Polymer Fibre

Abstract

A fibre comprising a colour component comprising an unencapsulated liquid crystal contained in the cavity of a hollow polymeric sheath is provided. The sheath retains the colour component and additional materials may be included to provide a tailored aesthetic effect. The fibre is useful as an artificial hair product and for weaving or knitting into a fabric.

1 . A fibre comprising a self-supporting hollow polymeric sheath and, within the hollow sheath, a colour component comprising a liquid crystal providing a desired aesthetic effect wherein the self-supporting sheath imparts dimensional stability to the fibre. 
     
     
         2 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid crystal is an unencapsulated liquid crystal. 
     
     
         3 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the liquid crystal provides a static colour. 
     
     
         4 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the hollow polymeric sheath is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         5 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the hollow polymeric sheath comprises a thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         6 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the hollow polymeric sheath is selected from nylon, modacrylic, polyamide, polyester, polyalkylene, a thermoplastic vulcanizate, a thermoplastic polyurethane a thermoplastic elastomer polymer, a synthetic rubber and a thermoplastic olefin. 
     
     
         7 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric sheath comprises a further colour component. 
     
     
         8 . A fibre according to  claim 7  wherein the polymeric sheath comprises an encapsulated liquid crystal, a dye and/or a pigment as a dispersed phase. 
     
     
         9 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the polymeric sheath is substantially free of components which impair the visual effect of the colour component in the cavity of the hollow sheath. 
     
     
         10 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the colour component further comprises a further colour component selected from a dye and a pigment. 
     
     
         11 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the colour component further comprises a dark colour component, preferably selected from carbon black and carbon nano tubes. 
     
     
         12 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the colour component further comprises solid particles selected from silica particles, a mica, a precious material, and precious minerals. 
     
     
         13 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the colour component further comprises a component which undergoes a solid/liquid phase change or softening at a temperature under 50° C. 
     
     
         14 . A fibre according to  claim 13  wherein the colour component is selected from gallium and wax. 
     
     
         15 . A fibre according to  claim 1  wherein the colour component further comprises particles to provide a refraction or prism effect. 
     
     
         16 . An artificial hair product comprising a fibre, the fibre comprising a self-supporting hollow polymeric sheath and, within the hollow sheath, a colour component comprising a liquid crystal providing a desired aesthetic effect wherein the self-supporting sheath imparts dimensional stability to the fibre, the fibre having a diameter of 15 to 150 microns. 
     
     
         17 . A fabric comprising a multitude of interlinked fibres, each fibre of the interlinked fibres comprising a self-supporting hollow polymeric sheath and, within the hollow sheath, a colour component comprising a liquid crystal providing a desired aesthetic effect wherein the self-supporting sheath imparts dimensional stability to the fibre. 
     
     
         18 . A fabric according to  claim 17  comprising at least one of natural and man-made fibres. 
     
     
         19 . A garment or fabric product comprising a fabric, the fabric comprising a multitude of interlinked fibres, each fibre of the interlinked fibres comprising a self-supporting hollow polymeric sheath and, within the hollow sheath, a colour component comprising a liquid crystal providing a desired aesthetic effect wherein the self-supporting sheath imparts dimensional stability to the fibre. 
     
     
         20 . A process for the production of a fibre, the fibre comprising a self-supporting hollow polymeric sheath and, within the hollow sheath, a colour component comprising a liquid crystal providing a desired aesthetic effect wherein the self-supporting sheath imparts dimensional stability to the fibre the process comprising feeding a polymer melt into an extrusion channel so as to produce an extruded hollow polymeric tube, feeding a flowable colour component comprising a liquid crystal into a zone within the hollow tube so as to fill the polymeric hollow tube whereby the polymer is extruded to form the sheath around the liquid crystal component thereby to form the fibre.