Patent · US Expired

Method for making bicomponent fibers

US5372885A · kind A · utility

69Cited by
6References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 1993
Grant dateDec 13, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T428/2969
  • WIPO fieldMacromolecular chemistry, polymers
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method is disclosed for making thermoplastic bicomponent fibers by contacting under thermally bonding conditions (a) a first component being at least one high performance thermoplastic polymer, such as PET, PBT, nylon or the like, and (b) a second component which is olefinic and which forms at least a portion of the fiber's surface characterized by (b) including at least one grafted olefinic polymer, preferably at least one grafted linear ethylene polymer, having pendant succinic acid or succinic anhydride groups; whereby the fiber is dyeable. The bicomponent fibers made by this process can be in a variety of shapes (e.g., round, oval, trilobal, flat, or hollow) and configurations (e.g., symmetrical sheath/core or side-by-side or asymmetrical crescent/moon). The succinic acid or succinic anhydride groups are provided by grafting, respectively, maleic acid or maleic anhydride onto the linear ethylene polymers especially by a process wherein the grafting is done in a twin-screw, co-rotating extruder with the maleic acid or maleic anhydride being injected into a pressured zone of the extruder. The acid containing grafted linear ethylene polymer or polymer blends are dyeable in contr…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.