Fluoropolymer yarn blends

Abstract

The present invention relates to yarn blends of fluoropolymer yarn and yarn of polyester, polyamide, or acrylic fiber, the latter when dyed providing color to the yarn blend even with the fluoropolymer yarn being undyed. When the polyester, polyamide, or acrylic fiber yarn is stronger than the fluoropolymer yarn, the yarn of such fiber strengthens the yarn blend.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Yarn blend of at least first and second yarns, said first yarn comprising fluoropolymer fiber and said second yarn comprising at least one dyed or dyeable fiber comprising polyester, polyamide, or acrylic.  
     
     
         2 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  wherein said yarns are co-mingled.  
     
     
         3 . The yarn blend of  claim 2  wherein said first yarn is undyed and said second yarn is dyed, the co-mingling of said yarns to form said yarn blend giving said yarn blend the appearance of the color of said second yarn.  
     
     
         4 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  wherein said first and second yarns are twisted together.  
     
     
         5 . The yarn blend of  claim 4  wherein multiple ends of said yarn blend are corded together.  
     
     
         6 . Sewing thread comprising multiple ends of said yarn blend of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . Yarn blend of  claim 1  wherein the elongation and tenacity of said second yarn is such that the overall tenacity of said yarn blend is at least  1  gpd greater than the first yarn by itself.  
     
     
         8 . The yarn blend of  claim 7  wherein the tenacity of said first yarn is at least 2 gpd and the tenacity of said second yarn is at least 5.9 gpd, the elongation of said second yarn having an elongation which is greater than the elongation of said first yarn.  
     
     
         9 . The yarn blend of  claim 8  wherein the elongation of said second yarn is less than 10% above the elongation of said first yarn.  
     
     
         10 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  wherein said first yarn is ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer having a tenacity of at least 2 gpd.  
     
     
         11 . The yarn blend of  claim 10  wherein said tenacity of said first yarn is at least 2.5 gpd.  
     
     
         12 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  comprising a greater number of first yarns than second yarns.  
     
     
         13 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  having a greater number of second yarns than first yarns.  
     
     
         14 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  wherein the tenacity of said second yarn is at least 6.5 gpd.  
     
     
         15 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  wherein said first and second yarns are selected from the group consisting of continuous filament yarn and staple fiber yarn.  
     
     
         16 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  containing at least two said second yarns, one of said second yarns being acrylic staple fiber and another of said second yarns being selected from the group consisting of polyester and polyamide.  
     
     
         17 . The yarn blend of  claim 1  comprising a core and a sheath, said second yarn being present in said core and said first yarn being present in said sheath.  
     
     
         18 . The yarn of  claim 6  additionally containing binder.  
     
     
         19 . The yarn of  claim 1  wherein said second yarns are polyester or polyamide.