EP0434029A2 - Fibre composite absorbant l'humidité - Google Patents

Fibre composite absorbant l'humidité Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0434029A2
EP0434029A2 EP90124769A EP90124769A EP0434029A2 EP 0434029 A2 EP0434029 A2 EP 0434029A2 EP 90124769 A EP90124769 A EP 90124769A EP 90124769 A EP90124769 A EP 90124769A EP 0434029 A2 EP0434029 A2 EP 0434029A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
nylon
moisture
polymer
fiber
composite fiber
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EP90124769A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0434029A3 (en
Inventor
Takao Akagi
Isao Tokunaga
Keiji Fukuda
Hidefumi Nagata
Masahiko Nanjo
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Kuraray Co Ltd
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Kuraray Co Ltd
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Priority claimed from JP2007505A external-priority patent/JPH03213518A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2138964A external-priority patent/JPH0434009A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2253708A external-priority patent/JPH04136215A/ja
Application filed by Kuraray Co Ltd filed Critical Kuraray Co Ltd
Publication of EP0434029A2 publication Critical patent/EP0434029A2/fr
Publication of EP0434029A3 publication Critical patent/EP0434029A3/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • D01F8/00—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof
    • D01F8/04—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers
    • D01F8/12—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers with at least one polyamide as constituent
    • 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
    • D01F8/00—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof
    • D01F8/04—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers
    • D01F8/14—Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof from synthetic polymers with at least one polyester as constituent

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a synthetic fiber having excellent moisture-absorbency, and more specifically to a synthetic fiber having high moisture absorbency and giving, upon absorption of sweat, still agreeable feeling without clamminess.
  • Nylon-4 (polypyrrolidone) fiber has higher moisture absorbency than cotton and at the same time nearly the same excellent fiber properties as other thermoplastic fibers, has antistatic property, is well dyeble with disperse dyes, basic dyes, direct dyes, acidic dyes or the like, and hence is markedly suited for use in clothing, as well as for industrial uses.
  • nylon-4 fiber decreases it Young's modulus significantly upon absorption of water, whereby clothes comprising nylon-4 readily stick to the skin by absorption of sweat when the wearer perspires, thus giving him clammy feeling.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 12325/1975 discloses a technique for overcoming the above drawback of nylon-4 fiber, which comprises, in the spinning of nylon-4 fiber, melt spinning a blend of nylon-4 polymer chips with polyester polymer chips, thereby suppressing the decrease in Young's modulus of the obtained nylon-4 fiber upon absorption of water.
  • the fiber obtained by this process tends to split or delaminate between the two polymers, since nylon-4 polymer is not compatible with polyester polymer.
  • the fiber then forms fibrils during the manufacturing process and/or the after-processes in which it is formed into fabric. The fibrils thus generated render the fiber difficult to process, or causes the fiber to become clammy again.
  • the fiber obtained by this process does not produce a sufficient effect of eliminating clammy feeling since polyester polymer is present in individual filaments of the fiber in the form of finely divided discontinuous segments.
  • Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 215869/1985 discloses fibril-forming composite fibers comprising polyamide and polyester.
  • This application describes a number of nylon polymers as the polyamide, including nylon-4. All the fibers described in the application, however, are strictly those for the purpose of producing fibrils, and, same as the fiber described in the afore-mentioned literature, create delamination between nylon-4 polymer and polyester polymer, thereby producing fibrils during their manufacturing process and/or processes for fabric formation, which worsen the processability. The thus fibrillated nylon-4 fibers will newly produce clammy feeling.
  • Fibers from nylon-4 polymer have another drawback of being readily decomposed to lower their strength and elongation by heat at ironing of fabrics made therefrom.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a nylon-4 fiber having excellent moisture absorbency, giving little clammy feeling upon absorption of moisture, hardly generating fibrils because of very rare delamination between polymers constituting the fiber and being hardly decomposed at high temperature conditions.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a nylon-4 fiber the individual filaments of which change their diameter by absorption/desorption of moisture, i.e. decrease the diameter by absorbing sweat and resume the original diameter by desorbing the moisture, being capable of giving clothing which can readily absorb and desorb moisture and is thus very comfortable.
  • the present invention provides a moisture-absorbent composite fiber comprising a hydrophobic polyester having a moisture absorbency at 20°C, 65% RH of not more than 2% and having a total concentration of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkali earth metals (hereinafter simply referred to as "alkali metal-alkali earth metal concentration) of at least 500 ppm and a nylon-4 polymer having an alkali metal concentration of not more than 500 ppm, said nylon-4 polymer being contained in said fiber in an amount of 40 to 80% by weight based on the weight of the fiber.
  • the composite fiber of the present invention is preferably a sheath-core composite fiber comprising the nylon-4 polymer as core component and the hydrophobic polyester as sheath component, said sheath-core composite fiber more preferably having ring-shaped or bamboo-joint-like swells around the surface of individual filaments.
  • the composite fiber of the present invention preferably comprises filaments the diameter of which changes reversibly by absorption/desorption of moisture, while satisfying the conditions of 0.3 ⁇ L100/L65 ⁇ 0.9 and 1.1 ⁇ L0/L65 ⁇ 2.5, where L100, L65 and L0 represent the average maximum lengths of the cross-section of the filaments conditioned under conditions of 20°C and 100% RH, 20°C and 65% RH and 20°C and 0% RH, respectively.
  • the nylon-4 polymer that constitutes the present invention includes, for example, those obtained by, as seen in U.S.P. 4,281,105, polymerizing 2-pyrrolidone in the presence of an alkaline polymerization catalyst and SO2 and a polymerization accelerator of a quaternary ammonium sulfate or quaternary ammonium bisulfite, and may contain a delusterant, an antioxidant, a terminal stabilizer and the like.
  • Nylon-4 polymer however is difficult to melt spin, while readily decomposing during melt spinning from the terminals and at main chains of molecules thereof, because its melting point is close to decomposition temperature. Thus, in general, filament breakage occurs frequently during spinning or only nonuniform filaments with polymer blocks appearing thereon like bumps are obtained.
  • the intrinsic viscosity [ ⁇ ] and ratio, M W / M N of weight average molecular weight M W to number average molecular weight M N after spinning of the nylon-4 polymer constituting the composite fiber be 0.8 to 1.8 g/dl and 1.5 to 3.5, respectively.
  • the [ ⁇ ] of nylon-4 polymer contained in a composite fiber is determined on a specimen polymer obtained from the fiber by removing the constituting polyester with a 20 g/l aqueous NaOH solution at 95°C.
  • the molecular weight is obtained by GPC on a 0.01% specimen solution in hexafluoroisopropanol with a standard of polymethyl methacrylate, a higher ratio of weight average molecular weight [ M W ] to number average molecular weight [ M N ] indicating a sharper molecular weight distribution.
  • the fiber will be of low strength and elongation, while with an [ ⁇ ] exceeding 1.8 g/dl the fiber often contains bump-like unmelted polymer blocks to become non-uniform.
  • the M W / M N exceeds 3.5, even at an optimum spinning temperature, unmelted polymer will stay in bump form in the fiber or low-molecular-weight fractions will vigorously decompose during spinning to generate gas, which disturbs spinning stability.
  • the M W / M N is less than 1 .5, a slight fluctuation of spinneret temperature will affect the spinnability, whereby uniform fiber is difficult to obtain.
  • Nylon-4 polymers are in most cases obtained using a polymerization catalyst of an alkali metal hydroxide represented by KOH.
  • the use of an alkali metal hydroxide as polymerization catalyst can be said to be a must.
  • the present inventors have found that the alkali metal present in this polymerization catalyst will accelerate depolymerization of the nylon-4 polymer during spinning and further, when clothes using the obtained nylon-4 fiber are ironed, accelerate thermal decomposition of the nylon-4 polymer to decrease the strength and elongation of the fiber.
  • the present inventors have also found that the thermal decompositon of nylon-4 polymer during spinning and when ironed can be significantly suppressed by keeping the alkali metal concentration below 500 ppm.
  • nylon-4 polymers generally contain an alkali metal from the polymerization catalyst used in an amount exceeding 1,000 ppm. In the present invention it therefore is preferred to decrease the alkali metal concentration in the nylon-4 polymer pellets used below 500 ppm prior to the spinning thereof, by hot water washing or like means.
  • the hot water washing may naturally be conducted after spinning, i.e. on fiber as long as it can assure an alkali metal concentration in nylon-4 of 500 ppm or below. More preferred alkali metal concentration is 350 ppm or below.
  • the alkali metal concentration and alkali metal-alkali earth metal concentration herein mean those excluding alkali metal compounds and alkali earth metal compounds that are present in the polymer in the form of insoluble and inert particles, such as calcium carbonate particles.
  • nylon-4 polymer It is also recommendable for eliminating the above-described troubles at spinning or ironing of nylon-4 polymer to, as seen in Japanese Patent Publication No. 33279/1979, use a copolymer nylon-4 obtained by copolymerizing caprolactam with 2-pyrrolidone to lower the melting point.
  • the obtained copolymer will then have a larger difference between melting point and thermal decomposition temperature, thereby being more readily melt spinnable.
  • the ratio of caprolactam copolymerized is preferably 25 to 75% by weight. With the ratio of less than 25% by weight the melting point decreases only a litte, while with the ratio exceeding 75% by weight the obtained nylon-4 polymer has not so high moisture absorbency.
  • the nylon-4 polymer has a melting point of 200°C, showing a large decrease from that of pure nylon-4, 267°C, and still exhibits a well maintained moisture absorbency, which is preferred.
  • Such a copolymer nylon-4 further has a feature that clothes utilizing the fiber therefrom show only a markedly small dimensional change when washed repeatedly.
  • the nylon-4 polymer used in the present invention is a water-insoluble crystalline polymer and has a moisture absorbency at 20°C, 65% RH of 8.5 to 9%, which is higher than that of cotton, 7 to 8%.
  • the polymer further has a very high moisture absorbency at 20°C, 85% RH of 14% and that at 20°C, 100% RH of 37%.
  • the nylon-4 polymer is a very unique polymer, no other polymers having such a high moisture absorbency.
  • Fibers of the nylon-4 polymer are, however, of low Young's modulus like conventional polyamide fibers, in particular when wet, and hence give clammy feeling when used singly. These fibers cannot be said to be fully comfortable in spite of their high moisture absorbency.
  • the present invention therefore utilizes the technique of composite spinning with a hydrophobic polyester having high Young's modulus to overcome this drawback.
  • the hydrophobic polyester herein means a polyester having a moisture absorbency at 20°C, 65% RH of not more than 2% and includes polyesters obtained from a principal acid component of terephthalic acid and a principal glycol component of at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol and hexamethylene glycol, among which ethylene glycol and tetramethylene glycol are preferred.
  • part of terephthalic acid that is the acid component may be replaced by other bifunctional carboxylic acids.
  • Examples of the other carboxylic acids are bifunctional aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as isophthalic acid, sodium 5-sulfoisophthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, diphenyldicarboxylic acid, diphenoxyethanedicarboxylic acid, ⁇ -oxyethoxybenzoic acid and p-oxybenzoic acid; bifunctional aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as sebacic acid, adipic acid and oxalic acid; and bifunctional alicyclic dicarboxylic acids such as 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid.
  • Part of the glycol component of the polyester may also be replaced by other glycol components.
  • glycol components are, besides the above-mentioned glycols other than the principal glycol component, aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic diols such as neopentyl glycol, 3-methylpentanediol, cyclohexane-1,4-dimethanol, nonanediol, 2-methyloctanediol, bisphenol A and bisphenol S.
  • aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic diols such as neopentyl glycol, 3-methylpentanediol, cyclohexane-1,4-dimethanol, nonanediol, 2-methyloctanediol, bisphenol A and bisphenol S.
  • polyesters can be produced by any optional process.
  • polyethylene terephthalate can readily be obtained by conducting a first-stage reaction of forming glycol ester of terephthalic acid and/or low-polymerization-degree products thereof by subjecting terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol to direct esterification reaction, subjecting a lower alkyl ester of terepthalic acid such as dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol to transesterification reaction or reacting terephthalic acid with ethylene oxide; and then conducting a second-stage reaction of polycondensing the product thus obtained to a desired polymerization degree by heating under reduced pressure.
  • the hydrophobic polyester have at least 80% of dicarboxylic acid component of terephthalic acid or ester-forming derivatives thereof, and have the glycol component of ethylene glycol.
  • the hydrophobic polyester used in the present invention must contain at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkali earth metals in an alkali metal-alkali earth metal concentration of at least 500 ppm.
  • the alkali metal and alkali earth metal herein include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and like metals. These metals may be incorporated as pure metals, in the form of compounds or as atoms constituting the copolymerization components, such as sodium sulfoisophthalate. Where they are added in the form of compounds, preferred compounds are carboxylates.
  • the present inventors have, when studying how to produce composite fibers comprising nylon-4 polymer and polyester, found that there is a very low adhesiveness between the two polymers and the individual filaments delaminate during fiber manufacturing process, in processes for formation into fabrics and in after-processes of the fabrics, thereby decreasing the processability and the physical properties.
  • the present inventors have also found that this delamination between nylon-4 polymer and polyester can be prevented by incorporation of an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal into the polyester.
  • the effect of improving the adhesiveness is not so large with the alkali metal-alkali earth metal concentration in the polyester of less than 500 ppm.
  • the concentration exceeds 5,000 ppm, the physical properties of the obtained fiber will sometimes decrease, high adhesiveness being secured though. More preferably, the alkali metal-alkali earth metal concentration is at least 1,000 ppm.
  • the spinning temperature can be lowered and, consequently, the thermal decomposition during spinning of nylon-4 polymer can be suppressed.
  • Isophthalic acid is preferably copolymerized in an amount of 4 to 12 mol%. With the copolymerization ratio of less than 4 mol%, the melting point of the resulting copolymer polyester decreases only a little; while with the ratio exceeding 12 mol% the physical property of the obtained fiber decreases.
  • Copolymerization of 0.45 to 3 mol% of an alkali metal salt of sulfoisophthalic acid which assures the above-described incorporation of the alkali metal in the specified amount, causes substantially no delamination between nylon-4 polymer and the polyester to occur, whereby the obtained fiber will exhibit its full characteristics as composite fiber.
  • the preferred polyester is polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate comprising 4 to 12 mol% of copolymerization units from isophthalic acid and 0.45 to 3 mol% of units from an alkali metal salt of sulfoisophthalic acid.
  • the degree of polymerization of the polyester is, as expressed by intrinsic viscosity, preferably at least 0.45 g/dl for the purpose of obtaining a composite fiber with desired characteristics, and preferably not more than 0.80 g/dl in view of melt viscosity at spinning. It will be difficult to conduct composite spinning with nylon-4 polymer if the intrinsic viscosity of the polyester exceeds 0.80 g/dl.
  • composite fiber means a fiber consisting of 2 or more components and having any cross-sectional shape including side-by-side, multilayered, sheath-core and others.
  • the sheath-core herein includes those of one-core, multi-core and eccentric-core.
  • the cross-sectional shapes of representative sheath-core composite fibers are shown in FIGURE 1, with the exception of (f) and (j) that are not called sheath-core.
  • the nylon-4 polymer used is contained in the composite fiber preferably in an amount of 40 to 80% by weight. If the amount is less than 40% by weight, the resulting fiber will have as low a moisture absorbency as those of conventional nylon-6 and nylon-6,6 fibers.
  • the content of the nylon-4 polymer is more preferably 50 to 70% by weight.
  • nylon-4 polymer Particularly effective for the purpose of reducing clammy feeling inherent to nylon-4 polymer are composite fibers with the nylon-4 polymer as core component and the hydrophobic polyester as sheath component. In these fibers moisture is absorbed into the core, and the polyester present on the surface does not contain moisture and is dry, whereby clothes made therefrom give no clammy feeling at all and thus are very agreeable.
  • sheath-core composite fibers in particular those having a plurality of bamboo-joint like swells extending circumferentially around the surface of each individual filament gives almost no clammy feeling and is preferred.
  • the sheath-core composite fibers are preferably of one-core type in which the sheath component completely wraps the core component, as shown in FIGURE 1 (a) and (i).
  • the presence of such swells on the fiber surface is very effective in reducing clammy feeling and giving a "dry-touch" feeling of clothes made from the fiber, since it reduces the area of contact between the wearer's skin and the clothes when wet.
  • the joint-like swell herein means a fiber structure having a diameter ratio L'/L of 1.1 to 2.0, wherein L' and L represent the average diameter of the projected swells or ring-shaped parts measured in a direction perpendicular to the fiber axis and the average diameter of the cross-sections of non-swollen or regular parts, respectively, of individual filaments and can be determined by observing the side surface of the filament with a conventional optical microscope or scanning electron microscope.
  • FIGURE 2 shows diagrammatical views of representative examples having this structure.
  • the joint-like swells in the present invention are generally present on the surface of each filament in the form of rings which extend circumferentially around the surface. Where the core is highly eccentric, the joint-like swells sometimes appear only on one side of each filament surface, as shown in FIGURE 2 (c).
  • L'/L of not more than 1.1 cannot give a sufficient dry touch.
  • the L'/L exceeds 2.0, the resulting fiber will be of insufficient strength, which is not preferred. It is therefore preferred for the purpose of realizing the bulky and "dry-touch" hand together with sufficent strength, that is characteristic of the present invention, that the L'/L be 1.1 to 2.0, more preferably 1.2 to 1.6. Functional tests conducted by the present inventors have revealed that presence of the above joint-like swells in a density of at least 1 and not more than 50 pieces per 1 mm of filament length gives the bulky and dry-touch feeling to clothes made from the fiber.
  • the ratio of the sum of the widths of the joint-like swells to the total filament length is preferably not more than 25%. This is explained below with reference to FIGURE 3. From a photomicrograph or electron photomicrograph, there are determined the width, W1, i.e. size in the direction of fiber length of a swell at its base is determined, that of a second swell, W2, and in the same way upto W n of the n-th swell, the n pieces of swells being present in a filament length, L0 (usually 1 mm). Then, the ratio of the sum of the n widths to L0: is preferably not more than 25%. If the ratio exceeds 25%, the dry-touch feeling will decrease. The ratio is more preferably not more than 15%.
  • width i.e. W1 , W2, W3, .... or W n shown in FIGURE 3 (a) and (b)
  • W1 , W2, W3, .... or W n shown in FIGURE 3 (a) and (b)
  • W1 , W2, W3, .... or W n shown in FIGURE 3 (a) and (b) it is preferably 1 to 10 ⁇ m, more preferably 4 to 7 ⁇ m.
  • the above sheath-core composite fiber having a multiplicity of joint-like swells can be produced by for example preparing a sheath-core composite fiber comprising a core of nylon-4 polymer and a sheath of hydrophobic polyester and having a hot water shrinkage (hereinafter referred to as "WSR") of at least 9% and then shrinking the obtained sheath-core composite fiber by hot water treatment.
  • WSR hot water shrinkage
  • the WSR is preferably at least 12%, which gives, in addition to the desired joint-like structure, crimps to the composite fiber so that fabrics made from the resulting fiber will exhibit a soft and bulky hand like that of fabrics from textured yarn.
  • the WSR value depends on the ratio of nylon-4 polymer and polyester and heat drawing temperature and heat treating temperature at fiber manufacturing process.
  • the content of nylon-4 polymer is at least 40% by weight based on the weight of the fiber and the heat drawing and heat treating temperatures are set a little low, for example at not higher than 160°C.
  • WSR wet shrinkage
  • the sheath polyester further, after having formed yields, shrinks, thereby causing the entire composite fiber to crimp.
  • the joint-like swells thus generated on a fiber has another feature of increasing the rate of absorption/desorption of moisture of the fiber. This is because of cracks formed in the sheath polyester when the joint-like swells generate by its yielding. The cracks formed at the swollen parts permit moisture to readily pass therethrough, thus increasing the rate of absorption/desorption of moisture. Ordinary sheath-core composite fibers having no such joint-like swells are of low rate of absorption/desorption of moisture and hence cannot be necessarily said to be very agreeable, while they have satisfactory equilibrium moisture absorbency.
  • the fiber With the composite fiber having joint-like swells according to the present invention, cracks generate on the joint parts and still nylon-4 polymer is not exposed on the surface.
  • the fiber therefore has high rate of absorption/ desorption of moisture and gives no clammy feeling when wet with moisture or water, and it desorbs moisture without causing the wearer's skin to be deprived of much heat, whereby he does not feel cold.
  • the fiber thus gives very comfortable feeling.
  • the WSR is determined according to JIS L1013, 7.15(1) HOT WATER SHRINKAGE, Method B as follows.
  • a specimen fiber is loaded with an initial load of 0.05 g/d, and a length of 500 mm is accurately measured on the specimen and marked at its both ends.
  • the initial load is replaced by a load of 0.5 mg/d and then the specimen is immersed in hot water at 98°C for 30 minutes. After the immersion, the specimen is air-dried without the load and then loaded with the initial load and measured for the length (l) between the marks.
  • the hot water treatment herein can be conducted by any process such as immersion in boiling water, ordinary relaxation process, alkali etching or dyeing process, and is conducted at a temperature of preferably 70 to 140°C for a period, depending on the process employed, of preferably 1 minute to about 2 hours.
  • a composite fiber having a flat cross-sectional shape of bimetal of nylon-4 polymer and hydrophobic polyester, the laminated line constituting the maximum length line of the flat section changes its diameter reversibly with the moisture absorption.
  • clothes made from such a fiber are provided with a moisture conditioning function to suppress both stuffy feeling between the clothes and the skin and a chill felt upon excess dissipation of sweat.
  • this composite fiber absorbs the moisture and desorbs it outward, thereby suppressing stuffy feeling.
  • the composite fiber decreases its diameter and increase the moisture permeability of the clothes so that the moisture accumulating inside them can effectively permeate outward, whereby the stuffy feeling is again suppressed.
  • the composite fiber gradually desorbs moisture and resumes its original diameter to prevent the skin temperature from decreasing rapidly on account of excess evaporation.
  • the composite fiber change its diameter by absorption/desorption of moisture satisfying the conditions of 0.3 ⁇ L100/L65 ⁇ 0.9 and 1.1 ⁇ L0 /L65 ⁇ 2.5, where L100, L65 and L0 are average maximum lengths of the cross-section of the composite fiber conditioned at 20°C under saturated vapor pressure and under 65% RH and bone-dried, respectively. While the fiber diameter decreases to a extent by moisture absorption, it particularly is preferred that 0.3 ⁇ L100/L65 ⁇ 0.7.
  • L100/L65 > 0.9 that means the fiber diameter decreases only to a small extent, the water having rapidly accumulated in a large amount inside the clothes will not effectively permeate therethrough outward.
  • L100/L65 ⁇ 0.3 it is difficult to fully prevent delamination of the two layers of the composite fiber even when the constituting polyester contain an amount of an alkali metal and the like to prevent the delamination between nylon-4 polymer. Then, the desired reversible change of fiber diameter is also difficult to realize. With respect to the diameter change upon moisture desorption, it is preferred that 1.1 ⁇ L0/L65 ⁇ 2.5. If L0/L65 ⁇ 1.1, the composite fiber will exhibit little conditioning function. On the other hand, when L0/L65 > 2.5, delamination of the two layers tends to occur.
  • the mechanism of the reversible diameter change of the composite fiber of this type by absorption/desorption of moisture is considered to be as follows.
  • the nylon-4 which is moisture-absorbing component, repeats inflation and deflation by absorption/desorption of moisture, while hydrophobic polyester keeps its volume almost constant against humidity change.
  • a composite fiber obtained by lamination of the two resins to form a flat fiber cross-section in which the interface constitutes the maximum length line of the cross-section will warp upon absorption of moisture to change its apparent diameter, and resume original flat cross-sectional shape upon desorption of moisture.
  • the maximum length of the cross-sections of the conditioned fibers can be measured by observing the cross-sections using a conventional optical microscope.
  • the degree of flattening of the flat bimetal-laminated composite fiber i.e. ratio of the width of the lamination plane, or the maximum length of the cross-section, to the height, or thickness, measured in a direction perpendicular to the lamination plane be 3 to 10.
  • incorporation of fine particles, such as colloidal silica and aluminum oxide, having a diameter of not more than 1 ⁇ m into the polyester component, followed by alkali etching to roughen or make micro-crators on the fiber surface can provide a fiber giving dry-touch and less clammy feeling or one having still higher rate of absorption/desorption of moisture.
  • nylon-4 chips having different intrinsic viscosities and M W / M N 's were prepared by polymerizing 2-pyrrolidone with a catalyst of potassium hydroxide. They were hot-water washed under various conditions to give chips having different residual potassium concentrations as shown in the column of "Raw material nylon-4" in Tables 1 and 3. The thus obtained nylon-4 chips were combined with the various raw material polyesters shown in Tables 1 and 3 and each of the combination was melt spun. The obtained composite fibers as spun were drawn to give filament yarns of 75 deniers/24 filaments. The thus obtained composite fibers were of composite ratios (ratio by weight of nylon-4 to polyester) and cross-sectional shapes as shown in Tables 2 and 4.
  • Tables 2 and 4 show the intrinsic viscosities and M W / M N 's of the nylon-4 polymers contained in the obtained composite fibers and the Young's moduli and the moisture absorptions and rates of moisture absorption at 20°C, 65% RH of the composite fibers.
  • Round knits were prepared from these composite fibers, relaxation treated in boiling water to remove finishing agent, while some (Examples 10 and 11) were further alkali-etched in a 4% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.
  • the thus treated round knits were tested for clammy feeling upon absorption of moisture in the following manner.
  • Each specimen round knit made wet by immersion in water for 10 minutes and dewatered was air-dried under conditions of 20°C and 65% RH until its water content decreased to a level 10% higher than its equilibrium moisture content at 20°C x 65% RH. Then the specimen was tested by touching with the hand.
  • Tables 3 and 4 also show the cases where nylon-6 was used instead of nylon-4 (Comparative Examples 1 and 7), a homofil fiber of nylon-6 was spun and tested (Comparative Example 2), homofil fiber of polyethylene terephthalate was tested (Comparative Example 3) and homofil fiber of nylon-4 was tested (Comparative Example 6).
  • the composite fiber of Example 2 after drawing, had a hot water shrinkage (WSR) of 15%, and gave, by treatment of the round knit prepared from this fiber in boiling water, a fiber having 7.8 pieces/mm of joint-like swells with an L'/L, described hereinbefore, of 1.4 and having a ratio of the sum of swell widths to the fiber length of 5.3%.
  • the composite fiber of Example 13 had a hot water shrinkage (WSR) of 16.5% and gave, by treatment of the round knit prepared from this fiber in boiling water, a fiber having 40 pieces/mm of joint-like swells with an L'/L of 1.4 and having a ratio of the sum of swell widths to the fiber length of 18%.
  • the composite fiber of Comparative Example 9 had a hot water shrinkage (WSR) of 19% and gave, by treatment of the round knit prepared from this fiber in boiling water, a fiber having 51 pieces/mm of joint-like swells with an L'/L of 2.1 and having a ratio of the sum of swell widths to the fiber length of 26%.
  • WSR hot water shrinkage
  • the composite fibers of Examples 7 and 8 and Comparative Example 7 were all flat bimetal fibers having a degree of flattening of 5.
  • the composite fibers of Examples 7 and 8 had L100/L65 's of 0.6 and 0.4 respectively and L0/L65 's of 2.0 and 1.4 respectively, and both changed their diameter by moisture absorption.
  • the knits prepared from them were both effective for evaporating and dissipating sweat from the skin surface and, after having dissipated moisture to an appropriate extent, the fibers resumed to their original fiber diameters, thereby reducing moisture permeability and maintaining the surface temperatures of the wearers.
  • the composite fiber of Comparative Example 7 had, although this was a flat bimetal composite fiber, an L100/L65 and L0/L65 of both 1.0 and thus did not substantially change its fiber diameter upon absorption of moisture.
  • Example 6 used as nylon-4 polymer a caprolactam-copolymerized nylon-4 (contents of caprolactam: 60% by weight).
  • the composite fiber obtained in this Example gave clothes which, besides being markedly comfortable, had another feature of exhibiting very high dimensional stability even by repeated washing.
  • Comparative Example 12 a composite fiber was spun into fiber without having been fully removed of alkali metal contained in nylon-4 by hot water washing (600 ppm remain). The obtained fiber was of not fully satisfactory strength because of thermal decomposition of the nylon-4 polymer during spinning.
  • a clothing article made this fiber was subjected to 10 repetitions of washing and ironing at 170°C, the strength and elongation of the original fiber, 2.2 g/d and 25% respectively, decreased to 1.5 g/d and 20% respectively. This is attributable to thermal decomposition of the nylon-4 polymer by ironing heat.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Multicomponent Fibers (AREA)
  • Chemical Or Physical Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
EP19900124769 1989-12-19 1990-12-19 Moisture-absorbent composite fiber Ceased EP0434029A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP329987/89 1989-12-19
JP32998789 1989-12-19
JP2007505A JPH03213518A (ja) 1990-01-16 1990-01-16 調湿性繊維
JP7505/90 1990-01-16
JP138964/90 1990-05-28
JP2138964A JPH0434009A (ja) 1990-05-28 1990-05-28 芯鞘複合繊維
JP253708/90 1990-09-21
JP2253708A JPH04136215A (ja) 1990-09-21 1990-09-21 ナイロン―４の溶融紡糸方法

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0434029A2 true EP0434029A2 (fr) 1991-06-26
EP0434029A3 EP0434029A3 (en) 1991-11-21

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ID=27454731

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900124769 Ceased EP0434029A3 (en) 1989-12-19 1990-12-19 Moisture-absorbent composite fiber

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP0434029A3 (fr)
KR (1) KR930000255B1 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0597224A2 (fr) * 1992-11-12 1994-05-18 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Fils hydrophiles polymères à plusieurs composants et non-tissés de ceux-ci
US5707735A (en) * 1996-03-18 1998-01-13 Midkiff; David Grant Multilobal conjugate fibers and fabrics
JP2007231452A (ja) * 2006-03-01 2007-09-13 Teijin Fibers Ltd 複合繊維
JP2007239141A (ja) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-20 Teijin Fibers Ltd 混繊糸
JP2007239139A (ja) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-20 Teijin Fibers Ltd 複合仮撚加工糸
JP2007239140A (ja) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-20 Teijin Fibers Ltd 仮撚加工糸
EP1995358A1 (fr) * 2006-03-01 2008-11-26 Teijin Fibers Limited Fil contenant une fibre conjuguee
EP2130955A1 (fr) * 2007-04-04 2009-12-09 KB Seiren, Ltd. Fibre composite antistatique fraîche au toucher et absorbant l'humidité
CN111334917A (zh) * 2019-12-29 2020-06-26 江苏恒力化纤股份有限公司 一种舒适型泡泡纱的制备方法
US20220112335A1 (en) * 2018-12-10 2022-04-14 Nippon Soda Co., Ltd. Polyalkyleneimine-modified polyamide 4

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59228070A (ja) * 1983-06-06 1984-12-21 株式会社クラレ 偏平繊維含有親水性布帛
JPS6183316A (ja) * 1984-09-28 1986-04-26 Nippon Ester Co Ltd ポリエステル系複合繊維

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS59228070A (ja) * 1983-06-06 1984-12-21 株式会社クラレ 偏平繊維含有親水性布帛
JPS6183316A (ja) * 1984-09-28 1986-04-26 Nippon Ester Co Ltd ポリエステル系複合繊維

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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Title
DATABASE WPIL, accession no. 85-034488 (06), Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; & JP-A-59 228 070 (KURARAY K.K.) 21 December 1984 *
DATABASE WPIL, accession no. 86-147864 (23), Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; & JP-A-61 083 316 (NIPPON ESTER K.K.) 26 April 1986 *

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0597224A2 (fr) * 1992-11-12 1994-05-18 Kimberly-Clark Corporation Fils hydrophiles polymères à plusieurs composants et non-tissés de ceux-ci
EP0597224A3 (fr) * 1992-11-12 1994-11-23 Kimberly Clark Co Fils hydrophiles polymères à plusieurs composants et non-tissés de ceux-ci.
US5707735A (en) * 1996-03-18 1998-01-13 Midkiff; David Grant Multilobal conjugate fibers and fabrics
US8153253B2 (en) 2006-03-01 2012-04-10 Teijin Fibers Limited Conjugate fiber-containing yarn
KR101355669B1 (ko) * 2006-03-01 2014-01-27 데이진 화이바 가부시키가이샤 복합 섬유 함유 사조
JP2007231452A (ja) * 2006-03-01 2007-09-13 Teijin Fibers Ltd 複合繊維
CN101395307B (zh) * 2006-03-01 2012-03-21 帝人纤维株式会社 含复合纤维的纱线
EP1995358A1 (fr) * 2006-03-01 2008-11-26 Teijin Fibers Limited Fil contenant une fibre conjuguee
EP1995358A4 (fr) * 2006-03-01 2009-07-01 Teijin Fibers Ltd Fil contenant une fibre conjuguee
JP2007239140A (ja) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-20 Teijin Fibers Ltd 仮撚加工糸
JP2007239139A (ja) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-20 Teijin Fibers Ltd 複合仮撚加工糸
JP2007239141A (ja) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-20 Teijin Fibers Ltd 混繊糸
EP2130955A1 (fr) * 2007-04-04 2009-12-09 KB Seiren, Ltd. Fibre composite antistatique fraîche au toucher et absorbant l'humidité
EP2130955A4 (fr) * 2007-04-04 2011-06-15 Kb Seiren Ltd Fibre composite antistatique fraîche au toucher et absorbant l'humidité
JP5547474B2 (ja) * 2007-04-04 2014-07-16 Ｋｂセーレン株式会社 制電性、吸水性及び接触冷感性に優れた複合繊維
KR101440983B1 (ko) 2007-04-04 2014-09-17 케이비 세렌 가부시키가이샤 제전성, 흡수성 및 접촉 냉감성이 우수한 복합섬유
US20220112335A1 (en) * 2018-12-10 2022-04-14 Nippon Soda Co., Ltd. Polyalkyleneimine-modified polyamide 4
CN111334917A (zh) * 2019-12-29 2020-06-26 江苏恒力化纤股份有限公司 一种舒适型泡泡纱的制备方法
CN111334917B (zh) * 2019-12-29 2021-08-13 江苏恒力化纤股份有限公司 一种舒适型泡泡纱的制备方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0434029A3 (en) 1991-11-21
KR930000255B1 (ko) 1993-01-14
KR910012392A (ko) 1991-08-07

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