Seat belt webbing and method of dyeing same

Abstract

A process of dying a seat belt within a dye range, the seat belt comprising a woven polyester material containing a blended hybrid fiber of the type known as PET-polycaprolactone diblock copolymer fiber, the process comprising the steps of: heating the webbing to a preferred range while under tension and subsequently washing, steaming, finish coating and drying the webbing.

1 . A process of dying a seat belt with a dye range, the seat belt comprising a woven polyester material containing PET-polycaprolactone diblock copolymer fiber, the process comprising the steps of: 
 introducing the webbing into an oven under tension in the range of about 138-167 C (280-330 F).    
     
     
         2 . The process as defined in  claim 1  wherein the tension of the webbing within the oven is obtained by a step of: controlling the relative speed of one of a brake and a haul unit, wherein the haul unit operates at about 2-7% faster than the brake unit.  
     
     
         3 . The process as defined in  claim 1  wherein the dwell time of any particular length of seat belt in the oven is about 3-5 minutes.  
     
     
         4 . The process as defined in  claim 1  wherein after the seat belt webbing exits the oven, it is washed and then steamed wherein the temperature within a steaming unit is in the range of about 99-105 C (210-220 F).  
     
     
         5 . The process as defined in  claim 1  wherein the webbing is not quenched while it is within or adjacent to the oven, which is a thermosol oven.  
     
     
         6 . The process as defined in  claim 1  including the step of submersing the webbing within a dye bath comprising a 2% solution by volume of blended aromatic solvents and monooelate esters carrier.  
     
     
         7 . The process as defined in  claim 6  wherein the step of submersing the webbing within a dye bath includes immersing the webbing in a solution containing a photo stabilizer based on copper complex and a chlorobenzotriazene UV absorber.  
     
     
         8 . The process as defined in  claim 6  wherein the step of submersing the webbing within a dye bath further includes a step of immersing the webbing in a solution containing a polyester resin fatty acid derivative overcoat in the dye mix.  
     
     
         9 . The process as defined in  claim 1  including the step of introducing the webbing to a scour unit having a scour mix of at least 2% monooelate ester carrier.  
     
     
         10 . The process as defined in  claim 1  including the step of passing the webbing through a terminal dryer and subsequent to drying applying an over coating to the webbing comprising a perflouroalkylcopolymer emulsion finish.  
     
     
         11 . A process of dying a seat belt within a dye range, the seat belt comprising a woven material containing a blended hybrid fiber of the type known as PET-polycaprolactone diblock copolymer fiber, the process comprising the steps of: heating the webbing to a preferred range while under tension and subsequently washing, steaming, finish coating and drying the webbing.