JP2006214059A - Spinneret device for spinning sea-island-type conjugate fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spinneret device for spinning a sea-island-type conjugate fiber, having excellent spinning stability. <P>SOLUTION: The spinneret device comprises the following (a) to (e): (a) a first hard plate 11 for supporting island polymer A-introducing pipes 1 for introducing an island-component polymer; (b) a second hard plate 12 having island-component polymer B-introducing holes 2, narrow channels 6 for the sea-component polymer B formed by the hole, and sea component-introducing parts having wide channels 5; (c) sea component-introducing holes arranged so that the sea component polymer may be made to flow in at least from two directions from pipe outer periphery part of each group at which two or more core and sheath flows are joined to form the conjugate fiber to the internal circumference of each group; (d) island component-introducing pipes which are passed through the first hard plate and the second hard plate, and which have the tip positions of the pipes in some parts in the second hard plate; and (e) a third hard plate for gathering and integrating the composite flows formed by the constituent elements of the (a) to (d). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit for spinning a sea-island type composite fiber in which a plurality of island components are dispersed in a sea component.

  The sea-island type composite fiber in which a large number of island components are continuously arranged along the fiber axis direction in the sea component is obtained by melting and removing the sea component after spinning to obtain an ultrafine fiber bundle of island components. Alternatively, the sea-island type composite fiber is divided by physical impact to obtain an ultrafine fiber bundle of sea components and island components, so that it is widely used as a constituent material for filaments, nonwoven fabrics, and woven and knitted fabrics. It is particularly useful as a leather-like sheet material such as artificial leather and artificial leather-like fabric.

  Furthermore, in such sea-island type composite fibers, by increasing the number of islands present in one composite fiber, it is possible to obtain ultrafine fibers with finer fineness. In addition to providing a sensation, glossiness and supple feel, it can be applied to new applications by improving water absorption and wiping properties, and can produce many useful products with new characteristics. Is intended to further expand the use of.

  In addition, many proposals have been made so far for a die device for producing the sea-island type composite fiber.

  One of the die devices for obtaining sea-island type composite fibers is a die device comprising a combination of a hard plate having a pipe, a perforated hard plate, and a hard plate having a funnel-like portion and a discharge hole. Insert the pipe, the island component passes through the pipe, the sea component passes through the gap between the pipe and the hole, and when they join, the island component is the core and the core-sheath composite flow with the sea component as the sheath An apparatus has been proposed in which a large number of such composite flows are collected, introduced into a funnel-like portion, and discharged from discharge holes while converging to obtain sea-island composite fibers (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the above-mentioned base device, the pipe and the hole are arranged coaxially, and the tip of the pipe is brought into the hole, so that the island component that has passed through the pipe is used as a core, and the sea that has flowed into the hole from the outer periphery of the pipe. This is an apparatus for obtaining a sea-island composite fiber by forming a core-sheath composite flow with a component as a sheath in a hole, collecting a large number of such composite flows, introducing them into a funnel-like portion, and discharging them from the discharge holes while converging. However, in the base device, it is difficult to completely match the center position of all the pipe tips with the hole center position, and misalignment is likely to occur. For this reason, especially when spinning high island ratio fibers with extremely low sea components or fibers with a large number of islands, the sheath of the sea components cannot uniformly cover the core of the island components, and the island components are bonded together. There is a problem that the island components that are likely to join each other and yarn breakage during spinning are likely to occur.

  As a means for solving the above problems, the hole for inserting the tip of the pipe has a hole in which a narrow part that does not substantially contact the pipe and a wide part that allows free flow of the polymer are arranged. Furthermore, by forming the lower part of the hole into an annular part having a larger diameter, the sea-island composite fiber that forms a stable core-sheath composite flow whose outer periphery is covered with a sheath while strengthening the fluid regulating function of sea components Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, in the above-described base device, as shown in FIG. 4, the sea component polymer B is introduced in one direction from the outer peripheral portion of the flow path space 30 toward the inner peripheral portion (central portion). Since the sea space polymer B is discharged from the outer peripheral portion of the flow path space 30 because it is discharged from the discharge holes 31 a and 31 b that are sequentially arranged in one direction from the outer periphery to the inner periphery in one direction of the road space 30. While flowing to the peripheral part and flowing out from each sheath component forming flow path, different pressure loss is caused by the resistance of the flow path narrowed by the pipe 20 of the island component polymer A, and the inner and outer peripheral parts of the flow path space. Not only causes a pressure difference, but also causes a viscosity variation due to a residence time difference (difference in thermal history) due to a difference in flow path length. For this reason, there is a difference in the amount of discharge sea component polymer flowing in each composite flow of the inner peripheral part and the outer peripheral part, and as the number of islands and the number of islands increase in one base device, Insufficient amount of sea component polymer inflow around the circumference, operation at the discharge hole such as yarn quality abnormality or yarn breakage due to insufficient composite fineness (hereinafter referred to as sea thinning phenomenon) due to merge of island components or insufficient sea component discharge amount There was a problem of causing defects.

  As means for solving the above problem, in the flow path from the introduction hole through the flow path space to the discharge hole, the sea component polymer B has a flow path length and a flow path length of any of the outer peripheral portion of the base and the inner peripheral portion. By providing a branch flow path in which the flow path resistance is substantially equal, the residence time and the polymer pressure after flowing into the cap of the sea component polymer B can be made substantially equal, and flow rate variation and viscosity variation can be reduced. There has been proposed a device that can solve the problem of island merging and sea thinning (for example, see Patent Document 3).

However, even in the above-mentioned base device, when viewed in units of groups forming each composite fiber, the sea component polymer B flows into the channel space only at one location, so that there are more than 50 islands. The base for obtaining the composite fiber also has the same problem as the base represented by Patent Document 2. That is, the sea component polymer B that has flowed into the flow path space flows out of the sheath component formation flow path, and causes different pressure loss due to the resistance of the flow path narrowed by the pipe 1 of the island component polymer B, even within the same group. On the downstream side of the sea component inflow, there was a problem that island components merged and sea thinness occurred due to lack of sea component.
JP 2000-129531 A Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Sho 63-35725 Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-15164

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional sea-island type composite fiber spinning base device, and even if it is a sea-island type composite fiber of more than 50 islands, the island component It is an object of the present invention to provide a sea-island type composite fiber spinning die device that can be joined together, has no sea thinness, has excellent spinning stability, and can be made into multiple islands.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
(1) A sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit having at least the following constituents (a) to (e):

(A) a first hard plate having an introduction hole for introducing a sea component polymer and supporting an island component polymer introduction pipe for introducing the island component polymer;
(B) A narrow portion and a wide portion of the sea component polymer flow path having a hole for inserting the tip of the island component polymer introduction pipe and formed by the island component polymer introduction pipe and the hole. A second hard plate having a sea component introduction section,
(C) In the second hard plate, the sea component polymer flows from at least two directions toward the inner periphery of each group from the outer peripheral edge of the pipe of each group in which a plurality of core-sheath flows gather to form a composite fiber. A sea component polymer introduction hole in the first hard plate arranged as follows:
(D) An island component polymer introduction pipe that is inserted from the first hard plate to the second hard plate, and the pipe tip position is located in any of the second hard plates. ,
(E) A third hard plate for assembling and integrating the composite flow formed by the structural requirements (a) to (d) above.
(2) A method for producing a sea-island type composite fiber, comprising spinning using the sea-island type composite fiber spinning base device described in (1) above.

  In the sea-island-type composite fiber spinning die unit of the present invention, the sea component polymer flows into the die that is arranged so that the sea component polymer flows from at least two directions of the outer periphery of the pipe into which the island component is introduced for each group that is each composite fiber unit. By providing the sea component polymer introduction hole, it is possible not only to directly supply the sea component polymer to each group in the base, but also to form a core-sheath composite flow with the island component as the core and the sea component as the sheath. In addition, by providing a sea component measuring section, fluid regulation is performed so that the sea component can be distributed uniformly over the entire base, and the pipe for introducing the island component is inserted into the core-sheath composite flow forming hole. Thus, a stable archipelago-island complex flow can be formed whose entire circumference is covered with a sheath. Furthermore, since the sea component can be supplied to two or more locations in the vicinity of each group, the height of the channel space can be made lower than that of the conventional mouthpiece, unnecessary dead space is eliminated, and abnormal retention of the sea component is eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to provide a sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit that does not have island components that cannot be achieved by a conventional die device and that can provide a multi-island composite fiber having excellent spinning stability.

  In the present invention, the island component is not particularly limited. For example, polyethylene terephthalate and its copolymer, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyamide, polylactic acid. And a melt-moldable polymer. Various additives such as inorganic materials such as titanium oxide, silica and barium oxide, carbon black, colorants such as dyes and pigments, flame retardants, fluorescent whitening agents, antioxidants, and ultraviolet absorbers are also included in the above polymer. May be included.

  Examples of the sea component include polymers that can be melt-molded, such as copolymer polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polystyrene and copolymers thereof, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol, and can be dissolved and extracted or divided after spinning.

  As the shape of the composite fiber, either a long fiber shape or a short fiber shape may be selected depending on applications, and crimps may be imparted.

  Moreover, the sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit of the present invention can be used not only for melt spinning but also for wet spinning or dry spinning.

  As a material of the hard plate and the pipe, for example, various stainless steels such as SUS316 and 630, iron, titanium, ceramic, gold, platinum and the like can be used. Two or more kinds of materials may be used in combination.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a half plan view of an embodiment of the sea-island type composite fiber spinning die according to the present invention when viewed from above.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the YY direction in FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a conventional sea-island type composite fiber spinning die.

  In the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, 36 island components are contained in one composite fiber, and all of the island components are almost completely surrounded by the sea component, and such island components are substantially in the fiber axis direction. This is a die device for spinning sea-island type composite fibers having a fiber structure that is uniformly continuous. In FIG. 2, for the sake of easy understanding, only the portion necessary for obtaining two sea-island type composite fibers is illustrated. However, a plurality of the same units may be provided in one base device. Needless to say.

  The number of island components is not particularly limited, but is usually selected in the range of about 3 to 500, particularly about 4 to 400.

  The sea-island type composite fiber spinning device of the present invention is composed of one to a plurality of hard plates. The number of hard plates is not particularly limited. This can be made as a single piece as needed, or on the contrary, it can be made by stacking several hard plates, and in any case, the effect of the present invention is finally exhibited. It is what is done. FIG. 2 shows a preferred modest example of division.

  The sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit of the present invention is a sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit having at least the following constituents (a) to (e).

(A) a first hard plate having an introduction hole for introducing a sea component polymer and supporting an island component polymer introduction pipe for introducing the island component polymer;
(B) A narrow portion and a wide portion of the sea component polymer flow path having a hole for inserting the tip of the island component polymer introduction pipe and formed by the island component polymer introduction pipe and the hole. A second hard plate having a sea component introduction section,
(C) In the second hard plate, the sea component polymer flows from at least two directions toward the inner periphery of each group from the outer peripheral edge of the pipe of each group in which a plurality of core-sheath flows gather to form a composite fiber. A sea component polymer introduction hole in the first hard plate arranged as follows:
(D) An island component polymer introduction pipe that is inserted from the first hard plate to the second hard plate, and the pipe tip position is located in any of the second hard plates. ,
(E) A third hard plate for assembling and integrating the composite flow formed by the structural requirements (a) to (d) above.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a first hard plate, and an island component polymer introduction pipe 1 having an introduction hole 4 (see FIG. 3) for introducing the island component polymer A is provided on the first hard plate 11. A hole for insertion is provided, and a sea component polymer introduction hole 2 for introducing the sea component polymer B is provided. The sea component polymer introduction holes 2 are preferably at least two at the outer peripheral edge of each group forming the sea-island composite fiber. More preferably, it is preferable that there are three in one group and four or more in one group. Here, the sea component polymer introduction hole 2 may be shared by adjacent groups, or may be provided exclusively for each group, but is preferably shared from the viewpoint of effective use of the base surface.

  A second hard plate 12 is disposed below the first hard plate 11 with a flow passage space 9 of the sea component polymer B through which the sea component polymer B flows.

  Into the second hard plate 12, the tip of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 is inserted halfway along the thickness direction of the hard plate 12, and the island component distributed from the tip of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 A through-hole 3 is formed in order to distribute the polymer A to the collecting funnel 7 of the island component polymer A and the sea component polymer B provided on the downstream side of the second hard plate 12. The collecting funnel 7 is formed of a third hard plate 13 and has a discharge hole 8 in the narrowest portion at the lower end.

  The polymer A forming the island enters from the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 supported by the first hard plate 11 and flows to the flow holes 3 vacated in the second hard plate 12. The island component polymer introduction pipe 1 is preferably a stepped pipe for preventing downward slipping and for regulating the pipe tip position. The island component polymer introduction pipe 1 can be provided on the hard plate by various setting methods such as fitting, screwing, crimping, brazing, fusing, adhesion, and welding. It is of course possible to form the pipe integrally with the hard plate.

  A space 9 is partitioned between the first hard plate 11 and the second hard plate 12. The space 9 becomes a passage of the sea component polymer B which is a sea component. The sea component polymer B enters the space 9 through the sea component polymer introduction hole 2.

  The second hard plate 12 has the same number of circular holes 3 coaxially with the island component polymer introduction pipe 1. Here, the outer peripheral shape of the cross section of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 is circular, and the sea component polymer B is located between the outer periphery of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 and the uppermost portion of the hole 3 into which the tip of the pipe 1 is inserted. A flow path 5 (see FIG. 3) having a wide portion of a sea component polymer flow path that can pass substantially downward from the space 9, and a sea component polymer that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe and substantially regulates the position of the pipe. There is a channel 6 having a narrow portion of the channel. The sea component polymer B is regulated by the flow path 5 so that it flows uniformly downstream of the hole 3 over the entire base, and wraps the island component polymer A coming out of the pipe 1 from the entire circumference. The core-sheath composite flow with the island component polymer A as the core and the sea component polymer B as the sheath is obtained.

  The feature of the present invention is that two or more sea component polymer introduction holes 2 are installed on the outer periphery of the pipe of each group forming the sea-island composite fibers, so that the sea component is formed on the entire surface of the sea component channel space 9 inside the base. By supplying polymer B and making the sea component supply amount between each group substantially equal, not only the sea supply shortage to the group in the inner periphery of the base is improved, but also the inner and outer periphery within the same group. The sea component polymer B extends substantially downward from the space 9 between the outer periphery of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 and the top of the hole 3 into which the pipe 1 is inserted. The sea component polymer B is uniformly regulated over the entire surface of the base by flowing into the downstream of the hole 3 uniformly over the entire base by regulating the fluid in the flow path 5. Core-sheath compound covered with a quantity of sea ingredients It is possible to form a flow, some multi island sea-island type composite fibers than conventional result in a point which enables spinning. Therefore, in the conventional base as shown in FIG. 4, compared to the case where the sea component flows only from the outer periphery of the base, it is possible not only to supply the necessary amount of the sea component polymer to each group, By supplying the sea component polymer from multiple directions on the outer peripheral edge of the group, variations in the amount of sea component supply can be reduced even within the group.

  3 is an enlarged arrow view of the YY cross section in FIG. FIG. 3 shows that the outer peripheral shape and the inner peripheral shape of the island component polymer A introduction pipe 1 are both circular. Here, the cross-sectional shape of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 at the portion inserted into the hole 3 may be any shape such as a circle or a polygon as long as it does not inhibit the flow of the island component polymer A. Further, the uppermost shape of the hole 3 may be any shape as long as the fluid regulation of the sea component polymer B is substantially possible. Preferably, as shown in FIG. The shape of the path 5 is a rectangle that satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2), and the number thereof is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 3 or more per pipe. This is because it is important for the formation of a stable core-sheath composite flow that the sea component covers as much as possible the outer periphery of the pipe.

1.0 ≦ D / L ≦ 5.0 (1)
1.0 ≦ L / W ≦ 5.0 (2)
Here, D is the diameter (mm) of the introduction hole 4 of the island component polymer A
L is the length of the long side of the wide channel 5 of the sea component polymer B (mm)
W is the length of the short side of the wide channel 5 of the sea component polymer B (mm)
In Formula (1), when D / L is made smaller than 1.0, the fluid of the sea component polymer B cannot be regulated and not only a sea gap occurs but also the inflow of the sea component polymer B in the second hard plate 12 Since the area is increased, the number of islands per cap is reduced as a result, resulting in poor productivity. On the other hand, when D / L is larger than 5.0, the fluid regulation of the sea component polymer B becomes too strong, so that a place where the sea component polymer B does not flow into the hole 3 is formed, resulting in a sea shortage. Also for L / W, when the range of the formula (2) is exceeded, sea lack occurs in the same manner, which is not preferable.

  The narrow flow path 6 of the sea component polymer B is a gap generated by making the part 1 inserted into the hole 3 slightly wider than the outer diameter of the pipe 1 so that the pipe 1 can be substantially inserted. In order to obtain the fluid regulating effect of the sea component polymer B, the gap between the outer periphery of 1 and the narrowest part of the hole 3 is preferably 0.05 mm or less.

  The tip of the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 has a length that stays in the middle of the hole 3 and does not protrude into the funnel-shaped portion. This makes it possible to form a complete core-sheath flow at the outlet to the funnel without interference from other composite flows, and the pipe becomes an obstacle when removing the hard plate. There are no effects, and workability can be improved. In addition to the holes 3, it is possible to provide fine holes through which only the polymer B can pass, as long as the target fiber of the present invention is not obtained. In addition, the island component polymer introduction pipe 1 needs to be manufactured so as not to contact the hole wall of the hole 3, but in this case even if the pipe bends and contacts the hole wall during spinning or the like. Not a problem.

  The lowermost third hard plate 13 is provided with a funnel-shaped portion 7 and a discharge hole 8. The funnel-shaped part 7 receives a large number of core-sheath composite flows discharged from the holes 3, converges them, and discharges them as one sea-island type composite fiber from the discharge holes 8. The funnel shape is preferably a conical shape, but may be any other shape as long as smooth convergence is achieved. As for the shape of the discharge hole, a round shape is preferable like the funnel shape, but T, Y, polygon, hollow discharge holes and the like can also be selected.

  The present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the following examples. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to these examples.

Example 1
Shimamoto uses polyethylene terephthalate with a melt viscosity of 3000 poise (descending flow tester, measured at 285 ° C.) for polymer A (island component), and polystyrene with a melt viscosity of 500 poise (same measurement conditions as polymer A) for polymer B (sea component). 70, and the number of composite fibers per cap is 70 (4900 pipes). Spinning temperature is 285 ° C. and polymer A: B is discharged using a cap having the same vertical cross-sectional shape as FIG. The fiber was fed at a ratio of 60:40 and spun and wound at a take-up speed of 1100 m / min to obtain an undrawn yarn having a composite fineness of 9.4 dtex. In addition, the distribution holes of the composite fiber group are arranged in three rows of concentric circles of the outer circumference group 34, the inner circumference group 22 and the innermost group 14 groups, and the sea component inflow holes 2 are arranged in 34 holes on the outer circumference of the outer group. There are 34 holes between the outer peripheral group and the inner peripheral group, 22 holes between the inner peripheral group and the innermost peripheral group, and 14 holes on the inner periphery of the innermost peripheral group. In addition, the height of the channel space 9 is 2 mm, the diameter of the introduction hole 4 of the island component polymer A is 0.9 mm, the long side length L of the wide channel 5 of the sea component polymer B is 0.5 mm, The short side length W of the wide flow path 5 of the sea component polymer B is 0.2 mm, and the clearance between the outer periphery of the pipe 1 and the narrowest portion of the hole 3 that forms the narrow flow path 6 of the sea component polymer B is 0.03 mm. What was used.

  The obtained fiber was a sea-island type composite fiber in which islands were not joined together and the island component was covered with polymer A and the sea component of polymer B. Further, the spinnability at this time was such that there was no occurrence of yarn bending or yarn breakage, and stable take-up was possible even after 3 days from the start of spinning.

Comparative Example 1
Using the same polymer A and B as in Example 1 and the same spinning conditions, using a die apparatus having the same vertical cross-sectional shape as in FIG. 4, the polymer A: B is supplied at a discharge ratio of 60:40 and spun. An undrawn yarn having a composite fineness of 9.4 dtex was obtained. In addition, the group hole arrangement | positioning of the composite fiber was made the same as Example 1, and the hole arrangement | positioning of the sea component inflow hole 2 was provided only 42 holes in the outer periphery of an outer periphery group, and was not provided in the nozzle | cap | die center part. The height of the channel space 9 was 2 mm.

  As for the obtained fiber, what the adjacent islands merged in the composite fiber of inner periphery of a nozzle | cap | die was seen. Further, the spinnability at this time was such that a yarn breakage occurred about once per hour, and about one day after the start of spinning, it was determined that the yarn could not be taken out, and spinning was stopped.

FIG. 2 is a half plan view when viewed from above showing one embodiment of a spinneret for sea-island composite fibers of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 1. It is a YY cross-section enlarged arrow view in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows one embodiment of the conventional sea-island type composite fiber spinning die.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Island component polymer A introduction pipe 2 ... Sea component polymer B introduction hole 3 ... Core-sheath composite flow formation hole 4 ... Island component polymer A introduction hole 5 ... Sea component polymer B Wide channel 6 ... Narrow channel of sea component polymer B 7 ... Collecting funnel 8 ... Discharge hole 9 ... Distribution space of sea component polymer B 11 .... first hard plate 12 .... Second hard plate 13 .. Third hard plate A ... Island component polymer B ... Sea component polymer

Claims (2)

A sea-island type composite fiber spinning die unit having at least the following constituents (a) to (e):
(A) a first hard plate having an introduction hole for introducing a sea component polymer and supporting an island component polymer introduction pipe for introducing the island component polymer;
(B) A narrow portion and a wide portion of the sea component polymer flow path having a hole for inserting the tip of the island component polymer introduction pipe and formed by the island component polymer introduction pipe and the hole. A second hard plate having a sea component introduction section,
(C) In the second hard plate, the sea component polymer flows from at least two directions toward the inner periphery of each group from the outer peripheral edge of the pipe of each group in which a plurality of core-sheath flows gather to form a composite fiber. A sea component polymer introduction hole in the first hard plate arranged as follows:
(D) An island component polymer introduction pipe that is inserted from the first hard plate to the second hard plate, and the pipe tip position is located in any of the second hard plates. ,
(E) A third hard plate for assembling and integrating the composite flow formed by the structural requirements (a) to (d) above. A method for producing a sea-island type composite fiber, comprising spinning using the die unit for spinning a sea-island type composite fiber according to claim 1.

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