EP0399397B1 - Sheath-core spinning of multilobal conductive core filaments - Google Patents

Sheath-core spinning of multilobal conductive core filaments Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0399397B1
EP0399397B1 EP19900109451 EP90109451A EP0399397B1 EP 0399397 B1 EP0399397 B1 EP 0399397B1 EP 19900109451 EP19900109451 EP 19900109451 EP 90109451 A EP90109451 A EP 90109451A EP 0399397 B1 EP0399397 B1 EP 0399397B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
core
sheath
component
filaments
molten
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19900109451
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0399397A3 (en
EP0399397A2 (en
Inventor
Harry Vaughn Samuelson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
EIDP Inc
Original Assignee
EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
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Application filed by EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co filed Critical EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Publication of EP0399397A2 publication Critical patent/EP0399397A2/en
Publication of EP0399397A3 publication Critical patent/EP0399397A3/en
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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01D—MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/28—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like while mixing different spinning solutions or melts during the spinning operation; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/30—Conjugate filaments; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D01D5/34—Core-skin structure; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01D—MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/253—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like with a non-circular cross section; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F1/00—General methods for the manufacture of artificial filaments or the like
    • D01F1/02—Addition of substances to the spinning solution or to the melt
    • D01F1/09—Addition of substances to the spinning solution or to the melt for making electroconductive or anti-static filaments

Definitions

  • the present invention offers an improved spinning technique for the provision of a filament which rapidly dissipates electrical charges.
  • Synthetic filaments having antistatic properties comprising a continuous nonconducting sheath of synthetic polymer surrounding a conductive polymeric core containing carbon black have been taught by Hull in US-A-3,803,453.
  • the cross-section of the core shown in said patent is circular. Need has arisen in certain end-use applications, such as career apparel worn in clean rooms, for even greater reduction of static propensity, and contrary to the desires expressed by others to conceal the fiber blackness, is a desire for greater visibility of the core.
  • Patent abstracts of Japan, 13 (1989) No. 15 (C-559) (3363) of JP-A-63-2/9624 discloses a process for the production of a synthetic sheath-core bicomponent filament having antistatic properties comprising a continuous nonconductive sheath of a synthetic thermoplastic fiber forming polymer surrounding an electrically conductive polymeric core comprised of electrically conductive substance (e.g. stannic oxide) dispersed in a thermoplastic synthetic polymer.
  • electrically conductive substance e.g. stannic oxide
  • Sheath-core filaments wherein the cross-section of the core is trilobal are known. They can be prepared with a spinneret of the type shown in US-A-2,936,482. While useful products of the invention can be prepared with such spinnerets, improvements in preserving definition of the trilobal core through the spinning process is a worthwhile objective.
  • Figures 1 and 2 are schematic cross-sectional views of sheath-core filament of the invention illustrating trilobal and tetralobal cores as well as showing how the required structural parameters are determined.
  • Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of a distribution and spinneret plate taken along line 3,3 of Figure 4.
  • Figure 4 is a bottom view of the distribution plate of Figure 3.
  • the present invention provides an improved process for better maintaining the core definition during melt-spinning of a sheath-core fiber wherein one polymer composition constitutes the sheath component and a different polymer composition constitutes the core component and in which the core has three or more lobes.
  • the process comprises simultaneously extruding the molten sheath and core component compositions through a spinning orifice with the sheath component completely surrounding the core component, the improvement comprising, maintaining the core cross-sectional configuration by
  • Static dissipating fibers are well-known in the art and have been used for many years in textiles.
  • a particularly successful fiber has been the fiber described in US-A-3,803,453.
  • This fiber is a sheath-core bicomponent fiber prepared by melt co-extrusion of two thermoplastic compositions as sheath and core, respectively.
  • the sheath is nonconductive.
  • the core polymer is made conductive by incorporation of electrically conductive carbon black.
  • the sheath provides strength to the fiber, hides the black core, and protects the core against chipping and flaking which can occur if the core were exposed at the fiber surface. Certain present day end-use applications require greater anti-static effect with less concern for color.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a sheath-core fiber wherein a trilobal core is surrounded by a sheath as might be seen on an enlargement of a photomicrograph. The nature of the core and sheath will be discussed in greater detail below.
  • the determination of modification ratio is known in the art but, for convenience, it can be defined by reference to Figure 1.
  • the modification ratio is the ratio of the radius of the smallest circle circumscribing the trilobal core to the radius of the largest circle which can be inscribed in the trilobal core where the lobes meet. In Figure 1, this is A/B.
  • FIG. 1 Determination of the L/D ratio for the lobes is also illustrated by reference to Figure 1.
  • a first line is drawn connecting the low points of adjacent valleys on either side of a lobe and another line L is drawn from the center of the first line to the farthest point of said lobe.
  • the value D represents the greatest width of the lobe as measured perpendicular to L.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic showing a cross-section of a round fiber having a tetralobal core.
  • Spinning of the filaments of the invention can be accomplished by conventional two-polymer sheath-core spinning equipment with appropriate consideration for the differing properties of the two components.
  • the filaments are readily prepared by known spinning techniques and with polymers as taught, for example, in US-A-2,936,482. Additional teaching of such spinning with polyamides is found in US-A-2,989,798.
  • a new improved process has been developed to better preserve the definition of sheath-core bicomponent fibers having tri-, tetra-, penta- or hexalobal cores as they are extruded. This is described below.
  • the improved process employed for spinning the sheath-core bicomponent yarn of Examples 1 and 2 below is a modification of a conventional sheath-core bi-component melt-spinning process.
  • the core feed polymer stream and the sheath feed polymer stream are fed to a spinneret pack including filters and screens, and to a plate which distributes the molten polymer streams to orifices that shape the core and surround it with sheath.
  • Reference to Figures 3 and 4 will assist in the understanding of the modified process.
  • Core polymer is fed to channel 2 and exits over the entrance to capillary 3 of spinneret plate 5.
  • Sheath polymer is fed through passageway 7 of plate 8 into the space between plates 5 and 8, maintained by shims not shown.
  • This polymer is fed from all directions against the core polymer stream in the vicinity of the entrance to the spinneret capillary 3 and both streams pass through capillary 3 in sheath-core relation, finally exiting from the spinneret orifice, not shown, at the exit of capillary 3.
  • the improved process maintains better definition of the core lobes. This is accomplished by controlling the flow of molten sheath component composition against the core polymer stream at spaced sections along the periphery of the entrance to the capillary to allow more sheath polymer to flow to zones between the lobes than to zones at the lobes. This can be achieved by enlarging the passageway for the sheath polymer to the capillary only in those sections leading to zones between lobes. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, depressions 10 were etched in plate 8 to permit increased sheath polymer flow to regions between lobes.
  • the filament sheath may consist of any extrudable, synthetic, thermoplastic, fiber-forming polymer or copolymer. This includes polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyacrylics, polyamides and polyesters of fiber-forming molecular weight. Particularly suitable sheath polymers are polyhexamethylene adipamide, polycaprolactam, and polyethylene terephthalate.
  • Tensile and other physical properties of the filaments of the invention are primarily dependent on the sheath polymer.
  • polymers of higher molecular weight and those permitting higher draw ratios are used in the sheath. While undrawn filaments of the invention may provide adequate strength for some purposes, the drawn filaments are preferred.
  • the filament core of the antistatic fibers consists of an electrically conductive carbon black dispersed in a polymeric, thermoplastic matrix material.
  • the core material is selected with primary consideration for conductivity and processability as described in detail in US-A-3,803,453. Carbon black concentrations in the core of 15 to 50 percent may be employed. It is found that 20 to 35 percent provides the preferred level of high conductivity while retaining a reasonable level of processability.
  • the core polymer may also be selected from the same group as that for the sheath, or it may be non-fiber forming, since it is protected by the sheath.
  • the core of the bicomponent fiber will, of course, be non-conductive.
  • the cross-sectional area of the core in the composite filament need only be sufficient to impart the desired antistatic properties thereto and may be as low as 0.3 percent, preferably at least 0.5 percent and up to 35 percent, by volume.
  • the lower limit is governed primarily by the capability of manufacturing sheath/core filaments of sufficiently uniform quality while maintaining adequate core continuity at the low core volume levels.
  • the filaments of this invention have a dtex [denier per filament (dpf)] of less than 55.5 dtex (50) and preferably less than 27.8 dtex (25 dpf).
  • the filaments of this invention are capable of providing excellent static protection in all types of textile end uses, including knitted, tufted, woven and nonwoven textiles. They may contain conventional additives and stabilizers such as dyes and antioxidants. They may be subjected to all types of textile processing including crimping, texturing, scouring, bleaching, etc. They may be combined with staple or filament yarns and used as staple fibers or as continuous filaments.
  • Said filaments may be combined with other filaments or fibers during any appropriate step in yarn production (e.g., spinning, drawing, texturing, plying, rewinding, yarn spinning), or during fabric manufacture. Care should be taken to minimize undesirable breaking of the antistatic filaments in these operations.
  • the bicomponent stream Upon exiting the spinneret orifice, the bicomponent stream cools and begins to solidify. It is generally not desirable to apply too high a spin stretch with the conductive fibers since quality as an antistatic fiber diminishes. This is not a limitation with other bicomponent fibers.
  • Multilobal core filaments of the invention are described in each of Examples 1 to 3.
  • Sheath-core filaments having a sheath of 23.5 LRV polyethylene terephthalate and a polyethylene core that contained 28.4% carbon black were spun and wound up without drawing at 1200 meters per minute.
  • the conductive core constituted 6% by weight of these filaments, and the yarns, which contained six filaments, were subsequently heated to 140°C and drawn at the ratios listed in Table I.
  • Samples with a round conductive core were spun using a spinneret assembly similar to that shown in Figure 11 of US-A-2,936,482, whereas those having trilobal shaped cores were spun by the improved process of this invention using the spinneret assembly and plate shown in Figures 3 and 4.
  • the modification ratio of the trilobal conductive core was 5 and the L/D ratio was 3.
  • the trilobal core yarns were darker than the round core yarns. After drawing, these yarns were incorporated into a 100% polyester 1102 needles/m (28 cut) jersey knit by feeding in the conductive core yarns at 7.9mm (5/16 inch) intervals. Yarn and fabric properties measured on these samples are shown in Table I:
  • the fabric containing the yarn with the trilobal shaped conductive core had significantly lower surface resistivity and much faster static decay times than that made with the yarns having round conductive cores.
  • sheath-core products were produced having a 24% central conductive core surrounded by a 76% sheath of polyethylene terephthalate.
  • Filaments having either round or trilobal (modification ratio of 2.0, L/D of 1.0) shaped conductive cores were prepared, and the cores contained 32.0% carbon black ("Vulcan P", available from Cabot Corp.), compounded into a film grade equivalent high melt index, low density polyethylene.
  • the resulting fibers were air quenched at 21°C, drawn 1.84X and wound up at 1372 meters per minute as a 38.9 dtex (35 denier) 6 filament product. After heat annealing (130°C) to reduce shrinkage, the products were woven into fabric for static dissipation evaluation.
  • Woven fabrics were prepared as follows: Non-Conductive Yarns - 166.7 dtex (150 denier), 34 filaments - 129.9 twist ⁇ m ⁇ 1 (3.3Z twist ⁇ inch ⁇ 1) polyester fiber. Static Dissipative Yarns - 111.1 dtex (100 denier), 34 filaments - 157.5 twist ⁇ m ⁇ 1 (4S twist ⁇ inch ⁇ 1) polyester fiber plus one static dissipative yarn as described above.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Multicomponent Fibers (AREA)
  • Spinning Methods And Devices For Manufacturing Artificial Fibers (AREA)
  • Artificial Filaments (AREA)
EP19900109451 1989-05-22 1990-05-18 Sheath-core spinning of multilobal conductive core filaments Expired - Lifetime EP0399397B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US356051 1973-04-30
US35605189A 1989-05-22 1989-05-22

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0399397A2 EP0399397A2 (en) 1990-11-28
EP0399397A3 EP0399397A3 (en) 1991-06-12
EP0399397B1 true EP0399397B1 (en) 1994-10-19

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ID=23399904

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900109451 Expired - Lifetime EP0399397B1 (en) 1989-05-22 1990-05-18 Sheath-core spinning of multilobal conductive core filaments

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0399397B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP3216131B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN1028177C (ja)
CA (1) CA2017201C (ja)
DE (1) DE69013395T2 (ja)
RU (1) RU2044804C1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5368913A (en) * 1993-10-12 1994-11-29 Fiberweb North America, Inc. Antistatic spunbonded nonwoven fabrics
JPH08226012A (ja) * 1995-02-16 1996-09-03 Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo Kk 光学機能異形断面繊維製造用紡糸口金
JPH08226011A (ja) * 1995-02-16 1996-09-03 Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo Kk 光学機能異形断面繊維製造用紡糸口金
JPH08218218A (ja) * 1995-02-16 1996-08-27 Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo Kk 光学機能繊維の製造方法
US5707735A (en) * 1996-03-18 1998-01-13 Midkiff; David Grant Multilobal conjugate fibers and fabrics
US20030106568A1 (en) * 2001-12-12 2003-06-12 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Cleaning sheet, system and apparatus
US7022630B2 (en) 2002-10-23 2006-04-04 Bba Nonwovens Simpsonville, Inc. Nonwoven protective fabrics with conductive fiber layer
US7094467B2 (en) 2004-07-20 2006-08-22 Heping Zhang Antistatic polymer monofilament, method for making an antistatic polymer monofilament for the production of spiral fabrics and spiral fabrics formed with such monofilaments
CN101278081B (zh) 2005-09-29 2014-11-26 帝人纤维株式会社 海岛型复合纺丝纤维的制造方法
CA2689207C (en) * 2007-06-07 2015-05-05 Albany International Corp. Conductive monofilament and fabric
CN101200816B (zh) * 2007-07-03 2010-12-01 赵丹青 一种兼具抗菌和速干功能的四叶形皮芯双组分纤维或长丝
WO2009053470A1 (en) * 2007-10-24 2009-04-30 Queen Mary And Westfield College, University Of London Conductive polymer composite
DE102008003965A1 (de) 2007-10-26 2009-04-30 HÄNSEL VERBUNDTECHNIK GmbH Textiles Flächengebilde für einen Fahrzeugsitzbezug
DE102008003966B4 (de) * 2007-10-26 2016-05-12 Carl Freudenberg Kg Textiles Flächengebilde
DE102008003963A1 (de) 2007-10-26 2009-04-30 HÄNSEL VERBUNDTECHNIK GmbH Textiles Flächengebilde für Bettsysteme
DE202008018137U1 (de) 2008-01-11 2011-11-25 Hänsel Textil GmbH Textiles Flächengebilde
DE102008003967A1 (de) * 2008-01-11 2009-07-16 Hänsel Textil GmbH Textiles Flächengebilde
DE102008003964A1 (de) 2008-01-11 2009-07-16 HÄNSEL VERBUNDTECHNIK GmbH Textiles Flächengebilde
CN102031588B (zh) * 2009-09-29 2013-05-01 北京中纺优丝特种纤维科技有限公司 一种耐久性炭黑型导电纤维及其制备方法
CN102851760A (zh) * 2012-08-01 2013-01-02 张家港市恒美纺织有限公司 一种用于纺丝的喷丝板
CN103866412A (zh) * 2012-12-13 2014-06-18 上海启鹏工程材料科技有限公司 一种喷丝针
GB2546064A (en) * 2015-11-24 2017-07-12 Wsp Textiles Ltd Anti-static gaming surface
CN105483883A (zh) * 2016-01-28 2016-04-13 江苏中石纤维股份有限公司 一种擦拭用聚乙烯/聚酯同束异构复合纤维
CN109487350A (zh) * 2018-10-19 2019-03-19 山东超亚刷丝有限公司 一种通过对单丝加热挤压塑型制造螺纹刷丝的方法
CN111364121B (zh) * 2018-12-25 2022-11-18 凯泰特种纤维科技有限公司 一种抗菌导电纤维及其制备方法
CN110629302A (zh) * 2019-08-26 2019-12-31 神马实业股份有限公司 尼龙bcf超细纤维及其制备方法

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568249A (en) * 1965-07-29 1971-03-09 Masao Matsui Spinneret for producing composite filaments
US3803453A (en) * 1972-07-21 1974-04-09 Du Pont Synthetic filament having antistatic properties
JPS551337A (en) * 1978-06-15 1980-01-08 Toray Ind Inc Electrically conducitive synthetic fiber and its production
JPS63219627A (ja) * 1987-02-28 1988-09-13 Nippon Ester Co Ltd 熱硬化型バインダ−繊維
JPH0733605B2 (ja) * 1988-01-08 1995-04-12 帝人株式会社 導電性中空複合繊維

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1047543A (zh) 1990-12-05
EP0399397A3 (en) 1991-06-12
DE69013395T2 (de) 1995-03-30
CA2017201C (en) 2001-04-17
CN1028177C (zh) 1995-04-12
DE69013395D1 (de) 1994-11-24
JP3216131B2 (ja) 2001-10-09
RU2044804C1 (ru) 1995-09-27
EP0399397A2 (en) 1990-11-28
CA2017201A1 (en) 1990-11-22
JPH0351307A (ja) 1991-03-05

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