Filaments with improved luster

Abstract

Various implementations of yarns and multi-component filaments having a plurality of solid particles dispersed throughout a portion of the filaments are described herein. Inclusion of solid particles through a portion of the filaments allows for differing certain properties in products formed from the filaments while maintaining desirable physical properties such as strength or abrasion resistance. For example, including translucent or transparent particles, such as glass flakes or mica, may differ the visual properties, such as providing an increased luster. And, in other implementations, opaque solid particles may be included through a portion of the filaments to create a different property for a product formed with the filament.

1 .- 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . A multi-component filament comprising:
 a first component comprising a first polymer; and   a second component comprising a second polymer and a plurality of transparent or translucent solid particles evenly dispersed within the second polymer;   wherein the second component defines at least 50 percent of an external surface area of the multi-component filament.   
     
     
         79 . The multi-component filament of  claim 78 , wherein the first component comprises a plurality of transparent or translucent solid particles dispersed in the first polymer, wherein the plurality of solid particles have a concentration by volume in the first polymer that is less than a concentration by volume of the solid particles in the second polymer. 
     
     
         80 . The multi-component filament of  claim 79 , wherein the first polymer consists of a polymer selected from the group of a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         81 . The multi-component filament of  claim 80 , wherein the second polymer consists of a polymer selected from the group of a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         82 . The multi-component filament of  claim 81 , wherein the solid particles comprise an average particle diameter ranging from 5 microns to 35 microns and an average thickness ranging from 0.5 microns to 8 microns. 
     
     
         83 . The multi-component filament of  claim 82 , wherein the solid particles are selected from a group consisting of glass and mica. 
     
     
         84 . The multi-component filament of  claim 83 , wherein the solid particles have been treated with a silane coating comprising a silate coupling reagent selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. 
     
     
         85 . The multi-component filament of  claim 84 , wherein the solid particles have a concentration of at least 10% by volume within the second polymer. 
     
     
         86 . The multi-component filament of  claim 85 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the multi-component filament is configured to be selected from a group consisting of round, octalobal, delta, sunburst, scalloped oval, trilobal, tetra-channel, kidney, scalloped ribbon, ribbon, starburst, and semicircular. 
     
     
         87 . The multi-component filament of  claim 86 , wherein the first polymer and the second polymer are the same. 
     
     
         88 . A yarn comprising at least one of a first filament and at least one of a second filament;
 wherein the first filament comprises a first polymer; and   wherein the second filament comprises a second polymer and a plurality of solid particles evenly dispersed within the second polymer.   
     
     
         89 . The yarn of  claim 88 , wherein the first polymer consists of a polymer selected from the group of a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         90 . The yarn of  claim 89 , wherein the second polymer consists of a polymer selected from the group of a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin. 
     
     
         91 . The yarn of  claim 90 , wherein the solid particles are transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         92 . The yarn of  claim 91 , wherein the at least one first filament comprises a plurality of first filaments, and the at least one second filament comprises a plurality of second filaments, and wherein the plurality of second filaments define at least 50 percent of an external surface area of the yarn. 
     
     
         93 . The yarn of  claim 92 , wherein the solid particles comprise wet-ground mica particles selected from the group consisting of muscovite, paragonite, biotite, lepidolite, phlogopite, zinnwaldite, clintonite, hydro-muscovite, illite, phengite, or sericite. 
     
     
         94 . The yarn of  claim 92 , wherein the solid particles comprise glass flakes having an average particle diameter ranging from 5 microns to 35 microns, an average thickness ranging from microns to 8 microns, are comprised of E-glass, C-glass, E-CR-glass, or combinations thereof, and have been coated with a silane coupling reagent selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. 
     
     
         95 . The yarn of  claim 94 , wherein the glass flakes have a concentration of at least 10% by volume within the second polymer. 
     
     
         96 . The yarn of  claim 95 , wherein the first polymer is the same as the second polymer. 
     
     
         97 . A multi-component filament comprising:
 a first component comprising a first polymer with a plurality of solid particles evenly dispersed within the first polymer; and   a second component comprising a second polymer and a plurality of solid particles evenly dispersed within the second polymer;   wherein the second component defines at least 50 percent of an external surface area of the multi-component filament;   
       wherein the first and second polymers are each selected from the group consisting of a polyamide, a polyester, and a polyolefin; 
       wherein the solid particles comprise glass flakes with an average particle diameter ranging from 5 microns to 35 microns and an average thickness ranging from 0.5 microns to 8 microns, and have been treated with a silane coupling reagent selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane; and 
       wherein the glass flakes have a concentration of at least 10% by volume within the second polymer.