US2005046065A1PendingUtilityA1

Thermoplastic fibers exhibiting durable high color strength characteristics

43
Priority: Aug 30, 2003Filed: Aug 30, 2003Published: Mar 3, 2005
Est. expiryAug 30, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Martin E. CowanJoseph R. RoyerSonya DaiBrain Morin
D01F 1/06D01F 1/02D01F 1/04D01F 1/106
43
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

Improvements in permitting brighter colorations within polypropylene fibers and/or yams while simultaneously providing more efficient production methods of manufacturing of such colored fibers as well are provided. Generally, such fibers and/or yams have been colored with pigments, which exhibit dulled results, or dyes, which exhibit high degrees of extraction and low levels of lightfastness. Such dull appearances, high extraction levels, and less than stellar lightfastness properties negatively impact the provision of such desirable colored polypropylene fibers and/or yams which, in turn, prevents the widespread utilization of such fibers and yams in various end-use applications. Thus, it has surprisingly been determined that brighter colorations, excellent extraction, and more-than-acceptable lightfastness characteristics can be provided, preferably, through manufacture with certain polymeric colorants that include poly(oxyalkylene) groups thereon. Fabric articles comprising such novel fibers and/or yams are also encompassed within this invention.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of producing a colored thermoplastic fiber including the steps of 
 a) providing a molten thermoplastic formulation, optionally including colored thermoplastic concentrates therein, wherein said concentrates comprise at least one liquid colorant; and    b) extruding said thermoplastic formulation of step “a” within a fiber extrusion line to form a colored thermoplastic fiber;    wherein, optionally, at least one liquid polymeric colorant is simultaneously injected within said fiber extrusion line during extrusion of said thermoplastic formulation of step “a”;    and wherein at least one of step “a” and “b” includes a coloring procedure.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said liquid colorant is a polymeric colorant.  
     
     
         3 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin, any polyolefin copolymers thereof, at least one polyester, any polyester copolymers thereof, at least one polyamide, any polyamide copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 3  wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin, any polyolefin copolymers thereof, at least one polyester, any polyester copolymers thereof, at least one polyamide, any polyamide copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof wherein said thermoplastic is a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, any copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 3  wherein said fiber is present as a structure selected from the group consisting of a monofilament fiber, a tape fiber, a staple fiber, a melt spun non-woven fiber, a bicomponent/splittable fiber, and a slit film fiber.  
     
     
         6 . The method in  claim 4  wherein said fiber is present as a structure selected from the group consisting of a multifilament fiber, a monofilament fiber, a tape fiber, a staple fiber, a melt spun non-woven fiber, a bicomponent/splittable fiber, and a slit film fiber.  
     
     
         7 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         8 . The method in  claim 2  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         9 . The method in  claim 3  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 4  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         11 . The method in  claim 5  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         12 . The method in  claim 6  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         13 . A method of producing thermoplastic tape fibers comprising the sequential steps of 
 a) extruding a heated formulation of thermoplastic comprising at least one liquid colorant into a film or tube;    b) slitting said film or tube with cutting means oriented longitudinally to said film or tube thereby to produce colored individual tape fibers therefrom; and    c) mechanically drawing said colored individual tape fibers    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said liquid colorant is a polymeric colorant.  
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 13  wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin, any polyolefin copolymers thereof, at least one polyester, any polyester copolymers thereof, at least one polyamide, any polyamide copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 15  wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin, any polyolefin copolymers thereof, at least one polyester, any polyester copolymers thereof, at least one polyamide, any polyamide copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof wherein said thermoplastic is a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, any copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method in  claim 15  wherein said fiber is present as a structure selected from the group consisting of a monofilament fiber, a tape fiber, a staple fiber, a melt spun non-woven fiber, a bicomponent/splittable fiber, and a slit film fiber.  
     
     
         18 . The method in  claim 16  wherein said fiber is present as a structure selected from the group consisting of a multifilament fiber, a monofilament fiber, a tape fiber, a staple fiber, a melt spun non-woven fiber, a bicomponent/splittable fiber, and a slit film fiber.  
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 13  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         20 . The method in  claim 14  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         21 . The method in  claim 15  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         22 . The method in  claim 16  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         23 . The method in  claim 17  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         24 . The method in  claim 18  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         25 . A method of producing thermoplastic fibers comprising the sequential steps of 
 a) providing a thermoplastic composition in pellet or liquid form;    b) melting and mixing said thermoplastic composition of step “a” with at least one liquid colorant to form a substantially homogeneous molten plastic formulation;    c) extruding said plastic formulation to form a colored fiber structure; and    d) spinning said colored extruded fiber at a minimum speed of  1000 .    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said liquid colorant is a polymeric colorant.  
     
     
         27 . The method in  claim 25  wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin, any polyolefin copolymers thereof, at least one polyester, any polyester copolymers thereof, at least one polyamide, any polyamide copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The method in  claim 27  wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of at least one polyolefin, any polyolefin copolymers thereof, at least one polyester, any polyester copolymers thereof, at least one polyamide, any polyamide copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof wherein said thermoplastic is a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, any copolymers thereof, and any blends thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The method in  claim 27  wherein said fiber is present as a structure selected from the group consisting of a monofilament fiber, a tape fiber, a staple fiber, a melt spun non-woven fiber, a bicomponent/splittable fiber, and a slit film fiber.  
     
     
         30 . The method in  claim 28  wherein said fiber is present as a structure selected from the group consisting of a multifilament fiber, a monofilament fiber, a tape fiber, a staple fiber, a melt spun non-woven fiber, a bicomponent/splittable fiber, and a slit film fiber.  
     
     
         31 . The method in  claim 25  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         32 . The method in  claim 26  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         33 . The method in  claim 27  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         34 . The method in  claim 28  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         35 . The method in  claim 29  wherein said fiber is textured.  
     
     
         36 . The method in  claim 30  wherein said fiber is textured.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2005046065A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.