The content of invention
An object of the present invention is to reduce or overcome substantially these defectives.
According to the present invention, a kind of method of making Lyocell fibers is provided, it comprises the steps:
(1) is being higher than the temperature of room temperature, the solution of preparation cellulose in moisture N-tertiary amine oxide solvent, this solution contains from trace (as defined herein) to 30 weight %, preferred 0.001-30 weight %, more preferably 0.01-20 weight %, the thermoplastic polymer particles of 0.1-10 weight % most preferably, the glass transition temperature of this thermoplastic polymer are lower than the temperature that forms solution, and this percentage is a benchmark with the cellulosic weight that is scattered in the solution;
(2) with mould solution is clamp-oned in the moisture coagulating bath, formed Lyocell fibers thus;
(3) washing the fibre removes residual N-amine oxide, and dried fibres;
(4) crimped fibre, making the interior 2.5-8 of formation of fiber curls/centimetre.
Term " trace " is enough to demonstrate the amount of the thermoplastic polymer of change color when referring to the disperse dyeing of fiber that contains thermoplastic polymer.
Glass transition temperature Tg represents that polymer becomes the temperature province of elasticity or sticky polymers from the state-transition that firmly, more or less is brittle glass, when described elasticity or viscosity attitude, the motion of the part of strand (being commonly referred to segment) is not subjected to interactional obstruction (the Principles of PolymerChemistry of adjacent molecule chain, Paul J Flory, Comell University publishing house, the 15th printing, 1992, ISBN0-8014-0134-8, the 56th page).
In a preferred implementation of the inventive method, the fusing point of described thermoplastic polymer is higher than 50 ℃, is preferably 50-150 ℃, more preferably 80-130 ℃, is recorded by the differential thermal analysis method.
Preferred-20 ℃-130 ℃ of the glass transition temperature Tg of polymer, more preferably 30-130 ℃.
Thermoplastic polymer is preferably selected from polyester, polyamide and olefin polymer.
Thermoplastic polymer preferably is scattered in the whole Lyocell fibers with phase farmland form, and the full-size on all phase farmlands preferably is not more than 50nm basically.
Fiber preferably curls, make intrastitial crispation number be 3.5-8 to curl/centimetre.
Described solution can contain delustering agent, for example is scattered in titanium dioxide granule wherein.Thus, formed fiber just contains the 0.1-5 weight % that is scattered in wherein, preferred 0.1-2 weight %, and more preferably the titanium dioxide granule of 0.2-1 weight % is a benchmark with the cellulose.
In a preferred implementation of method of the present invention, before curling, fiber is applied soft finishing agent (lubricant).
The preferred 0.01-2 weight of the content of the soft finishing agent that is applied %, more preferably 0.1-0.5 weight %, most preferably 0.15-0.4 weight % is a benchmark with the fibre weight.Find at least these scopes under the zone in, obtainable crimpness directly changes with the amount of the soft finishing agent that is applied.
Curl and to be formed in the fiber by the described method of EP-A-0703997.The fiber number of formed fiber is preferably the 0.5-5 dtex, more preferably the 1-3.5 dtex.
Method of the present invention can also comprise the step that fiber is cut into the staple fibre of 3-100mm length, more preferably 20-75mm.
In a preferred implementation of the inventive method, after fiber wash and before the drying, apply chemical substance with 2-6 and functional group of fibrin reaction, they are before the drying or between dry period, through reaction bonded to fiber.
According to the present invention, the another kind of method of making Lyocell fibers also is provided, it comprises the steps:
(1) make the solution of cellulose in moisture N-tertiary amine oxide solvent, this solution contains the eutectic thermoplastic polymer particles to 30 weight % from trace (as defined herein), and this percentage is a benchmark with the cellulosic weight that is scattered in the solution;
(2) with mould solution is clamp-oned in the moisture coagulating bath, formed Lyocell fibers thus;
(3) washing the fibre removes residual N-amine oxide, and dried fibres;
(4) crimped fibre, making the interior 2.5-8 of formation of fiber curls/centimetre.
According to the present invention, a kind of Lyocell fibers also is provided, it contain be scattered in wherein from trace (as defined herein) to 30 weight %, preferred 0.001-30 weight %, more preferably 0.01-10 weight %, most preferably the eutectic thermoplastic polymer particles of 0.1-10 weight % is a benchmark with cellulosic weight, and have 2.5-8 curl/centimetre.
The eutectic thermoplastic polymer is preferably selected from polyester, polyamide and olefin polymer.
Be surprised to find that fiber of being made by the inventive method and fiber of the present invention can be significantly to carry out gratifying combing at a high speed, in some cases, even can adopt the twice of the employed gratifying speed of conventional Lyocell fibers.In the manufacture process of supatex fabric, combing speed is a very important speed limiting factor.Supatex fabric often uses delustering fibre, can not harm method of the present invention as the existence of the titanium dioxide of delustering agent, or the performance of fiber of the present invention, comprises the performance of its high speed combing.
Lyocell fibers of the present invention can be that length is preferably 3-100mm, more preferably the staple fibre form of 20-75mm.
The soft finishing agent that Lyocell fibers of the present invention applied is preferably 0.01-2 weight %, more preferably 0.1-0.5 weight %, and most preferably 0.15-0.4 weight % is a benchmark with the fibre weight.
According to the present invention, a kind of Lyocell fibers also is provided, it comprises the phase farmland of eutectic thermoplastic polymer, described polymer is selected from polyester, polyamide and olefin polymer, it is characterized in that described fiber contains 0.1-30 weight %, preferred 0.5-10 weight %, 1-5 weight % eutectic thermoplastic polymer most preferably, with the cellulose is benchmark, and when its feature also was with the electron microscope observation that amplifies 9000 times, all basically phase farmlands all be can't see.The full-size on all basically phase farmlands all is not more than 50nm.At higher multiple, when for example amplifying 55000 times, the phase farmland also can be seen.
Fiber of the present invention can by cellulose moisture N-tertiary amine oxide (" amine oxide ") for example the solution in the N-oxidation N-methylmorpholine make, described solution contains suitable molten state eutectic thermoplastic polymer.This solution is extruded from spinnerets, through one section air duct, enters moisture coagulating bath.Extrusion temperature is generally 90-125 ℃.Then, with fiber wash and the drying extruded like this.
The eutectic thermoplastic polymer usually should be fully compatible with cellulose solution, can not be gathered into independent phase in cellulose solution during polymer melt, but in the amine oxide that it preferably is insoluble in the coagulating bath to be diluted or in the water.Should select such polymer, it substantially all is retained in the fiber in extruding (spinning), washing and dry run.The preferred low melting point polymer of one class is a polyester, the polyester of especially preferred carboxyl-functional.
We find, exist carboxylic acid functional can increase the compatibility of it and cellulose solution usually in the low melting point polymer, and cellulose is mixed more fully with low melting point polymer.Use for great majority, the acid number of polymer is preferably from least 10 to up to for example 50 or 100 or even 150.We believe that also the branched polymers structure is favourable.
Such example with desired low-melting polyester is by aromatic dicarboxilic acid, with optional and aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, form with the mixture of one or more aliphatic glycols, described aromatic dicarboxilic acid is selected from M-phthalic acid, terephthalic acid (TPA) and O-phthalic acid or anhydride, described aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is for example adipic acid, succinic acid or decanedioic acid, described aliphatic glycol is for example neopentyl glycol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, propane-1,3-glycol, butane-1,4-glycol, butanediol or diethylene glycol.Branching can be introduced by trifunctional chemistry material, for example trihemellitic acid or acid anhydride or trimethylolpropane, glycerine or pentaerythrite.By adopting the chemical substance of suitable excessive carboxylic-acid functional, just can obtain desired acid number.Such polyester is for example sold with trade mark " Alftalat ", " Uralac " or " Grilesta ", is used for the thermosetting powder coating.
Other eutectic thermoplastic polymer comprises polyamide, the polyamide that forms by aliphatic acid dimer and aliphatic diamine for example, or the copolyamide of selling with trade mark " Griltex ", or olefin copolymer for example ethylene or ethylene/butylene/butyl acrylate copolymer, preferably contain a small amount of acrylic comonomers, to provide preferred acid number.Another eutectic thermoplastic polymer is a for example polyvinyl alcohol of olefin polymer.
The concentration of cellulose in extrusion solution (being also referred to as spinning solution) is generally 10-20 weight %, preferably is at least 13 weight % or 15 weight % to 17 weight % or 18 weight %.Spinning solution preferably contains water, and content is 5-15 weight % usually, and remaining 65-83 weight % is amine oxide normally.Normally 95-125 ℃ of extrusion temperature.
Low melting point polymer can join in the cellulose solution in any stage in its preparation process.Polymer can be for example and the cellulose paste premixed, and slurry mixes with amine oxide and water then, forms spinning solution.Described polymer also can preferably join in the preformed cellulose solution with molten state.In another kind of mode, low melting point polymer and preformed cellulose solution premixed with higher proportion for example form 10-50 weight % mixture.Then, this premix joins low melting point polymer in the cellulose solution with desired amount as masterbatch.In another mode, polymer is joined in the amine oxide solvent, formed mixture is used for dissolving cellulos.
The cellulose solution that contains low melting point polymer can adopt the conventional same spinning plate that adopts of preparation Lyocell fibers to extrude the formation fiber under same temperature.
The phase farmland that it is believed that low melting point polymer is as being scattered in equably in the whole fiber mutually separately.
Low melting point polymer is from trace to 30 weight % at intrastitial content, is benchmark with the cellulose.The existence on the phase farmland of low melting point polymer produces not same-action according to the concentration of low melting point polymer and the type of used low melting point polymer.More particularly, if only require to curl effect (as described below), content can be preferably up to 15 weight %, preferred 0.01-5 weight %, and if require weaving effect (as described below), content is 1-20 weight % preferably, preferably 5-15 weight %.
The little phase farmland of desired thermoplastic polymer can be obtained by multiple mode.For example, described polymer can synthesize granule.In addition, bulky grain can for example be pulverized by grinding or preferably making spinning solution stand high shear.
We are surprised to find that, and are opposite with conventional Lyocell fibers, the described method of EP-A-0703997 can in fiber of the present invention, form up to about 8 curl/centimetre.In addition, we are surprised to find that also the content of soft finishing agent is more much bigger to the influence of conventional Lyocell fibers than them to the influence of fiber of the present invention on curl typing and variation of temperature and the fiber.We find that also crimped fibre of the present invention has higher curling density and lower crimp amplitude, and in curly course, it is compared with conventional Lyocell fibers, is not easy to through being mechanically damaged.
We are surprised to find that also fiber of the present invention is compared with conventional Lyocell fibers, and are much dry easily.This just can save the useful energy.
In order to reduce fibrillation trend, known Lyocell can with multifunctional chemical substance reaction.See for example EP0538977, EP0665904 and EP0755467.Their content is in conjunction with being referred to this.Such reaction can or carried out on the dry fiber of crossing on the dry fiber of crossing never in advance.Same reaction also can be carried out on fiber of the present invention.
We find that the fiber that is higher than 6 weight % low melting point thermoplastic polyesters that contains of the present invention is compared with conventional fibre, not too is easy to and so multifunctional chemical substance reaction.This can offset by adopting the stronger for example higher chemical substance concentration of condition.
We are surprised to find that, by the spun yarn of fiber of the present invention can be favourable raising weaving effect, comprise higher intensity and extensibility, the irregularity quantity and the white star content of thin knot (thick and) is also less, lacks than the burr by the spun yarn of conventional fibre.If the fiber that compares is never to react under the dry state of crossing, described difference is especially obvious.
The yarn and the fabric of the Lyocell fibers that can curl than routine by the spun yarn of crimped fibre of the present invention with by its fabric of making are more fluffy.This means that the fabric with qualified porosity can be made the littler yarn of promptly special number by thinner yarn.More even by the fabric that these spun yarns are made, drapability is better.
Fiber of the present invention can be continuous long filament or staple fibre.
Fiber of the present invention can be made into woven fabric, knitted fabric or supatex fabric (for example water thorn, acupuncture or melt bonded) fabric.Such fabric can carry out conventional processed, for example carries out the resin impregnation of anti-crape arrangement and handles.We find this fabric of such resin impregnation behind repeated washing, can show the outward appearance that the resin impregnation fabric than conventional Lyocell fibers more cleans.We find, if the fiber that contains polyester of the present invention in the hot causticization of about temperature more than 50 ℃, should be very careful because NaOH can hydrolysis of ester bonds with.
Fiber of the present invention can be with cellulosic conventional dyeing, for example direct dyes and chemically-reactive dyes.The water imbibition of fiber of the present invention is lower than conventional fibre usually.It is wetting to this means that fiber is not easy, and in some applications, this can improve the uniformity of dyeing.
A kind of arrangement of known Lycoell fabrics is handled and is for example comprised and cause fibrillation in advance by thick moistening processing, and for example enzyme is handled and fiber separation is carried out in dyeing by carrying out with cellulase.We find preferably to use the little cellulase of aggressivity of the fabric that forms than conventional fibre to handle by the fibroplastic fabric of the present invention.We find that also the fabric put in order by this mode is bigger than the water imbibition of the fabrics in general of being put in order by this mode, and show better wicking properties, also are like this even form the water imbibition of fiber of fabric less.
Low melting point polymer is hydrophobic polymer normally, therefore dyes with disperse dyes easily.But we find, use the fiber of the present invention of disperse dyeing intersection to dye when washing.Therefore, not recommended usually with the fiber of the present invention of disperse dyeing.
Curling in the Lyocell fibers can be estimated in the following manner., and place under the enough tension force stretching curling from about 200 spies' of the intrafascicular taking-up of shredded dried bean curd sample.10cm makes a mark at interval on sample, removes tension force.Then, the crispation number between the calculating mark.Stretching length has just provided curling density or has curled ratio with the ratio of not carrying out stretching length.
With embodiment the present invention is described below, wherein umber, percentage and ratio all are meant weight.
Embodiment 1
At about 70 ℃, the saturated polyester resin of carboxyl-functional is mixed in the ploughshare blender with 77/23 N-oxidation N-methylmorpholine (NMMO)/water, and the type of described mylar is the type that is used for powder coating, and acid number is about 40,95-130 ℃ of fusion, and has branched structure.After about 2 minutes, add the wood fragments slurry, continue again to mix after 10 minutes, wood pulp is 92.8: 7.2 with the ratio of resin.
Described mixture is passed through Buss 5.5m
2Film extruder (trade mark) device HS0055 removes excess water, forms spinning solution thus.In this film extruder, mixture is heated under the vacuum of 200mmHg by 130 ℃ water leg.But, can use 80-150 ℃ temperature, and can use higher or lower vacuum.Through during the film extruder, mixture about 2-2.5mm thick layer in stand high shear and reach about 10 minutes, about 5 meter per seconds of blade velocity.Spinning solution contains 13.5% cellulose, 1.1% polyester, and 75.4%NMMO, other are water.
Spinning solution is extruded from spinnerets at 105 ℃, enters moisture coagulating bath by air duct, forms fibre bundle in a usual manner.Then, fiber carries out drying with pencil, and curls in the described mode of EP-A-0703997.The dry fiber of crossing is 1.7 dtexs, contains have an appointment 8.1% polyester and 8% moisture content on the cellulose.The diameter of the fiber that forms is about 10 * 10
-6M.The section of the fiber that forms as shown in Figure 1, it is to adopt the transmission electron microscope that amplifies 9000 times to take.Big black crack is that the preparation sample produces, and does not represent to exist cellulose other materials in addition.When amplifying 9000 times, can see vestige (it is believed that resolution ratio), but all in fact polyester phase farmlands be can't see all corresponding to about 50nm on intrastitial polyester phase farmland.Optics enlarged photograph shown in Figure 1 does not demonstrate other vestiges on any polyester phase farmland.
Adopt transmission electron microscope amplify 55000 times of shootings same fiber section as shown in Figure 2, the longitudinal profile of same multiplication factor is as shown in Figure 3.
In these figure, polyester phase farmland is shown as white area.Can see polyester farmland mutually from Fig. 2 and 3, compare that full-size is about 20nm with the ratio of figure bottom.
Fiber has 2.6 and curls/centimetre, curling density is 1.3.By contrast, the conventional Lyocell fibers that curls under the similarity condition has 2.3 and curls/centimetre, curling density is 1.23.
Fiber is cut into the 38mm staple fibre, and RING SPINNING becomes 20 spies' yarn.The result who obtains is as shown in the table, wherein:
Tester is conventional Lyocell fibers;
C.V.% is the coefficient of variation of thickness of yarn, represents with percentage;
The C.V.% of irregularity index=reality is divided by limit C.V.%, limit C.V.%=100/ √ n wherein, and wherein n is the fibre number (the special number of yarn is divided by the special number of fiber) in section, the irregularity index is the desirable yarn of 1 expression.
Details content (40%)=on 1 kilometer yarn, the thickness of yarn is less than the quantity at the position of 40% nominal thickness, by 3 tests of Uster tester.
Slubbing content (+50%)=on the yarn of 1 milimeter number, thickness of yarn is greater than the quantity at the position of 50% nominal thickness, by 3 tests of Uster tester.
White star content (+200%)=on the yarn of 1 milimeter number, thickness of yarn is greater than the quantity at the position of 200% nominal thickness, by 3 tests of Uster tester.
The quantity of all fibres of burr=stretch out from yam surface and the indirect measurement of cumulative length are by 3 tests of Uster tester.
Yarn | Intensity cN/tex | Percentage elongation % | Evening ratio C.V.% | The irregularity index | Details content (40 %) | Slubbing content (+50 %) | White star content (+200 %) | Burr |
Tester | 25 | 7.3 | 13.3 | 1.44 | 87 | 10 | 15 | 5.85 |
Embodiment 1 | 27 | 8.5 | 12.3 | 1.34 | 41 | 7 | 7 | 5.52 |
Embodiment 2
Repeat embodiment 1, except changing the condition and the fiber softening finish content of crimping machine.Conventional fibre can curl as described in EP-A-0703997, adopts stuffer box pressure to be about 8psig (55kPa), and steam pressure is about 20psig (138kPa).Higher pressure can cause inhomogeneously curling, tow damages and stuffer box stops up.Opposite with conventional Lyocell fibers, fiber of the present invention can bear stronger curling condition (higher stuffer box pressure, higher steam pressure and the nip pressure of Geng Gao), and so stronger condition then can be damaged conventional Lyocell fibers inevitably.These stronger conditions can produce the crispation number on more every centimetre.The known combing lubricant that is applied on the conventional Lyocell fibers does not have a significant impact the parameter of curling.WO-A-98/46814 enlightens out the Lyocell that contains polyester can not add combing under the lubricant situation.The adding that is surprised to find that soft finishing agent or lubricant has very big advantageous effect to the curling parameter of fiber of the present invention.Fig. 4 demonstrates and increases the benefit of lubricant content to obtainable maximum crimpness.As can be seen, the soft finish agent content that applies is increased to 0.35% from 0.17%, maximum crispation number can be brought up to 5/centimetre from 3.5/centimetre.This figure also demonstrates maximum stuffer box pressure also can be the twice of conventional Lyocell fibers.In addition, it is directly relevant with the raising of soft finish agent content that this figure demonstrates the raising of maximum crimpness.Lower pressure make fiber produce the crispation number same with conventional crimped fibre/centimetre, but density descends because crimp amplitude reduces to curl.
Embodiment 3
Repeat embodiment 1, except fiber under the dry state of crossing never with 1,3,5-triacryl six hydrogen-1,3,5-six hydrogen, three azines (TAHT), as described in EP-A-0755467, its applied amount on fiber is 0.7 weight %, as antigen fibrillation finishing agent.In following table, tester refers to the fiber made with the conventional Lyocell fibers that contains 0.7%TAHT.Following result obtains on by the spun yarn of the fiber of handling.
Yarn | Crispation number/10cm | Intensity cN/te x | Percentage elongation % | The irregularity index | Details content (30 %) | Details content (40 %) | Slubbing content (+50 %) | White star content (+20 0%) | Burr |
Tester | 24 | 24 | 7.9 | 1.48 | 1049 | 72 | 62 | 48 | 6.37 |
Embodiment 3 | 24 | 25 | 8.2 | 1.32 | 595 | 29 | 23 | 31 | 5.30 |
Embodiment 3 | 30 | 26 | 8.5 | 1.32 | 590 | 25 | 12 | 19 | 5.05 |
Embodiment 3 | 40 | 26 | 8.8 | 1.27 | 443 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 5.09 |
The single jersey of the dyeing that the spun yarn of being handled by the present invention of fiber is made does not have the vestige of fibrillation after through 40 ℃ 10 home washings/circulation of rolling.
Embodiment 4
Use usual manner, spin the Lyocell fibers of 1.7 dtexs at the solution of moisture NMMO with cellulose, this solution contains the saturated polyester resin of the 4% thermoplasticity carboxyl-functional that disperses, that uses in type and the powder-type coating is the same, acid number is about 40, and fusing point has branched structure in 95-130 ℃ of scope, with 0.5% titanium dioxide as delustering agent, the both is benchmark with the cellulose.Washing the fibre, and apply 0.25% soft finishing agent, with the fibre weight benchmark.Then, fiber carries out drying, and extruding in the presence of dry saturated steam in stuffer box, and purpose is fiber to be produced curl.The condition of fiber crimp is as shown in the table, and as shown in Figure 5.
Stuffer box pressure (psig) | Relative stuffer box pressure | Average crimpness (crispation number/10 centimetre) |
8 | 1 | 25 |
20 | 2.5 | 35 |
26 | 3.3 | 40 |
Then, fiber is cut into the staple fibre that length is 38mm.
Fiber combing on Thibeau CA11 carding machine, its wide 2.5m, and two doffing rollers are housed.The target Unit Weight of carded web is 30gsm.Be fiber of the present invention that obtains and the result who contrasts fiber below.
Maximum combing speed m/min
The fiber of embodiment 4,2.5 curl/centimetres about 140
The fiber of embodiment 4,3.5 curl/centimetre 200-220
The fiber of embodiment 4,4.0 curl/centimetre 250-270
Conventional Lyocell fibers, 2.3 curl/centimetres 100
Viscose about 150
Polyester 200+
Polypropylene about 250
Because the unstability of curly course can not obtain higher curling in conventional Lyocell fibers.On the contrary, fiber of the present invention can carry out stable curling under the pressure higher than conventional fibre, and what produce under setting pressure curls than conventional fibre height.