Production of a fabric containing polyethylene terephthalate fibers having a reduced tendency to pill
US4666454A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 9, 1985 |
| Grant date | May 19, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 9, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S8/922
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fabric comprising polyethylene terephthalate fibers which exhibits a reduced tendency to pill upon encountering surface abrasion is formed on an expeditious basis. During the polymerization of the monomers required to form the polyethylene terephthalate, a quantity of polyethylene glycol (as described) is copolymerized therewith to form a polymer which exhibits a substantial intrinsic viscosity (as described). Following the melt-extrusion of the polymer to form fibers and fabric formation, the fabric is subjected to a dye bath at an elevated temperature wherein it is dyed, and the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer is reduced (as described). The presence of units derived from polyethylene glycol within the polymer chain has been found to lead to such intrinsic viscosity reduction within the dye bath. Accordingly, the resulting polyethylene terephthalate fibers present in the fabric tend to exhibit a strength which is closer to that of natural fibers such as cotton, and the tendency of the fabric to retain undesirable pills is greatly reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.