Fibers with chemical markers and physical features used for coding

US9863920B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Eastman Chemical Company · US

Inventors

• Scott Gregory Gaynor · Bristol, US
• Andrew Ervin McLeod · Jonesborough, US
• Steven Anthony Wilson · Kingsport, US
• Humberto Collazo · Kingsport, US
• Larry Wayne Renfro · Kingsport, US
• Lydia Juanita Salyer · Kingsport, US
• Jeremy Kenneth Steach · Kingsport, US
• Michael John Rodig · Johnson City, US
• Brian Douglas Seiler · Kingsport, US
• Jonathan Horton · Big Stone Gap, US
• Clarissa Tatum · Johnson City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 24, 2015
• Grant date: Jan 9, 2018
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/6439
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Disclosed are fibers which contain identification fibers. The identification fibers can contain a one or more of chemical markers and one or more distinct features, or taggants, which may vary among the fibers or be incorporated throughout all of the fibers. The chemical markers and distinct features can be representative of specific supply chain information. The supply chain information can be used to track the fibers from manufacturing through intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer. The disclosed embodiments also relate to the method for making and characterizing the fibers. Characterization of the fibers can include identifying chemical markers and distinct features and correlating the chemical markers and distinct features to manufacturer-specific taggants to determine supply chain information.