FI121603B - fibers - Google Patents

Description

fibers

The present invention relates to fibrous materials. In particular, the invention relates to an uncharged or poorly charged fiber structure 5 according to the preamble of claim 1, which is suitable for use in, for example, clothing, filters, woven textiles, non-woven textiles, carpets and as an alloy among other fibers.

Such a two or more layer fiber structure generally comprises a core layer consisting of a polymer which is at least partially conductive or has antistatic properties and a first non-conductive polymer layer surrounding the core layer which forms the fiber shell.

Polymeric fibers are charged for e.g. triboelectrically, which causes problems in most applications. For example, carpets may accumulate static charges of up to tens of kilovolts due to abrasion, or synthetic fibers will adhere to the skin as a result of static charging. It is known that electronic components and hospital anesthetic gases are sensitive to static discharges that can damage components or ignite the gas.

20 The world today uses more synthetic fibers than natural fibers, and this trend will continue. The use of man-made fibers increases the problem of static electricity, as the main man-made fiber materials, namely polyester and polypropylene, are prepared for abrasion, triboelectricity, significantly more than cotton, o, 25 Attempts have been made to solve and eliminate the problem. Typical ways include introducing V of various antistatic compounds into the fiber surface, for example, with an avivating agent O, or adding it to a polymer melt during melt processing. The problem with the solution, however, is that during washing, the antistatic compounds are leached away and, over time, the CNJ fibers lose their antistatic properties. On the other hand, the anti-static to $ 2 30 compound blended with the plastic melt tends to evaporate during comforts, or the antistatic compound migrated to the surface of the fiber at the latest is consumed. It should be noted that static electricity problems are usually caused by low relative humidity in the air where the antistatic compound does not work.

2

Another traditional way to solve the problem is to add a layer of conductive coating to the fiber afterwards. U.S. Patent Nos. 3,823,035 and 4,255,487 disclose various coating solutions. The coatings used are polyaniline, polythiophene, polypyrrole, graphite, carbon black, copper sulfide, conductive metal oxides, metallization and other materials, which are typically bonded to the fiber surface or evaporated. A problem with such methods is e.g. the fact that surface modification changes the color of the fiber wears out and is often an expensive separate step.

A third conventional way of producing dissipative fibers is to introduce conductive particles 10 into the fiber's internal structure.

Typically, the surface of a bicomponent shell-core fiber consists wholly or partly of a polymer to which the conductive particles are doped. An example of these structures is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,952,099. For example, fine graphite has been used as conductive particles.

The known solution to the problem is e.g. the color of the fiber, the deterioration of its mechanical properties, and the delicate fiberization process as the conductive particles tend to separate from each other during fiber orientation, which destroys the electrical conductivity. On the other hand, due to the required high conductive particle content of 15-40% by weight, defibration is difficult. By utilizing conductive particles, it is particularly difficult to form a single electrically conductive core such as an ion-conductive polymer because of the high particle content which results in poor fiberization and, in orientation, the particles tend to separate from one another.

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The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a completely new solution for the production of bi- and multilayer, uncharged and poorly charged fibers.

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The invention surprisingly found that synthetic PET, PP, PA and PE fibers (and the like fibers thermoplastic) were not triboelectric when the fiber contained an ion-conducting polymer as part of a thin core.

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The structure according to the invention is a bi- and multi-component fibrous structure, wherein preferably less than 50% of the cross-sectional area of the fiber is an ion-conductive polymer blend. The remainder of the surface consists of the main raw material, which may be PET, PP, PA, PE or other thermoplastic fiberizable polymer or a mixture thereof.

More specifically, the fiber structure according to the invention is essentially characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention provides significant advantages. Thus, a fully antistatic polymeric fiber 10 can be made without impairing the mechanical properties of the fiber, since the electrically conductive core layer can be made quite narrow, thus having no effect on the fiber strength. On the other hand, by using, for example, ionomer-based conductive polymers, the fiber strength can even be improved by acting in accordance with the invention.

Typically, the core portion of the fiber has a cross-sectional area of about 50% or less, preferably up to 30%, of the total fiber cross-sectional area. This reduces the consumption of the ionically conductive polymer and thus reduces the cost of the product. Typical fiber core diameters are 0.1 to 10 micrometers.

Ionically conductive polymers in the form of a fiber may be colorless or even translucent / transparent, thereby making the invention clear or semi-clear fibers suitable for a variety of fabric applications.

The multicomponent fiber according to the invention, for example, has little or no triboelectric charge. It has an exceptionally short discharge time, typically less than 3 s or even less than 2 s (as determined by IEC 61340-5-1), even though the surface resistivity is equal to or substantially equal to that of the surface material.

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We have also found that electrical properties remain constant over a wide air-to-30 humidity range and, for example, at 12% relative humidity, charge discharge times are typically less than 20 s, even less than 0.1 s. In this respect, the structure differs markedly from, for example, the antistatic fibers available on the market, whose antistatic properties 4 are decisively reduced at low relative humidity levels.

In addition, the stretching of the present fiber structure has no effect on its charge.

The fiber of the present invention also differs from known fibers in that it can withstand up to 100 washes without changing its electrical properties.

The fiber structures of the invention can be produced in a cost-effective manner and can be manufactured by conventional fiber-making methods.

10

The invention will now be explored in more detail with the aid of a detailed description and a few embodiments.

The product of the invention is a bi- or multi-component fiber having the structure of sheath-15 core, side-by-side or islands-in-sea, which has all other basic polymer fiber properties but is not triboelectric.

The fiber structure is preferably a core-shell structure in which the main thermoplastic material forms a shell layer. The shell may comprise one or more layers consisting of 20 non-conductive polymers. The core layer, in turn, comprises an ionically conductive polymer. This has a volumetric resistivity of preferably 104 Ω / sq to 1012 Ω / sq, preferably up to about 5 x 10 9 Ω / sq. According to the invention there is obtained an '' uncharged or poorly charged 'fibrous structure, such as a multilayer fiber, which has a surface resistivity equal to or substantially (e.g., within one decade) the same as with a surface material, e.g.

t) 1 Λ c / i 25 polyethylene 10 ohms / square, although it has a short discharge time, typically up to 20 s, e.g. up to 10 s, especially up to 3 s, preferably up to * 2 s.

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A "non-charged or poorly charged" fibrous structure is a structure having a discharge time of ^ 30 (as defined by IEC 61340-5-1) of up to 120 s, preferably up to 15 s, preferably up to 3 s (particularly preferably up to 0, 1 s), o

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5

The casing layer is comprised of a conventional thermoplastic polymer, either being polyamide, polyester, polyesteramide, polyvinyl, polyolefin, acrylic polymer or polyurethane, or a mixture thereof. It is also possible to use polycarbonates, polyoxymethylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene compounds as well as mixtures of the above polymers.

Polyolefins, polyamides and polyesters are very suitable for melt spinning.

The aforementioned thermoplastics are the main components of the fibrous structure, i.e. they generally account for more than 50% by weight of the fibers. Typically, the thermoplastics comprise at least 55% by weight of the fiber, preferably at least 60% by weight, preferably at least 70% by weight, and particularly preferably at least 80% by weight. Correspondingly, the ionically conductive component represents less than 50% by weight, typically no more than 45%, most preferably no more than 40%, preferably no more than 30% and especially no more than 20% by weight.

15

Polyolellins include, in particular, polypropylene (PP), polyisobutene, polybut-1-ene, poly-4-methylpent-1-ene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polycyclopentene, norbomene, and polyethylenes (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), high molecular weight polyethylene (HDPE-HMW), high density and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (HDPE-UHMW), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) (LLDPE), ). Polyesters are also readily melt-processable, with polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and their compounds being particularly suitable. Liquid crystalline polyesters and polyesteramides may also be used.

Examples of particularly suitable polymers include: copolymers of mono-olefun and x diolefins, and copolymers of these monomers and other vinyl imonomers, such as ethylene / paopene copolymers, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), polyethylene (LDPE),, copolymers of propenes / but-1-ene, copolymers of propylene / isobutene, copolymers of ethylene / but-1-ene, copolymers of ethylene / hexene, copolymers of ethylene / methylpentene, copolymers of ethylene / heptene, copolymers, copolymers of 6 propylene / butadiene, copolymers of isobutene / isoprene, copolymers of ethylene / alkyl acrylate, copolymers of ethylene / alkyl methacrylate, copolymers of ethylene / vinyl acetate and their copolymers of ethylene / terpolymers of propylene, formed by an ink n unsaturated monomers such as diene. Examples of the diene-based comonomers of terpolymers include hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene and ethylidene norbomene, as well as mixtures of these copolymers, as well as mixtures with the above polymers, for example, polypropylene / ethylene-propylene copolymers, blends of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers (EAA), LLDPE / EVA, LLDPE / EAA and variable or random polyalkylene / carbon monoxide copolymers and mixtures thereof with other polymers such as polyamides (PA 6 or 6,6 or 11). or 12 or 6 / 6,6-copolymers including OP A), polycarbonyl terephthalate (PET including OPET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), ethylene vinyl alcohol (EvOH), polypropylene (including OPP), ethylene acrylic acid copolymers thereof, ethylene methacrylate copolymers and their salts; and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC).

The core layer contains one or more ionically conductive polymers capable of transporting charges, or it consists of mixtures of charged and uncharged polymers. The ionic conductive layer has a volume resistivity typically in the range of about 104 Ω / sq to 1012 Ω / sq, preferably about 105 Ω / sq to -109 Ω / sq, most preferably a volume resistivity of not more than about 5 x 10 9 Ω / sq. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is "" electrically conductive ", which concept covers all the conductivity ranges shown above.

Preferably, ions are dissolved in the dissociative polymer as charge carriers. The ions 1 may be anions, cations or mixtures thereof. Typically, the electrical conductivity is increased by Q_ already at a concentration of 0.1 millimoles of ions per gram of polymer blend, thereby reducing the charge of the film $ 3. Certain ions can be used up to more than 15 mmol / g when the ionically conductive polymer is sufficiently stable.

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The dissipative polymer used in the present invention may be, for example, structurally polyetheramide, polyetherester or polyetherurethane, or a mixture thereof. Polymers containing a polyether block are particularly preferred. The polyether block is preferably amorphous (non-crystalline). The polyether block preferably has a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 300 to about 3000. The polyether block may be, for example, polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide (generally polyalkylene oxide) or a copolymer thereof. The "alkylene" group preferably contains 2 to 6 carbon atoms. It generally comprises from about 30 to about 85% by weight of the polymer, typically from about 40 to about 80% by weight.

Particularly preferred polymers are thus polyether block copolyester, polyether ester amide, polyether block copolyamide and segmented polyether urethane. The polyamide component may be, for example, PA-12 or PA-6, and the polyester component is typically polyethylene terephthalate.

Polymers suitable for the invention are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,623,031, US 3,651,014, US 3,763,109, US 3,896,078, US 4,155,475, US 4,195,015, US 4,230,838, US 4,331,786, U.S. Pat. US 4,332,920, US 4,361,680, US 4,719,263, US 4,839,441, US 4,864,014, US 4,931,506, US 5,011,139, US 5,159,053, US 5,298,558, US 5,237,009, US U.S. Patent No. 5,334,889, U.S. Patent No. 5,574,104, U.S. Patent No. 5,604,284, U.S. Patent No. 5,886,098, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. WO 03/000789, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of commercially available polymers suitable for use in the invention include, for example, Atochem's Pebax, Ciban Irgastat, Du o c i H 25 Pontin Hytrel, Nippon Zeon Hydrin, Noveon Statrite, Sanyo Chemicals' Pelestat and Polyether.

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0 1 In our experiments we have found that the fiber structure according to the invention is obtained

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uncharged or at most poorly charged if the core contains at least about 6 mass-

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30%, preferably at least 10% by weight polyether blocks by weight of the layer. Most preferably, the ionic conductive layer contains 6 to 25% by weight of the polyether, based on the total weight of the ...

CM The ionically conductive core preferably contains from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the total weight of the polymer of carboxylic acid or carboxylate.

8

Soluble cations of the invention include monovalent alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, transition metal ions, mono-, di-, and trisubstituted imidazoles, substituted Pyridium ions, substituted pyrrolidinium ions, tetraalkylphosphonium.

The anions of the invention include alkyl sulfates and sulfonates, tosylate ion, triflate ion, [CF3CO2] -, amide and imide ions, bis (trifluorosulfone) imide, bis (toluenesulfone) imide, perchlorate ion.

Examples of suitable salts include: L1C104, L1CF3 SO3, NaC104, LiBF4, NaBF4, KBF4, NaCF3 SO3, KC104, KPF6, KCF3 SO3, KC4 F9 SO3, Ca (C104) 2, Ca (PF6) 2, Mg (C104) 2, Mg (CF 3 SO 3) 2, Zn (C 104) 2, Zn (PF 6) 2 and Ca (CF 3 SO 3) 2.

Monovalent alkali metal ions are particularly preferred. Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium are used as such or in combination with, for example, alkaline earth metal ions.

The number of ions varies over a relatively wide range. Generally, at least 0.05 mmol, especially at least 0.1 mmol / g of anions or monovalent cations are dissolved in the conductive polymer.

Particularly preferably, the monovalent metal cations are dissolved in at least 0.05 mmol, most preferably at least 0.2 mmol, especially at least 1 mmol, preferably 1.5-20 mmol / g of O 2 (see below). The amounts of the other monovalent cations may, depending on the size of the ion and its physical properties (e.g. diffusibility / movement), generally vary between 0.1 and 50 mmol / g of polymer.

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The ions to be added according to the invention are selected from the final product CM made from the fiber

According to the requirements set forth in the < 30 > manufacturing conditions, the conductivity of the CM ionically conductive polymer can be improved by incorporating organic small molecule compounds capable of solubilizing ions, thereby improving ion mobility and preventing crystallization of polyether blocks. Typically, the content of such organic solvents is at least 0.1% by weight of the ionically conductive polymer or mixture thereof, preferably at a concentration of about 0.2% to 5% by weight. It has been found that an increase of just 1% by mass may reduce the resistance by one decade. Examples of suitable compounds include ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate.

As a particular example of a suitable ionic conductive polymer component, an electrically conductive polymer blend comprising a mixture of at least two polymers 10, wherein the first polymer component of the blend comprises an ionomer and the second polymer component of the blend is a block-polyether polymer. The ionomer is preferably composed of a copolymer of an olefin such as ethylene and / or propylene and an unsaturated carboxylic acid and / or carboxylic acid anhydride which is ionically crosslinked. The block-polyether polymer consists mainly of a polyether block log and a block of polyamide, polyester or polyurethane. The acid groups of the ionomer are at least partially ionized with cations. Similarly, the polyetherib logs of the block polymer are at least partially in salt form. The cations provide siliconization of the ionomers and coordination of the block polymers, while the strength of the polymer blend increases significantly as ionic bonds are formed, and as the alkali cation coordinates to the ethers, the electrical conductivity of the blend increases significantly. The ionic bond of the invention is also thermally reversible. The amount of ionomeric acid or acid anhydride groups in the polymer blend is typically about 0.1 to about 15 mol% of the ionomer.

Preferably, the cations are derived from alkali metals, with preferred alkali metals being lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium and mixtures thereof. The alkali metal is present in an amount of about 0.05 to 50.0 millimoles / gram, preferably about 0.1-20 millimoles / gram, particularly preferably about 1.5-15 millimoles / gram (i.e., moles / kg) of the polymer blend.

x Polymer achieves good electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical properties

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features.

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CO 30 se ^ The mixtures shown may be prepared by mixing together 9 to 10 parts by weight of a copolymer of olefin with an unsaturated carboxylic acid and / or carboxylic acid anhydride, 10 to 90 parts by weight of a block polyether and 10 parts by weight of an alkali metal compound of 0.05 ion / 1 g polymer blend. The mixing is carried out at an elevated temperature, preferably molten, and is continued until the alkali metal compound is substantially completely reacted with the polymer components of the blend, after which the resulting polymer blend can be processed into a fiber having a diameter of about 5.

In addition to the ionically conductive polymer, the fiber core may have a blend component, such as one of the aforementioned thermoplastic polymers, suitable for use in the bark layer. By using the same polymer as in the skin layer, the core is attached to this layer without the use of separate adhesive polymers (Delayer). Generally, the amount of thermoplastic in the blend forming the polymeric core material is at least 10% by weight, in particular at least 25% by weight, and particularly preferably about 40-60% by weight.

An adhesive polymer such as an olefin plastomer or terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic acid ester and maleic acid (Lotader) or copolyethylene grafted with maleic anhydride may also be used to bond the core and the shell.

The fiber of the invention has layers of 2 or more. Typically, it will have 20 to 20 layers, preferably 2 to 7 layers. Of these layers, everything but the core can consist of non-conductive layers. However, it is possible, if desired, to fabricate a fibrous structure having a plurality of ionically conductive layers. It is essential for the invention that the layer forming the surface of the structure is at least partially, preferably substantially or even completely non-conductive. As stated above, the bi- or multi-component fiber according to the invention No. C1225 may be of the so-called "sheath-core", "side-by-side" or "islands-in-sea" type, wherein the electrically conductive core layer preferably ^ lies entirely within the shell layer (sheath-core solution).

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An example of a bicomponent thermoplastic $ 3 30 fiber provided by the invention is a structure comprising an electrically conductive polymer core surrounded by a thermoplastic shell portion, wherein the core comprises at least a polymeric material which is ionically conductive and has a core volume resistivity of 5x10 9 ohms / and the discharge time of the layer structure is less than 10 s.

11

The ionically conductive polymeric material comprises a polyether block containing polyetheresteramide, a polyether block copolyamide or a segmented polyether urethane as the conductive polymer component, and the major component of the fiber comprising at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 75% by weight of the fiber is polyamide, polyester or 5. Of the polyolellines, polypropylene is particularly preferred and of the polyesters polyethylene terephthalate.

The fibers of the invention can be prepared in a manner known per se, as described, for example, in Viljo Tammela's book Polymer Science and Plastic Technology. Volume III, Otatieto 1989, 10 page 370, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Extrusion then produces monofilaments (or "monofilament") by squeezing the molten plastic from the extruder through a nozzle with a plurality of small holes and passing it into a water bath where the strands are cooled with cooling water. The temperature is typically below the boiling point of water, e.g., about 40-90 ° C. From the water pool, the strands are led to an orientation unit 15. Here, they are subjected to stretching at an elevated temperature (generally above 100 ° C), which results in it being stretched to a length of about 1.5-20 times, preferably about 2-12 times, and then subjected to post-heating. The purpose of post-heating is to stabilize the wire so that it does not shrink. Typical production speeds are about 100-350 m / min, e.g. about 150-250 m / Miri.

20

The yarns are then oriented to increase their strength. The most common way of performing the orientation is to pass the wires through the pulling rolls to a hot air furnace, at one end of which the speed of the pulling rolls is higher. By orienting, the tensile strength of the fiber can be increased 2-10 times, cg 25

After orientation, the fiber can be post-treated, for example, by introducing into it surface-active agents and the like to modify the surface properties of the fiber, for example to make it easier to form desired fabrics and fabrics.

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^ 30 U.S. Patent 5,162,074 discloses one fiberization apparatus suitable for the manufacture of a fiber according to the present invention. The contents of that patent are incorporated herein by reference.

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The final drawn monofilament has a thickness of 1 to 50 denier, or even more than a litter.

Generally, however, the fiber thickness is about 1 to 1000 denier, preferably about 10 to 150 denier.

5

Less than 50% of the fiber cross-sectional area consists of a conductive core, typically up to 30%, or even up to 20%, of the diameter of the fiber.

Thus, depending on the thickness of the fiber, the core generally has a cross-section of from about 0.01 to about 100 micrometers, in particular from about 0.1 to about 50 micrometers, e.g., from about 1 to about 20 micrometers, typically about 1 to about 10 micrometers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the polymer-containing core has a cross-sectional diameter of at least about 1 micrometer but not more than 20%, preferably not more than about 10%, of the entire fiber cross-sectional diameter.

15

The fibers according to the invention can be used, for example, in fabrics and fabrics consisting of synthetic fibers. They are suitable for use in, for example, clothing, filters, woven textiles, non-woven textiles, carpets and as an alloy among other fibers. Filters and sportswear (so-called fleece hoodies) are of particular interest. They may comprise from about 0.01% to about 80% by weight, typically from about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, of the fiber blends (e.g., polypropylene or polyester fibers).

EXAMPLES 0 ° CM 25 An ion-conducting polymer blend A was prepared with a twin screw extruder. The mixture consisted of 50 wt% ethylene / butyl acrylate / methacrylic acid terpolymer (BA 4 wt%, MAA 2 wt%), and 50 wt% polyethylene oxide / polyamide block copolymer (PA 50 1 wt%, PEO 50 wt%) ). K + ions of 0.4 mass% were used as ions.

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C 'l 30 An ion-conducting polymer blend B was prepared with a twin screw extruder. The mixture consisted of 50 wt% ethylene / butyl acrylate / methacrylic acid terpolymer (BA 4 wt%, MAA 2 CM wt%), and 50 wt% block copolymer of polyethylene oxide and polyurethane (PUR 30 wt%, PEO 70 wt.%). %). K + ions of 0.4 mass% were used as ions.

13

Exemplary fibers were manufactured on pilot scale bicomponent fiber equipment. The temperature range for polypropylene was 190-250 ° C, for polyester 250-300 ° C.

1. Bicomponent polypropylene fiber was defibrated using pure polypropylene and a core of a mixture of ionic conductive plastic A and polypropylene as the core, with a polypropylene content of 50% by weight of the core.

2. The bicomponent polypropylene fiber was defibrated using 10 pure polypropylene and a core of a mixture of ionic conductive plastic A and polypropylene as the core, with a polypropylene content of 30% by weight of the core.

3. The bicomponent polypropylene fiber was defibrated using pure polypropylene as the core layer and a mixture of ionic conductive plastic A and polypropylene as the core, with a polypropylene content of 20% by weight of the core.

4. The bicomponent polypropylene fiber was defibrated using pure polypropylene and a core of a mixture of ionic conductive plastic A and polypropylene as the core, with a polypropylene content of 10% by weight of the core.

5. Bicomponent polyester fiber was defibrated using pure polyester and a core of a mixture of ionic conductive plastic B and polyester as the core, with a polyester content of 50% by weight of the core.

0 CM 25 6. Bicomponent polyester fiber was defibrated using pure polyester and a core of a mixture of ionic conductive plastic B and polyester as the core, with a content of 30% by weight of the polyester.

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7. The bicomponent polyester fiber was defibrated using 30 pure polyester and a core of a mixture of ionic conductive plastic B and polyester as the core, with a polyester content of 10% by weight of the core.

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The triboelectric charge of the exemplary fibers and the two reference exemplary fibers were measured when aluminum was scrubbed, as well as the charge discharge time with the corona charge. Measurements were made using IEC 61340-5-1. The measurement was performed using a ProStat PFM-711A electric field intensity meter with measurable fields at a distance of 5 inches up to 20 kV. Table 1 summarizes the results. Maximum preparation is defined as the highest reading after exposure. After the maximum is detected, the remaining charge is measured after 10 seconds.

Table 1.

Eg Core percentage% Ion conductive Maximum Residual charge The proportion of plastic in the cross-section charge is 10 s after the discharge time from the area T 5Ö 50 - I ÖJs ~ 2. 3Ö 50 - I ÖJs T. 2Ö 50 200 V - ljs T. iö 5Ö 270 V - ljÖs Ύ. 5Ö 5Ö - - ÖJs ~ 6. 3Ö 5Ö 120 V - ÖJs ~ 1. iö 5Ö 180 V - ljs

VEI. polypropylene fiber - 19,000 V 18,000 V N / A

VE 2. polyester fiber - 19,000 V 18,000 V N / A

The examples show clearly the different behavior of the bicomponent fibers containing ion-conductive plastics when triboelectrically charged with the pure fibers, although the surface materials of all the fibers were insulating. The? X charge on the surface of the bicomponent fiber containing the ion-conducting plastic at the core of the T-15 will probably migrate to the ion-conducting fiber core and die. It should be noted that, in the comparative examples, the electric fields of kilovolts were still measurable after C min CO exposure.

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Claims (17)

A melt-spun bi-or multicomponent fiber made of polymeric materials comprising a conductive core 5, and - a sheath surrounding the core, characterized in that - the core comprises an ionic conductive polymer consisting of a mixture of two polymers, wherein the first polymer component is a 10 ionomer component and the second polymer component is a block polyether polymer and wherein the polyether block has a core content of at least 6% by weight, and - the shell is made of a non-conductive polymer with a fiber discharge time of less than 10 s and the surface resistivity is the same or substantially the same as the shell forming material. Fiber according to Claim 1, characterized in that the core has a cross-sectional area of less than 50% of the total cross-sectional area of the fiber. Fiber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the core comprising the ionic conductive polymer has a diameter of at least about 1 micrometer but not more than 20%, preferably not more than about 10%, of the diameter of the entire fiber. 0 δ ^ 25 Fiber according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Tj layer consists at least essentially of polyamide, polyester, polyesteramide, q polyvinyl, polyo cows, acrylic polymer or polyurethane or a mixture thereof. CC CL The fiber according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the content of CDether 30 polyether blocks in the core is about 10 to 25% by weight. o o C \ l Fiber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionically conductive core contains from 0.1 to 10% by weight of the total weight of the layer of carboxylic acid or carboxylate. Fiber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polyether block is amorphous. Fiber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductive polymer contains a polyether block having a molecular weight of 300 to 3000. 10 Fiber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive polymer contains a polyether block, which is a polyethylene oxide or a polypropylene oxide or a copolymer thereof. Fiber according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ionically conductive polymer comprises a polyether block containing polyetheresteramide, a polyether block copolyamide or a segmented polyether urethane. Fiber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least 0.1 mol / kg of ions are dissolved in the conductive polymer. Fiber according to Claim 11, characterized in that the conductive polymer contains between 0.5 and 15 moles / kg of ions. Fiber according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the dissolved ions are cations or anions, wherein the cations are especially monovalent alkali metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, transition metal ions, mono-, di-, and trisubstituted x imidazoles, substituted Pyridium ions, substituted pyrrolidinium ions, tetraalkylphosphonium ions, and the anions are, in particular, alkyl sulfate or sulfonate ions, $ 3 3 tosylate ions, triflate ions, [CF 3 CO 2], amides and imides. , bis (trifluorosulfone) imide ions, bis (toluenesulfone) imide ions or perchlorate ions o CM Fiber according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fiber has a thickness of about 1 to 1000 denier, preferably about 10 to 150 denier. 15. A bi-component thermoplastic fiber comprising an electrically conductive polymer core surrounded by a thermoplastic shell portion, characterized in that - the core comprises at least a polymeric material which is ionically conductive and comprises a polyether block polyether ester amide containing a polyether block as a conductive polymer component. or segmented polyether-urethane having a core volumetric resistivity of 5x10 9 ohm / sq or less and a time to charge of less than 10 s. Fiber according to Claim 15, characterized in that the main component of the fiber is a polyamide, a polyester or a polyolefin or a mixture thereof. Fiber according to one of Claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the main component of the fiber 15 is polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. o δ CM o X x CL CM CD CO 'vt O O CM