Improved Spinning Process and Novel Gelatin Fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016130729-A1
Application number	US-201414894585-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 21, 2014
Priority date	May 31, 2013
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to the manufacturing gelatin fibers comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a two-phase composition as defined in the claims, (b) spinning the lower phase of said composition, (c) stretching the obtained fiber and (d) optional finishing steps; to new gelatin fibers and to the use thereof.

First claim

1 . A process for manufacturing gelatin fibers comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing a composition comprising
5-35 wt % of gelatin,
20-60 wt % of water,
2-75 wt % of a first solvent selected from the group of aliphatic C 1-4 alcohols,
0-20 wt % of a second solvent selected from the group of cyclic ethers having 5-7 ring members, and
0-10 wt % additives;
(b) spinning the lower phase of said composition to form a spun product; (c) stretching (drawing) said spun product by a factor of 1.25-5; (d) optionally further treatment;
wherein at least steps (b) and (c) are continuously performed, and wherein steps, (b) and (c) are performed at ambient temperature, and wherein the composition of step (a) comprises two phases and wherein the lower one of said phases is gelatin-rich and opaque.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said step (b) is dry spinning.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said step (b) is wet spinning.

4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said gelatin has a Bloom value of at least 280 g.

5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein
said aliphatic alcohol is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol and ethanol and/or said second solvent is not present and/or said additives are not present.

6 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the composition of step (a) is obtained by
combining the starting materials (gelatin, water, first solvent, second solvent, if present and additives if present) and heating to 40-70° C.; followed by phase separation at 40-70° C. to obtain an opaque, gelatin-rich phase.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said step (b) comprises spinning of a gelatin composition where the gelatin is in a non-equilibrium, precipitate-like state.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said step (c) is a multi step process having a plurality of substeps, wherein in each of said substeps the fiber is stretched by 5-50% to obtain the intended final stretching factor.

9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said step (d) comprises
cross-linking the obtained gelatin fiber; or cross-linking the obtained gelatin fiber followed by swelling in water followed by drying in an gas atmosphere being inert to the gelatin fiber; and/or coating the obtained gelatin fiber.

10 . The process of claim 1 , wherein said gelatin fibers
are of 20-200 micrometers diameter; and/or are of more than 1 m length; and/or comprise internal pores of 0.1-10 micrometers diameter.

11 . A porous gelatin fiber, characterized in that
said fiber has a diameter of 20-200 micrometers and >1 m length; and said porosity being characterized by internal pores having a diameter of 0.1-10 micrometers and a length depth in the direction of the fiber being at least 5 times of the diameter.

12 . The gelatin fiber of claim 11 , characterized in that it has
an elastic modus of >2400 MPa and/or a density of 0.8-1.1 g/cm 3 .

13 . (canceled)

14 . A reinforced material comprising
(a) a matrix, and (b) gelatin fibers according to claim 11 , wherein the gelatin fibers are dispersed within the matrix to form the reinforced material.

15 . The reinforced material of claim 14 , wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers or biologically degradable polymers.

16 . A woven or non-woven fabric comprising porous gelatin fibers, characterized in that
said fibers have a diameter of 20-200 micrometers and >1 m length; and said porosity being characterized by internal pores having a diameter of 0.1-10 micrometers and a length in the direction of the fiber being at least 5 times the diameter.

17 . The woven or non-woven fabric of claim 16 , wherein the gelatin fibers have
an elastic modus of >2400 MPa and/or a density of 0.8-1.1 g/cm 3 .

18 . The process of claim 6 , wherein said step (b) comprises spinning of a gelatin composition where the gelatin is in a non-equilibrium, precipitate-like state.

19 . The process of claim 18 , wherein said step (c) is a multi step process having a plurality of substeps, wherein in each of said substeps the fiber is stretched by 5-50% to obtain the intended final stretching factor.

20 . The process of claim 6 , wherein said step (c) is a multi step process having a plurality of substeps, wherein in each of said substeps the fiber is stretched by 5-50% to obtain the intended final stretching factor.

21 . A method for forming a gelatin fiber, comprising the steps of
(a) forming an gelatin-rich and opaque composition containing gelatin; and (b) spinning the gelatin-rich and opaque composition to form a spun product; (c) stretching (drawing) said spun product by a factor of 1.25-5.

Assignees

• Eth Zuerich

Inventors

• Stoessel Philipp R
• Grass Robert N
• Stark Wendelin Jan

Classifications

• B29K2089/00

  Use of proteins, e.g. casein, gelatine or derivatives thereof, as moulding material · CPC title

• D03D15/00

  Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used · CPC title

• B29C47/0014

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• D01F4/00 Primary

  Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of proteins; Manufacture thereof · CPC title

• D04H3/015

  Natural yarns or filaments · CPC title