US2003039834A1PendingUtilityA1

Low friction fibers, methods for their preparation and articles made therefrom

44
Priority: Aug 22, 2001Filed: Aug 22, 2001Published: Feb 27, 2003
Est. expiryAug 22, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Robert T. Gunn
D01F 1/10Y10T428/2933Y10T428/2913
44
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Claims

Abstract

The invention relates to fibers having a low coefficient of friction formed from a combination of at least two or more materials, such as a base polymer, such as polyethylene, and ultra-high molecular weight silicone, wherein one of the materials has a low coefficient of friction

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A low friction fiber comprising: 
 a polymeric component; and    a low friction component,    wherein the polymeric component is combined with the low friction component, thereby imparting onto the fiber a low coefficient of friction characteristic which is of a non-temporary nature.    
     
     
         2 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric component is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, acrylics, polyethylene, polyurethane and plastic copolymers.  
     
     
         3 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the low friction component is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon polymers, boron, molybdenum sulfide, ultrahigh molecular weight silicone, siloxane, fluoroesters, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymers, perfluoroelastomers, polychloro, trifluoroethylene homo- and copolymers, silicone/silane modified polymers, graphite, fluorinated high molecular weight polyolefins or cyclic organic compounds, non-modified polyolefins, fluoropolymers and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the polymeric component is about 30 wt % and the concentration of the low friction component is about 70 wt %.  
     
     
         5 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient of friction of the fiber is from about 0.22 to about 0.005  
     
     
         6 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient of friction of the fiber is from about 0.15 to about 0.01.  
     
     
         7 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the coefficient of friction of the fiber is from about 0.01 to about 0.005.  
     
     
         8 . The low friction fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the low friction component is a fluoroester.  
     
     
         9 . An article comprised of a low friction fiber comprising: 
 a polymeric component; and    a low friction component,    wherein the polymeric component is combined with the low friction component, thereby imparting onto the fiber a low coefficient of friction characteristic which is of a non-temporary nature.    
     
     
         10 . A low friction fiber comprising: 
 a polymeric component; and    a low friction component,    wherein the concentration of the polymeric component is about 30 wt % of the fiber and the concentration of the low friction component is about 70 wt % of the fiber, and wherein the polymeric component is combined with the low friction component, thereby imparting onto the fiber a low coefficient of friction characteristic which is of a non-temporary nature.    
     
     
         11 . The low friction fiber of  claim 1 , having a denier of from about 0.5 to about 1500.  
     
     
         12 . The low friction fiber of  claim 8 , having a denier of from about 0.5 to about 1500.  
     
     
         13 . A low friction fiber comprising: 
 a polymeric component; and    a low friction component,    wherein the low friction component is fluorinated, and wherein the polymeric component is combined with the low friction component, thereby imparting onto the fiber a low coefficient of friction characteristic which is of a non-temporary nature.    
     
     
         14 . The low friction fiber of  claim 1 , which further comprises flame retardants, antimicrobials, and anti-static agents.  
     
     
         15 . A method of imparting a low coefficient of friction characteristic onto a fiber comprising the steps of: 
 a) combining a polymeric component and a low friction component; and    b) forming a fiber from the combination of the polymeric component and the low friction component.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the polymeric component is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, acrylics, polyethylene, polyurethane and other plastic copolymers.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the low friction component is selected from the group consisting of fluorocarbon polymers, boron, molybdenum sulfide, ultrahigh molecular weight silicone, siloxane, fluoroesters, fluorinated ethylene propylene copolymers, perfluoroelastomers, polychloro, trifluoroethylene homo- and copolymers, silicone/silane modified polymers, graphite, fluorinated high molecular weight polyolefins or cyclic organic compounds, non-modified polyolefins, fluoropolymers and homopolymers and copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A method of reducing the coefficient of friction in an article which comprises incorporating a low friction fiber according to  claim 1  into the article.  
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the article comprises apparel.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the article comprises apparel.  
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the article comprises footwear.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the article comprises footwear.  
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of mattresses, upholstery, bedding, bedsheets, sheets, pillows, pillow cases, mattress and pads.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of mattresses, upholstery, bedding, bedsheets, sheets, pillows, pillow cases, mattress and pads.  
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the low friction fibers can be incorporated overall or in specific areas of the article.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the low friction fibers can be incorporated overall or in specific areas of the article.  
     
     
         27 . The article of claims 9, wherein the low friction fibers can be incorporated in a single layer or in multilayers.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the low friction fibers can be incorporated in a single layer or in multilayers.

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