Textile fibers having soft hand characteristics and methods of making thereof

Abstract

A fiber having a softer feel, which fiber comprises a fiber-forming polymer melt-blended with a bisamide additive is disclosed. A process of making the fiber having a softer feel formed by melt blending a fiber-forming polymer with a bisamide additive is also disclosed.

1 . A fiber having a softer feel which comprises a fiber-forming polymer melt-blended with a bisamide additive of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R and R″ can be the same or different and are straight or branched alkyl groups having from 7 to 19 carbon atoms, R′ is a C 2 -C 4  linear alkyl group, preferably ethylene, and x is an integer of from 0 to 5.  
   
   
       2 . The fiber of  claim 2  wherein the additive is N, N′-ethylene bisstearamide.  
   
   
       3 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein the additive is of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein said formula contains at least one C 18  acyl group (R═C 17 ).  
     
   
   
       4 . The fiber of  claim 3  wherein the additive is DETA bisstearamide.  
   
   
       5 . The fiber of  claim 3  wherein R and R″ of the additive formula contain from 11 to 15 carbon atoms.  
   
   
       6 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein the fiber-forming polymer is selected from the group of polymers consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polyester and acrylic.  
   
   
       7 . The fiber of  claim 6  wherein the fiber-forming polymer is polypropylene.  
   
   
       8 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein the additive is present in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 7% by weight.  
   
   
       9 . The fiber of  claim 8  wherein the additive is present in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 2%.  
   
   
       10 . The fiber of  claim 1 , which fiber has a denier ranging from about 300/144 to about 1540/70.  
   
   
       11 . A process of making a fiber having a softer feel, which process comprises melt-blending a fiber-forming polymer with a bisamide additive of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R and R″ can be the same or different and are straight or branched alkyl groups having from 7 to 19 carbon atoms, R′ is a C 2 -C 4  linear alkyl group, preferably ethylene, and x is an integer of from 0 to 5.