Abrasion-resistant spun articles

Abstract

The invention relates to spun articles, threads (yarns), fibers or filaments which have improved abrasion resistance properties and which can be used to produce felts for paper machines. The invention more specifically relates to synthetic resin-based threads (yarns), fibers or filaments having nanometric-sized loads.

1 . Yarns, fibers and filaments based on synthetic resin, characterized in that they comprise between 0.05% and 20% by weight of nanometric-sized particles dispersed in the resin and in that they have an abrasion resistance which is improved by at least 5% compared with yarns, fibers and filaments made from an identical resin, of the same viscosity but not containing nanometric-sized particles, the abrasion resistance being defined by the number of to and fro motions of a three-roll roller assembly, over a set of 15 fixed yarns, that is required to break 13 of the yarns.  
     
     
         2 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the abrasion resistance is improved by at least 10%.  
     
     
         3 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the weight concentration of particles is less than or equal to 5%.  
     
     
         4 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the synthetic resin is chosen from polyamides, blends containing polyamides, and copolymers based on polyamides.  
     
     
         5 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the synthetic resin is based on Nylon-6, Nylon-6,6 or blends or: copolymers thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particles are of substantially spherical shape and have a mean diameter of less than or equal to 100 nanometers.  
     
     
         7 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the mean diameter of the particles is less than or equal to 50 nanometers.  
     
     
         8 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in either of claims  6  and  7 , characterized in that the particles are inorganic particles based on oxides or sulfides of titanium, silicon, zirconium, cadmium or zinc or are based on mixtures of these compounds.  
     
     
         9 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 6  to  8 , characterized in that the particles are based on silica.  
     
     
         10 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that the silica-based particles are introduced in the form of a sol into the curing medium of the resin.  
     
     
         11 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that the particles are in platelet form, the mean thickness of the platelets being less than 10 nanometers.  
     
     
         12 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the platelets are exfoliable silicates.  
     
     
         13 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the platelets are exfoliable silicates treated with a swelling agent.  
     
     
         14 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 11  to  13 , characterized in that the platelets are obtained from materials chosen from montmorillonites, smectites, illites, sepiolites, palygorkites, muscovites, allervardites, amesites, hectorites, talcs, fluorohectorites, saponites, beidellites, nontronites, stevensites, bentonites, micas, fluoromicas, vermiculites, fluorovermiculites and halloysites.  
     
     
         15 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 11  to  14 , characterized in that the platelets are of synthetic or natural origin.  
     
     
         16 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 11  to  15 , characterized in that the particles are incorporated into the resin by introduction into the curing medium of the resin.  
     
     
         17 . The yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 11  to  15 , characterized in that the particles are incorporated into the resin by introduction into the melt.  
     
     
         18 . A felt for a paper machine, made from yarns, fibers and filaments as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  17 .  
     
     
         19 . Rugs and carpets made from yarns, fibers or filaments as claimed in one of  claims 1  to  17 .