Process of making textured multicomponent fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019309448-A1
Application number	US-201916373023-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2019
Priority date	Apr 9, 2018
Publication date	Oct 10, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process for texturing a multicomponent fiber is provided. The process comprises: (A) providing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer; and a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and wherein the water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of the multicomponent fiber in a proportion of no greater than 55% water dispersible polymer; and (B) passing the multicomponent fiber through a first zone comprising a first heating device and a twisting unit, wherein the first heating device has a heating temperature that is at least 10% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for texturing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section, the steps comprising:
(A) providing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer; and a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and wherein the water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of the multicomponent fiber in a proportion of no greater than 55% water dispersible polymer; and (B) passing the multicomponent fiber through a first zone comprising a first heating device and a twisting unit, wherein the first heating device has a heating temperature that is at least 10% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions.

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first zone comprises a cooling zone, and the step of passing the multicomponent fiber through a first zone further comprises providing a twist to the multicomponent fiber and cooling the multicomponent fiber.

3 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step (C) passing the fiber through a second zone, wherein the second zone comprises a second heating device.

4 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the second heating device comprises at least one godet roller.

5 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the heating temperature of the second heating device is at least 10% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions.

6 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one additional fiber different from the multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer, and texturing the additional fiber with the multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer to form a textured yarn comprising at least two different fibers; optionally, the additional fiber is a multicomponent fiber.

7 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the heating temperature of the first heating device is at least 15% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions.

8 . A process for texturing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section, the steps comprising:
(A) providing a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer; and a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and wherein the water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of the multicomponent fiber in a proportion of no greater than 55% water dispersible polymer; (B) passing the multicomponent fiber through a first zone comprising a heating device, a twisting unit and a cooling zone, wherein the step of passing the multicomponent fiber through a first zone comprises heating the multicomponent fiber, providing a twist to the multicomponent fiber and cooling the multicomponent fiber, and wherein the first heating device has a heating temperature that is at least 10% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions; and (C) optionally, passing the fiber through a second zone, wherein the second zone comprises a second heating device.

9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the second heating device comprises at least one godet roller.

10 . The process of claim 8 , further comprising providing at least one additional fiber different from the multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer, and texturing the additional fiber with the multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer to form a textured yarn comprising at least two different fibers; optionally, the additional fiber is a multicomponent fiber.

11 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the heating temperature of the first heating device is at least 15% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions.

12 . A process for texturing a fiber, the steps comprising:
(A) providing a first fiber, wherein the first fiber is a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer; and a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and wherein the water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of the multicomponent fiber in a proportion of no greater than 55% water dispersible polymer; (B) providing a second fiber; (C) passing the first fiber through a first processing zone, wherein the first processing zone comprises a heating device and a twisting zone, wherein the first fiber is heated, wherein the heating temperature of the first heating device is at least 10% less than the temperature used for a fiber without the water dispersible component having the same water non-dispersible polymer, same number of total filaments in the fiber, and the same total denier for a given type of equipment and process conditions, wherein the twisting zone comprises at least one friction disk; (D) passing the second fiber through a second processing zone, wherein the second processing zone comprises a heating device and a twisting zone wherein the second fiber is heated; and (E) combining the first fiber and the second fiber to make a yarn comprising the multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer and the second fiber.

13 . The process of claim 12 , wherein the second fiber comprises a multicomponent fiber having a shaped cross section and at least one water dispersible polymer; and a plurality of domains comprising one or more water non-dispersible polymers, wherein said domains are substantially isolated from each other by said water dispersible polymer intervening between said domains; and wherein the water dispersible polymer is present at the perimeter of the outside cross-section of the multicomponent fiber in a proportion of no greater than 55% water dispersible polymer.

14 . The process of claim 12 , wherein the second fiber is selected from the group consisting of cotton, linen, silk, sisal/grass, leather, acetate, acrylic, modacrylic, polylactide, saran, cellulosic fiber pulp, inorganic fibers, polyester fibers, nylon fibers, polyolefin fibers, rayon fibers, lyocell fibers, cellulose ester fibers, post-consumer recycled fibers

Assignees

• Eastman Chem Co

Inventors

• Holbert Jr Richard Moore
• Holbrook Jr Loady Palmer
• Parker Kenny Randolph
• Rudisill Edgar N
• Smith Johnathan Wayne
• Urman Kevin Leonard

Classifications

• D01F8/14

  with at least one polyester as constituent · CPC title

• D01D5/30

  Conjugate filaments; Spinnerette packs therefor · CPC title

• D01D5/36

  Matrix structure; Spinnerette packs therefor · CPC title

• D02J1/08

  Interlacing constituent filaments without breakage thereof, e.g. by use of turbulent air streams · CPC title

• D02G1/16

  using jets or streams of turbulent gases, e.g. air, steam {(interlacing filaments D02J1/08)} · CPC title