads · CPC title

• D04B21/18

  incorporating elastic threads · CPC title