GB1334735A - Bulked fabrics - Google Patents

Abstract

1334735 Finishing fabrics ROBINSON & SONS Ltd 3 March 1972 [3 March 1971] 5897/71 Heading D1S The bulk of a fabric 4 comprising a matrix of fibres and a plurality of spaced parallel continuous or discontinuous threads 1 of a heat-shrinkable material bonded to the matrix, is increased by heating the threads to cause them to shrink so as to produce a fabric that is substantially homogeneously bulked. The term "threads" includes single or folded yarns consisting of an assembly of staple, monofilament or multifilament fibres with or without twist. The fabric may be a woven fabric, e.g. gauze, or a cross-laid, parallel-laid or randomlaid non-woven fabric and the heat-shrinkable threads may be attached in two or more different directions to effect bulking in these directions, e.g. warp and weft. If the base fabric comprises a cross laid web of crimped viscose rayon fibres, the heat-shrinkable threads are high tenacity polyester or nylon. Other specified materials for the heat-shrinkable threads are modacrylics, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride and polyolefins. Preferably, between 3 and 43 threads are attached or adhered, e.g. by a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, to the fabric per 10 cms. width thereof. Heating may be effected from 15 seconds to two minutes at a temperature in the range 100‹-170‹C in steam, e.g. in an autoclave. As shown, parallel heat-shrinkable threads 1 are coated with adhesive by rollers 2 rotating in a bath 3 and are brought into contact with the fabric 4 on a drying cylinder 5. The composite material 6 passes through an oven 7 having input rollers 8 and output rollers 9 driven at controlled speeds so as to rotate at the speed of the material and not restrict contraction thereof. Specification 1282421 is referred to.