US20230323569A1 - Composite fiber, hollow fiber and multifilament - Google Patents

Composite fiber, hollow fiber and multifilament Download PDF

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US20230323569A1
US20230323569A1 US18/042,205 US202118042205A US2023323569A1 US 20230323569 A1 US20230323569 A1 US 20230323569A1 US 202118042205 A US202118042205 A US 202118042205A US 2023323569 A1 US2023323569 A1 US 2023323569A1
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Prior art keywords
fiber
polymer
composite
multifilament
cross
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Tomohiko Matsuura
Masato Masuda
Shinya Kawahara
Kojiro Inada
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Toray Industries Inc
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Toray Industries Inc
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Assigned to TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. reassignment TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MASUDA, MASATO, MATSUURA, TOMOHIKO, KAWAHARA, SHINYA, Inada, Kojiro
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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01D—MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS
    • D01D5/00—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like
    • D01D5/24—Formation of filaments, threads, or the like with a hollow structure; Spinnerette packs therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • 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
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01—NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01F—CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS
    • D01F1/00—General methods for the manufacture of artificial filaments or the like
    • D01F1/02—Addition of substances to the spinning solution or to the melt
    • D01F1/08—Addition of substances to the spinning solution or to the melt for forming hollow filaments
    • 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
    • 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
    • D10—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
    • D10B2331/00—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products
    • D10B2331/04—Fibres made from polymers obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polycondensation products polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]

Definitions

  • This disclosure relates to a composite fiber, a hollow fiber, and a multifilament, which are suitable for a clothing textile excellent in wearing comfort.
  • a synthetic fiber made of polyester, polyamide or the like has excellent mechanical properties and dimensional stability, and thus is widely used from clothing applications to non-clothing applications.
  • a synthetic fiber made of polyester, polyamide or the like has excellent mechanical properties and dimensional stability, and thus is widely used from clothing applications to non-clothing applications.
  • JP S54-151650 A proposes a hollow fiber having a flattened hollow cross-sectional shape and a twisted structure which are similar to cotton, obtained by subjecting a hollow fiber obtained using a spinneret for hollowing to a false twisting process to impart a crimp and at the same time deforming and flattening a hollow cross section.
  • JP S54-151650 A describes that such a flat hollow fiber can provide a puffy or resilient texture like the cotton.
  • JP H01-052839 A proposes a hollow fiber having a C-shaped cross-sectional shape including a hollow portion and an opening portion which are continuous in a fiber axis direction, obtained by subjecting, to a false twisting process, a core-sheath composite fiber including an easily alkali-soluble polymer as a core component and a hardly alkali-soluble polymer as a sheath component, with a part of the core component exposed on a fiber surface, and then eluting the core component by an alkali treatment.
  • JP H01-052839 A describes that when the core-sheath composite fiber is formed into a woven or knitted fabric, it is possible to impart a soft texture or the like while having a lightweight feel and moderate resilience due to an effect of a C-shaped hollow.
  • JP 2019-167646 A proposes a high bulk lightweight multifilament having a fiber cross section in which two or more kinds of polymers having different dissolution rates in a solvent are laminated in a cross-sectional direction to form an outermost layer, an intermediate layer, and an innermost layer, the polymer forming the outermost layer and the innermost layer is an easily soluble polymer, and two or more kinds of single-yarns having different cross-sectional shapes in the intermediate layer are mixed.
  • the high bulk lightweight multifilament not only an inside of a fiber but also a fiber surface are made of the easily soluble polymer, whereby voids can be formed inside and outside the fiber after the easily soluble polymer is eluted, and further, since different fiber cross sections are mixed after the elution, collapse of inter-fiber voids is prevented, and a fabric having a soft texture in addition to a lightweight feel and a puffy feel can be obtained.
  • JP S54-151650 A If a void structure can be imparted to an inside and outside of the fiber by subjecting the hollow fiber to the false twisting process as in JP S54-151650 A, there is a possibility that the texture like the cotton which is the natural fiber can be reproduced to some extent.
  • JP S54-151650 A a technical idea is that the fibers are densely bundled by the false twisting process and deformed while hollow portions are crushed, and in some instances, the puffy or resilient texture that is comfortable when the fibers are worn as clothes is lacking.
  • the C-shaped cross-sectional shape having the large opening portion is used, and the adjacent fibers get caught in the opening portion, which not only makes the texture hard, but also may reduce the lightweight feel and the resilience with continued use.
  • JP S54-151650 A and JP H01-052839 A both use the false twisting process in which a multifilament is heat-set in a twisted state and then untwisted to impart a crimp. Therefore, crimping tends to be less resilient due to a heat treatment at the time of high-order processing, and the puffy texture which is comfortable when the fibers are worn as the clothes may be lacking. Further, since the crimps of the respective fibers in the multifilament are uniform, the texture obtained in the textile is also monotonous, and to achieve a complicated texture such as a natural fiber, it is necessary to perform advanced weaving and knitting, and to mix the fibers with other materials including the natural fiber.
  • JP 2019-167646 A a method of utilizing the inter-fiber voids formed by eluting fiber surfaces is effective from the viewpoint of flexibility, but there is a limit in an effect of preventing the collapse of the inter-fiber voids obtained by mixing the different fiber cross sections, and it is difficult to say that coarse inter-fiber voids are developed to the extent that the puffy texture is felt.
  • a composite fiber including:
  • Our composite fiber, hollow fiber, and multifilament have the above-described features, whereby void structures inside and between the fibers are finely controlled, and it is possible to obtain a textile excellent in wearing comfort, which achieves moderate resilience and a puffy and soft texture.
  • FIGS. 1 ( a ), 1 ( b ), 1 ( c ), and 1 ( d ) are schematic views of cross-sectional structures of a composite fiber.
  • FIGS. 2 ( a ), 2 ( b ), and 2 ( c ) are schematic views of cross-sectional structures of the composite fiber.
  • FIGS. 3 ( a ), 3 ( b ), 3 ( c ), and 3 ( d ) are schematic views of cross-sectional structures of the composite fiber.
  • FIGS. 4 ( a ) and 4 ( b ) are schematic views of cross-sectional structures of a known composite fiber.
  • FIGS. 5 ( a ) and 5 ( b ) show schematic views of cross-sectional structures of a multifilament.
  • FIG. 5 ( a ) is a view illustrating flatness.
  • FIG. 5 ( b ) is a view illustrating a variation coefficient CV of a rotation angle of a long axis of a fiber in the multifilament, and broken lines in an outer frame mean top, bottom, left, and right sides of a captured image.
  • FIGS. 6 ( a ), 6 ( b ), and 6 ( c ) are schematic views of cross-sectional structures of a fiber constituting the multifilament.
  • FIG. 7 ( a ) is a schematic view of a cross-sectional structure of a fiber constituting the multifilament in Example 6.
  • FIG. 7 ( b ) is a schematic view of a cross-sectional structure of a fiber constituting a multifilament in Example 2.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a cross-sectional structure of a fiber constituting a multifilament in Comparative Example 3.
  • FIG. 9 shows schematic views of cross-sectional structures of the fiber constituting the multifilament.
  • FIG. 10 shows schematic views of cross-sectional structures of an example of a composite fiber from which the multifilament can be produced.
  • FIG. 11 shows an example of a crimped form of the fiber constituting the multifilament.
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a method of producing the composite fiber.
  • a fiber cross section two or more kinds of polymers having different dissolution rates in a solvent are laminated in a direction from a fiber center to a fiber surface, an innermost layer including the fiber center includes the easily soluble polymer, and two kinds of hardly soluble polymers having different melting points are unevenly distributed in at least one layer other than the innermost layer.
  • a polymer having a relatively high dissolution rate with respect to a solvent used for a dissolution treatment is referred to as an easily soluble polymer, and a polymer having a low dissolution rate is referred to as a hardly soluble polymer.
  • a dissolution rate ratio (easily soluble polymer/hardly soluble polymer) based on the hardly soluble polymer is preferably 100 or more, and more preferably 1,000 or more.
  • the dissolution treatment can be completed in a short time, and therefore, in addition to increasing a process speed, a fabric having high quality can be obtained without unnecessarily deteriorating the hardly soluble polymer.
  • a composite fiber to stably form the hollow portion inside the fiber without being influenced by a structure which is woven, knitted or the like, it is necessary that two or more kinds of polymers having different dissolution rates in the solvent are laminated in the fiber cross section in a direction from the fiber center to the fiber surface, and the innermost layer including the fiber center includes the easily soluble polymer.
  • the innermost layer is preferably made of the easily soluble polymer.
  • each fiber can be flexibly deformed while having the moderate resilience, whereby the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture can be obtained.
  • an area ratio of the innermost layer including the fiber center is preferably 10% or more, and more preferably 20% or more.
  • a higher area ratio of the innermost layer is preferable from the viewpoint of lightness, but a substantial upper limit of the area ratio is 50% since excessive elution of the innermost layer may reduce strength or cause the hollow portion to be easily crushed, thereby impairing the resilience.
  • the fiber develops the crimped form after being subjected to the high-order processing such as weaving and knitting.
  • the adjacent fibers and the crimped forms are intertwined with each other so that the inter-fiber voids of various sizes can be developed, whereby the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture can be developed when the composite fiber is made into the textile, and functions such as a water-absorbing quick-drying property due to a capillary phenomenon of the fine inter-fiber voids and stretchability due to the coiled crimped form can be developed.
  • a composite cross section having a latent crimping property in which crimping is developed by a heat treatment may be used, and by disposing polymers having different differential shrinkage in the fiber cross section such that centers of gravity thereof are different from each other, the fiber is largely curved toward a highly shrinkable polymer side after the heat treatment, and by continuing this, a three-dimensional spiral structure is formed.
  • the phrase “the hardly soluble polymers having different melting points are unevenly distributed” means that, among straight lines that pass through the fiber center and equally divide the fiber cross section into two, there is a straight line (for example, a straight line I in FIG. 1 ( a ) ) dividing the fiber cross section such that an area ratio of a hardly soluble polymer on a high melting point side and a hardly soluble polymer on a low melting point side in fiber cross sections on left and right sides or upper and lower sides is 100:0 to 70:30 in either fiber cross section and 30:70 to 0:100 in the other fiber cross section.
  • a straight line for example, a straight line I in FIG. 1 ( a )
  • a composite structure in the composite fiber is not particularly limited as long as the hardly soluble polymers having different melting points are unevenly distributed.
  • Examples of the composite structure include a side-by-side type as shown in FIGS. 1 ( a ) and 1 ( c ) , a sea-island type as shown in FIG. 1 ( b ) , an eccentric core-sheath type as shown in FIG. 1 ( d ) , and a blend type.
  • these composite structures from the viewpoint of increasing a crimp development property by increasing the distance between the centers of gravity, it is preferable that the hardly soluble polymers having different melting points are bonded in a side-by-side type in which the hardly soluble polymers are completely separated.
  • the hardly soluble polymers are bonded in the side-by-side type, since an interface between the hardly soluble polymers having different melting points is small, the distance between the centers of gravity of the polymers in the composite cross section can be maximized, and the crimp development property can be maximized. Since the crimped form has a fine spiral structure, excellent stretchability can be imparted, and stress-free wearing comfort can be obtained using the fabric having appropriate stretchability, which is preferable.
  • a relationship between an inscribed circle diameter RA and a circumscribed circle diameter RB of the fiber is preferably 1.2 ⁇ RB/RA ⁇ 2.4.
  • the inscribed circle diameter RA and the circumscribed circle diameter RB are obtained by embedding the fiber in an embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing an image of a fiber cross section perpendicular to a fiber axis with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification at which the fibers of 10 filaments or more can be observed.
  • an embedding agent such as an epoxy resin
  • a diameter of a circle (for example, A in FIG. 2 ( a ) ) that is inscribed at least two points (for example, a 1 and a 2 in FIG. 2 ( a ) ) with the fiber surface, that is present only inside the fiber, and that has a maximum possible diameter within a range in which a circumference of an inscribed circle and the fiber surface do not intersect, is calculated, a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the ten filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is set as the inscribed circle diameter RA.
  • a diameter of a circle (for example, B in FIG. 2 ( a ) ) that circumscribes the fiber surface at least two points (for example, b 1 and b 2 in FIG. 2 ( a ) ), that is present only outside the fiber, and that has a minimum possible diameter within a range in which a circumference of a circumscribed circle and the fiber surface do not intersect, is calculated, a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the ten filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is set as the circumscribed circle diameter RB.
  • RB/RA is a value obtained by dividing RB by RA obtained in each fiber as described above, calculating a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments, and rounding off to the first decimal place.
  • a cross-sectional shape thereof is not limited, and it is important that the fibers are crimped and twisted after being subjected to the high-order processing such as weaving and knitting so that the adjacent fibers and the crimped forms are intertwined with each other to develop the inter-fiber voids of various sizes.
  • the inter-fiber voids generated when the fiber is twisted can be more complicated and increased, and thus RB/RA (modification degree), which is a ratio of the inscribed circle diameter RA and the circumscribed circle diameter RB of the fiber, is preferably 1.2 or more.
  • the inter-fiber voids can be stably formed without crimp phases being aligned between the adjacent fibers, and the fabric can have a uniform appearance without unevenness such as a streak, and thus such a range is more preferable from the viewpoint of quality control.
  • Larger RB/RA is preferable from the viewpoint of stably forming the inter-fiber voids, but in some instances, light reflected on the fiber surface is glaring, and the flexibility may be impaired since bending stiffness is increased more than necessary due to a cross-sectional shape including an edge, and thus a substantial upper limit value of RB/RA is 2.4.
  • any modified cross-sectional shape such as a flat shape, a multi-lobal shape, a polygonal shape, a gear shape, a petaloid shape, and a star shape can be adopted, but from the viewpoint of further enhancing the moderate resilience and the flexibility, a fiber shape is preferably a flat shape as shown in FIG. 2 ( a ) or a multi-lobal shape as shown in FIG. 2 ( b ) .
  • the cross-sectional shape is the flat shape as shown in FIG.
  • the inter-fiber voids due to steric hindrance are increased, and the moderate resilience and a puffy feel can be further enhanced, and when long axis directions of the cross sections of the flat fibers are partially aligned, differences in voids and irregularities are generated between the adjacent fibers where the long axis directions of the cross sections thereof are aligned and where the long axis directions thereof are not aligned when the fibers are made into the textile, and thus the complicated voids and the irregularities can be formed between the fibers. Accordingly, also from the viewpoint that the specific tactile sensation peculiar to nature can be developed, the flat shape is preferable.
  • the cross-sectional shape is the multi-lobal shape as shown in FIG. 2 ( b )
  • irregularities are provided on the fiber surface, which is preferable from the viewpoint that glare due to diffuse reflection of the light is prevented and a water-absorbing quick-drying property due to the fine inter-fiber voids is improved.
  • the number of irregular portions is too large, an interval between the irregular portions becomes smaller, and an effect thereof gradually becomes smaller, and thus a substantial upper limit of the number of convex portions of the multi-lobal shape is 20.
  • the cross-sectional shape is a combination of the flat shape and the multi-lobal shape as shown in FIG. 2 ( c )
  • the above-described features of the flat shape and the multi-lobal shape can be combined. Therefore, from the viewpoint of providing the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture as the textile and also having the function such as a water-absorbing quick-drying property, it is particularly preferable that the cross-sectional shape is the combination of the flat shape and the multi-lobal shape.
  • a communication portion is provided in which the easily soluble polymer communicates from the fiber center to the fiber surface.
  • the easily soluble polymer of the innermost layer it is necessary to elute the easily soluble polymer of the innermost layer to stably form the hollow portion inside the fiber. Further, since dissolution and removal of the easily soluble polymer by the solvent is performed from the fiber surface, when the communication portion from the fiber surface to the innermost layer can be provided, a time required for the dissolution of the easily soluble polymer can be remarkably shortened, and water absorbency and water retentivity due to the capillary phenomenon can be imparted to an opening portion formed after the elution of the easily soluble polymer. From this viewpoint, the easily soluble polymer preferably communicates from the fiber center to the fiber surface.
  • a communication width of the easily soluble polymer is preferably 10% or less of a fiber diameter.
  • the fiber diameter is obtained by embedding the composite fiber in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing an image of a fiber cross section perpendicular to a fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification at which the fibers of 10 filaments or more can be observed. Diameters of fibers randomly extracted in the same image selected from captured images are measured in units of ⁇ m to the first decimal place, a simple number average of results obtained by performing the measurement for the 10 filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as the fiber diameter ( ⁇ m).
  • the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis is not a perfect circle, an area thereof is measured, and a value of a diameter obtained by conversion to a perfect circle is adopted.
  • the composite fiber is embedded in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and an image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis is captured with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) at a magnification at which 10 or more fibers can be observed.
  • TEM transmission electron microscope
  • a shortest width of a width W (for example, W in FIG. 3 ( c ) ) of the communication portion perpendicular to a straight line S (for example, S in FIG. 3 ( c ) ) that passes through a fiber center G and is parallel to the communication portion is calculated in units of ⁇ m by performing analysis using the image analysis software.
  • a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place is defined as the communication width.
  • a value obtained by dividing a division width obtained for each filament by the fiber diameter and multiplying by 100 is calculated, a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for 10 filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as a ratio (%) of the communication width to the fiber diameter.
  • the communication width of the easily soluble polymer is 10% or less of the fiber diameter, it is possible to prevent the fibers from being caught in each other due to excessively wide opening portions formed after the removal of the easily soluble polymer, and to prevent the hollow portions from being crushed due to a deviation of the opening portions, and it is possible to prevent the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture from being impaired.
  • the communication width is 5% or less of the fiber diameter
  • fibrillation due to fiber abrasion caused by the opening portion formed after the elution of the easily soluble polymer can be prevented, and when post-processing such as application of a functional agent is performed, the functional agent entering the hollow portion can be prevented from falling off due to washing or the like, and performance durability of the functional agent can be greatly improved, and thus such a range is more preferable.
  • the communication width is too narrow, since the dissolution of the easily soluble polymer is difficult, a substantial lower limit of the communication width is 1% of the fiber diameter.
  • the outermost layer includes an easily soluble polymer, and it is more preferable that the outermost layer is made of the easily soluble polymer.
  • the outermost layer refers to a layer containing 80% or more of the fiber surface.
  • the inter-fiber voids are naturally widened when the easily soluble polymer is removed, and an effect of improving the flexibility due to movable fibers fixed at binding points of a woven or knitted fabric and an effect of improving the lightweight feel due to a decrease in apparent density at high porosity can be obtained.
  • an area ratio of the outermost layer in the fiber cross section of the composite fiber is high, and when the area ratio thereof is 10% or more, the effect of improving the flexibility and the lightweight feel can be sufficiently obtained without being influenced by a fabric structure, and thus such a range is more preferable.
  • the area ratio is too high, a reduction in resilience due to a reduction in bending stiffness may be caused, and thus a substantial upper limit thereof is 30%.
  • the composite fiber it is possible to obtain a hollow fiber containing only the hardly soluble polymers by once subjecting the composite fiber to the high-order processing such as weaving and knitting and heat-treating the composite fiber to develop the crimped form, and then removing the easily soluble polymer in the innermost layer, and to obtain a multifilament formed of the hollow fibers. From the multifilament, it is possible to obtain a textile excellent in wearing comfort, which has the functions such as a water-absorbing quick-drying property and stretchability, while having the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture, from the specific fiber cross-sectional shape and the inter-fiber voids.
  • the complicated voids and the irregularities which have been difficult to obtain with the known synthetic fiber or the textured yarn using the same, can be formed by controlling twisting of the flat fibers and appropriately aligning the long axis directions of the cross sections thereof.
  • the voids obtained by aligning all the long axis directions of the cross sections of the fibers are small, and the irregularities are also small.
  • the voids and the irregularities may be obtained but may be monotonous.
  • the twisting is controlled such that the long axis directions of the cross sections of the flat fibers in the multifilament are partially aligned, the differences in the voids and the irregularities are generated between the adjacent fibers where the long axis directions of the cross sections are aligned and where the long axis directions thereof are not aligned when the multifilament is made into the textile, and thus the complicated voids and the irregularities can be formed between the fibers. Accordingly, the specific tactile sensation peculiar to nature can be developed, and in addition to the complicated voids and the irregularities between the fibers, by providing the hollow portion inside the fiber, the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture can be developed.
  • the multifilament includes flat hollow fibers.
  • the multifilament is preferably made of the flat hollow fibers, and a variation coefficient CV of a rotation angle of a long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament is 15% to 50%.
  • the fiber constituting the textile is the flat hollow fiber.
  • the fiber cross section is a flat cross section as shown in FIG. 5 ( a )
  • the resilience due to the high bending stiffness is obtained
  • the flexibility due to the low bending stiffness is obtained, and thus it is possible to obtain the texture that has the moderate resilience and the softness.
  • flatness is preferably 1.2 or more, and more preferably 1.5 or more.
  • the inter-fiber voids are formed by the steric hindrance when the flat hollow fibers are twisted, and the puffy feel in the textile is also obtained.
  • the flatness is obtained by embedding the multifilament in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing an image of a fiber cross section perpendicular to a fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification at which 10 or more fibers can be observed.
  • the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin
  • a value obtained by dividing a length of the long axis by a length of the short axis is calculated, with a straight line (c 1 -c 2 ) connecting two points (c 1 and c 2 ) farthest from each other among all the points on a fiber outer periphery as the long axis, and a straight line (d 1 -d 2 ) passing through a midpoint of the long axis and orthogonal to the long axis as the short axis, as shown in FIG. 5 ( a ) .
  • a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 fibers is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place is defined as the flatness.
  • each fiber can be flexibly deformed while having the moderate resilience, and the effect of the flat cross section described above can be emphasized.
  • an area ratio of the hollow portion including a fiber center is preferably 10% or more.
  • a more preferable range is that the area ratio of the hollow portion is 20% or more.
  • the higher the area ratio of the hollow portion the more remarkable the lightweight feel of the fiber bundle or the textile.
  • a thickness of the polymer constituting the fiber is reduced, strength is likely to be reduced or the hollow portion is likely to be crushed, and there is a possibility that a portion in which the comfortable resilience cannot be well exhibited is present, and thus a substantial upper limit of the area ratio of the hollow portion is 50%.
  • the hollow ratio is obtained by embedding the multifilament in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing an image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the magnification at which 10 or more fibers can be observed.
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • each of fibers randomly extracted in the same image selected from captured images includes a hollow portion such as H in FIG. 5 ( a )
  • an area obtained from an outer shape including the hollow portion of the fiber and an area of the hollow portion are obtained, and a value obtained by dividing the area of the hollow portion by the area obtained from the outer shape including the hollow portion of the fiber and multiplying by 100 is calculated.
  • a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 fibers is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as the hollow ratio (%).
  • cross-sectional shapes multi-lobal shape, polygonal shape, gear shape, petaloid shape, star shape or the like
  • convex portions on the fiber surface as the cross-sectional shape.
  • a reason therefor is that the combination can prevent appearance unevenness (glare) due to the diffuse reflection of the light and enhance the water absorbency due to the fine inter-fiber voids.
  • the number of convex portions is too large, the effect thereof gradually decreases, and thus a substantial upper limit of the number of convex portions is 20.
  • the twisting is controlled such that the long axis directions of the cross sections of the flat fibers in the multifilament are partially aligned, the differences in the voids and the irregularities are generated between the adjacent fibers where the long axis directions of the cross sections are aligned and where the long axis directions thereof are not aligned when the multifilament is made into the textile. It is important that the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament is 15% to 50% as a requirement for forming the complicated voids generated between the fibers or the irregularities on a textile surface.
  • the variation coefficient of the rotation angle of the long axis is obtained by capturing an image of a fabric cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a fabric formed by the multifilament and perpendicular to a fiber axis direction of the multifilament with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification at which 20 or more fibers can be observed.
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • fibers in the obtained image have flat cross sections, by performing analysis using the image analysis software, a straight line (c 1 -c 2 ) connecting two points (c 1 and c 2 ) farthest from each other on a fiber outer periphery shown in FIG.
  • 5 ( b ) is defined as a long axis, a straight line passing through a midpoint of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber and parallel to a lower side of the captured image is rotated counterclockwise about the midpoint of the long axis, and a rotation angle ( ⁇ ) when an inclination of the long axis and an inclination of the straight line coincide with each other is evaluated.
  • This evaluation is performed for 20 fibers ((1) to (20) in FIG. 5 ( b ) ) randomly extracted from the multifilament in the same image, a standard deviation and an average value of evaluation results are obtained, a value obtained by dividing the standard deviation by the average value and multiplying by 100 is calculated, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as the variation coefficient CV (%) of the rotation angle of the long axis.
  • the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament is required to be 15% or more, and by setting the variation coefficient CV in this range, the irregularities are generated on the textile surface due to misalignment in the long axis directions of the cross sections, and when a fabric surface is touched, friction fluctuation is large, and thus the soft tactile sensation is developed. Furthermore, due to the complicated voids formed between the fibers and the hollow portion inside the fiber, the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture are also developed.
  • the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis is more preferably 25% to 40%, and when the variation coefficient CV is within this range, a pitch of the irregularities becomes fine, the soft tactile sensation is emphasized, apparent density is reduced when the fabric is formed by increasing the inter-fiber voids, and the effect of improving the puffy feel is improved.
  • the variation coefficient CV is too large, the irregularities are too fine and the friction fluctuation also is small so that the tactile sensation becomes monotonous, and thus a substantial upper limit of the variation coefficient CV is 50%.
  • the flat hollow fibers having different twists are separately produced by the false twisting process or the like, and then the flat hollow fibers are blended and bundled by entanglement or the like. If a crimped form can be developed in the flat hollow fiber after the high-order processing such as weaving and knitting is performed using the flat hollow fiber having a latent crimping property which can be crimped by a heat treatment, the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis in the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament can be easily set within a target range by locally generating a crimp phase difference between the fibers at the time of crimp-developing.
  • the fiber cross section is formed by at least two kinds of polymers having different melting points.
  • the fiber cross section is formed by polymers having different melting points, the fiber is largely curved toward a highly shrinkable polymer side after the heat treatment due to differential shrinkage caused by a melting point difference, and a three-dimensional spiral structure is formed when the curvature continues.
  • a composite cross section in which the polymers having the different melting points maintain a sufficient distance between the centers of gravity, and from this viewpoint, it is more preferable to bond the polymers having the different melting points in a side-by-side manner as shown in FIG. 6 ( a ) . That is, when an interface between the polymers having the different melting points is small, the distance between the centers of gravity of the polymers in the composite cross section can be maximized, and the crimp development property can be maximized.
  • the crimped form has a fine spiral structure, excellent stretchability can also be imparted, and stress-free wearing comfort can be obtained using the fabric having appropriate stretchability.
  • the flat hollow fibers in the multifilament have cross-sectional shapes (four types in FIG. 9 are examples of the cross-sectional shape) in which a direction (angle) of a bonding surface of the polymers having the different melting points is random for each single-fiber, and the crimp phase difference between the fibers can be increased since the crimped forms of single-fibers developed by the heat treatment are different due to a difference in distance between the centers of gravity. Due to this effect, the variation coefficient (CV) of the rotation angle of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament can be brought closer to an optimal range.
  • CV variation coefficient
  • the following composite fibers are preferably used to stably form the hollow portion of the flat hollow fiber without being affected by a structure which is woven, knitted or the like while setting the variation coefficient of the rotation angle of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament to a target range. That is, it is preferable to use a composite fiber in which two or more kinds of polymers having different dissolution rates in a solvent are laminated in a direction from a fiber center to a fiber surface in the fiber cross section, an innermost layer including the fiber center includes an easily soluble polymer, and at least one layer other than the innermost layer includes two kinds of hardly soluble polymers having different melting points.
  • the crimped form is developed by the heat treatment, and then the easily soluble polymer in the innermost layer is removed, the multifilament formed of the flat hollow fibers stably formed without collapse of the hollow portions at the time of the high-order processing is obtained, and the variation coefficient of the rotation angle of the long axis in the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament can be set within the target range by developing the crimp.
  • the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament develops the crimped form by the heat treatment
  • the flat hollow fiber preferably has a crimped form in which the number of crimped peaks is 5 peaks/cm or more.
  • the number of crimped peaks can be determined by the following method. That is, in the fabric made of the multifilament, the multifilament is extracted from the fabric to not be plastically deformed, and one end of the multifilament is fixed. After a load of 1 mg/dtex is applied to the other end and 30 seconds or more have elapsed, a marking is applied to an arbitrary portion where a distance between two points in the fiber axis direction of the multifilament is 1 cm.
  • the fiber is separated from the multifilament to not be plastically deformed, adjusted such that an interval between the previously attached markings is 1 cm, and fixed on slide glass.
  • An image of this sample is captured at a magnification at which 1 cm marking can be observed with a digital microscope.
  • the multifilament has a crimped form in which the fiber is twisted as shown in FIG. 11 in the captured image, the number of crimped peaks present between the markings is obtained.
  • a simple number average of results obtained by performing this operation on 10 fibers made of the same polymer is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as the number of crimped peaks (peaks/cm).
  • the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament can be set within a target range since the crimp phase difference between the fibers is locally generated at the time of crimp-developing.
  • the number of crimped peaks is 10 peaks/cm or more, an effect of improving the puffy feel caused by an increase in inter-fiber voids due to an excluded volume effect between the fibers can be obtained, the stretchability can be imparted due to the fine spiral structure of the crimped form, and thus such a range is more preferable.
  • the stretchability it is preferable to increase the number of crimped peaks, but when the number of crimped peaks is excessive, the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis of the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament also increases, and a monotonous tactile sensation may be obtained depending on a structure of the woven or knitted fabric or the like. Accordingly, a substantial upper limit of the number of crimped peaks for the purpose of developing a suitable tactile sensation is 50 peaks/cm.
  • the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament preferably includes an opening portion formed in a direction from the fiber center to the fiber surface.
  • the opening portion communicating with the hollow portion is provided, the water absorbency due to the capillary phenomenon at the opening portion is developed, and by increasing a fiber surface area, an effective area of the functional agent is increased when the post-processing such as application of the functional agent is performed, and the performance of the functional agent can be improved.
  • a width of the opening portion is preferably 10% or less of the fiber diameter.
  • the fiber diameter is obtained by embedding the multifilament in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing an image of a fiber cross section perpendicular to a fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a magnification at which the fibers of 10 filaments or more can be observed. Areas of fibers randomly extracted in the same image selected from captured images are measured, diameters obtained by conversion to a perfect circle are measured in units of ⁇ m to the first decimal place, a simple number average of results obtained by performing the measurement for the 10 filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as the fiber diameter ( ⁇ m).
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • a width of the opening portion can be determined by the following method. That is, the multifilament is embedded in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and an image of a fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis is captured with the transmission electron microscope (TEM) at a magnification at which 10 or more fibers can be observed.
  • TEM transmission electron microscope
  • the fiber in the obtained image includes an opening portion from a fiber center to a fiber surface
  • a shortest width among widths W′ (for example, W′ in FIG. 6 ( b ) ) of the opening portion perpendicular to a straight line S′ (for example, S′ in FIG. 6 ( b ) ) passing through the fiber center G and parallel to the opening portion is calculated in units of ⁇ m by performing analysis using the image analysis software.
  • a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place is defined as the width of the opening portion.
  • a value obtained by dividing the width of the opening portion obtained for each filament by the fiber diameter and multiplying by 100 is calculated, a simple number average of results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments is obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number is defined as a ratio (%) of the width of the opening portion to the fiber diameter.
  • the width of the opening portion is preferably 10% or less of the fiber diameter. That is, in such a range, it is possible to prevent the fibers from being caught in each other due to excessively wide opening portions, and to prevent the hollow portions from being crushed due to a deviation of the opening portions, and it is possible to prevent the texture such as a lightweight feel and moderate resilience from being impaired.
  • the width of the opening portion is 5% or less of the fiber diameter so that the fibrillation due to the fiber abrasion caused by the opening portion can be prevented, and when post-processing such as application of the functional agent is performed, the functional agent entering the hollow portion can be prevented from falling off due to the washing or the like, and the performance durability of the functional agent can be greatly improved.
  • the width of the opening portion is too narrow, when the water absorbency due to the capillary phenomenon at the opening portion may be weakened, or the functional agent may not sufficiently enter the hollow portion when the functional agent is applied, and thus a substantial lower limit of the width of the opening portion is 1% of the fiber diameter.
  • Polymers constituting the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament are preferably thermoplastic polymers because of excellent processability.
  • the polymers constituting the fiber include polyester-based polymers, polyethylene-based polymers, polypropylene-based polymers, polystyrene-based polymers, polyamide-based polymers, polycarbonate-based polymers, polymethyl methacrylate-based polymers, and polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers and copolymers thereof.
  • thermoplastic polymers used for the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament are the same polymers and copolymers thereof.
  • Inorganic substances such as titanium oxide, silica, and barium oxide, colorants such as carbon black, dyes, and pigments, and various additives such as flame retardants, fluorescent brighteners, antioxidants, and ultraviolet absorbers may also be contained in the polymer.
  • the hardly soluble polymer preferably contains titanium oxide in an amount of 1.0% by mass or more.
  • the easily soluble polymer is dissolved, since titanium oxide deposited on a surface of the hardly soluble polymers also falls off, irregularities are formed on the surface, and thus in addition to improving an appearance by preventing an increase or decrease in reflection (glare) depending on an incident angle of the light by diffusely reflecting the light, functionality such as anti-transparency and ultraviolet shielding due to titanium oxide inside the fiber is obtained.
  • the easily soluble polymer is preferably selected from polymers that can be melt-moldable polymers more soluble than other polymers such as polyesters and copolymers thereof, polylactic acid, polyamides, polystyrene and copolymers thereof, polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol.
  • the easily soluble polymer is preferably a copolymerized polyester, polylactic acid, polyvinyl alcohol or the like which exhibits an easily elutable property in an aqueous solvent, hot water or the like.
  • the polymer since the polymer exhibits the easily elutable property with respect to the aqueous solvent such as an aqueous alkaline solution while maintaining crystallinity, from the viewpoint of the high-order processing passing property that fusion or the like between the composite fibers does not occur even in the false twisting process or the like in which rubbing is applied under heating, a polyester in which 5 mol % to 15 mol % of 5-sodium sulfoisophthalic acid is copolymerized and a polyester in which 5 mass % to 15 mass % of polyethylene glycol having a weight average molecular weight of 500 to 3000 is copolymerized in addition to the above-described 5-sodium sulfoisophthalic acid are preferable.
  • the aqueous solvent such as an aqueous alkaline solution while maintaining crystallinity
  • the hardly soluble polymers having the different melting points refer to a combination of polymers having a melting point difference of 10° C. or more from melt-moldable thermoplastic polymers such as polyester-based polymers, polyethylene-based polymers, polypropylene-based polymers, polystyrene-based polymers, polyamide-based polymers, polycarbonate-based polymers, polymethyl methacrylate-based polymers, and polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers, and copolymers thereof.
  • melt-moldable thermoplastic polymers such as polyester-based polymers, polyethylene-based polymers, polypropylene-based polymers, polystyrene-based polymers, polyamide-based polymers, polycarbonate-based polymers, polymethyl methacrylate-based polymers, and polyphenylene sulfide-based polymers, and copolymers thereof.
  • a purpose is to develop the crimped form due to the differential shrinkage of the hardly soluble polymers having the different melting points. Accordingly, as the combination of the hardly soluble polymers having the different melting points, it is preferable to use a low melting point polymer having high shrinkage as one of the polymers and a high melting point polymer having low shrinkage as the other one of the polymers.
  • the combination of the polymers is more preferably selected from the same polymer group in which bonds present in a main chain are the same such as polyester-based polymers having ester bonds and polyamide-based polymers having amide bonds.
  • Examples of the combination of the low melting point polymer and the high melting point polymer in the same polymer group include various combinations such as copolymerized polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate/polyethylene terephthalate, thermoplastic polyurethane/polyethylene terephthalate, polyester-based elastomers/polyethylene terephthalate, polyester-based elastomers/polybutylene terephthalate as polyester-based polymers; nylon 66/nylon 610, nylon 6-nylon 66 copolymers/nylon 6 or 610, PEG copolymerized nylon 6/nylon 6 or 610, thermoplastic polyurethane/nylon 6 or 610 as polyamide-based polymers; and ethylene-propylene rubber finely dispersed polypropylene/polypropylene, and propylene- ⁇ olefin copolymers/
  • the hardly soluble polymers having the different melting points are preferably a combination of the polyester-based polymers from the viewpoint of preventing the collapse of the hollow portion inside the fiber due to the high bending stiffness and obtaining a good color development property when dyed.
  • Examples of a copolymerizing component in the copolymerized polyethylene terephthalate include succinic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, maleic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and 5-sodium sulfoisophthalic acid, and from the viewpoint of maximizing the differential shrinkage from polyethylene terephthalate, it is preferable to use polyethylene terephthalate copolymerized with 5 mol % to 15 mol % of isophthalic acid.
  • the desired effect can be made remarkable in a polyester-based resin as polymer characteristics thereof, and as described above, the collapse of the hollow portion inside the fiber can be prevented due to the high bending stiffness, and the good color development property can be obtained when dyed. From these viewpoints, the recycled polyesters can be suitably used.
  • An area ratio of the hardly soluble polymer on the low melting point side to the hardly soluble polymer as the high melting point polymer in the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the flat hollow fibers of the multifilament is preferably 70/30 to 30/70 in terms of the low melting point/high melting point.
  • the low melting point polymer can sufficiently develop the crimped form due to the differential shrinkage without being affected by texture curing due to clogging when the low melting point polymer is highly shrunk by the heat treatment, and more coarsened inter-fiber voids can be obtained.
  • a fiber diameter is preferably 20 ⁇ m or less from the viewpoint of making the texture more flexible.
  • the fiber diameter is within this range, in addition to the flexibility, the resilience can be sufficiently obtained, and this range is suitable for clothing applications such as pants and shirts in which a texture with moderate stiffness and tension is required.
  • the fiber diameter of the fiber is preferably 8 ⁇ m or more.
  • a fiber product at least partially including the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the multifilament
  • differences are generated in the voids or the irregularities between the adjacent fibers where the long axis directions of the cross sections are aligned and where the long axis directions thereof are not aligned
  • the complicated voids or the irregularities can be formed between the fibers, and a specific and soft tactile sensation can be developed.
  • the hollow portion is provided inside the fiber, the textile excellent in the wearing comfort can be obtained in which the moderate resilience and the puffy and soft texture are achieved due to the complicated voids and the irregularities between the fibers.
  • the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the multifilament can be suitably used for a wide variety of fiber products, from general clothing such as jackets, skirts, pants, and underwear, to interior products such as carpets and sofas, vehicle interior products such as car seats, home applications such as cosmetics, cosmetic masks, and health products in addition to sports clothing and clothing materials, taking advantage of comfortability thereof.
  • Examples of the method of producing the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the multifilament include a melt spinning method for a purpose of producing a long fiber, a wet or dry-wet solution spinning method, a melt blowing method and a spunbond method suitable for obtaining a sheet-shaped fiber structure, and the melt spinning method is preferable from the viewpoint of enhancing productivity.
  • the fiber can be produced by using a composite spinneret to be described later, and a spinning temperature at this time is preferably set to a temperature at which mainly a high melting point polymer or a high viscosity polymer among the types of polymers to be used exhibits fluidity.
  • a spinning temperature at this time is preferably set to a temperature at which mainly a high melting point polymer or a high viscosity polymer among the types of polymers to be used exhibits fluidity.
  • the temperature at which the fluidity is exhibited varies depending on a molecular weight, it is possible to stably produce the fiber by setting the temperature between the melting point of the polymer and the melting point+60° C.
  • a spinning speed may be about 500 m/min to 6,000 m/min, and can be changed depending on physical properties of the polymer and an intended use of the fiber.
  • a preheating temperature with reference to a softening temperature such as a glass transition temperature of the polymer.
  • An upper limit of the preheating temperature is preferably set to a temperature at which a yarn path is not disturbed due to spontaneous elongation of the fiber in a preheating process.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the preheating temperature is usually set to about 80° C. to 95° C.
  • the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the multifilament can be stably produced by setting a discharge amount per hole in a spinneret to about 0.1 g/min ⁇ hole to 10 g/min ⁇ hole. After discharged polymer flows are cooled and solidified, an oil agent is applied to the polymer flows, and the polymer flows are taken up by a roller having a specified peripheral speed. Thereafter, the polymer flows are stretched by a heating roller to form a desired composite fiber, hollow fiber, and multifilament.
  • the composite fiber including two or more kinds of polymers, by setting a melt viscosity ratio of the polymers to be used to less than 5.0 and setting a difference in solubility parameter value to less than 2.0, a composite polymer flow can be stably formed, and a fiber having a good composite cross section can be obtained, which is preferable.
  • composite spinneret used to produce the composite fiber including the two or more kinds of polymers for example, a composite spinneret described in JP 2011-208313 A is preferably used.
  • the composite spinneret shown in FIG. 12 is incorporated into a spin pack in a state in which roughly three types of members, that is, a measuring plate 1 , a distribution plate 2 and a discharge plate 3 are laminated from above.
  • FIG. 12 is an example using three types of polymers, a polymer A, a polymer B, and a polymer C.
  • it is difficult to composite three or more kinds of polymers, and it is also preferable to use a composite spinneret using a fine flow path.
  • an amount of polymer per discharge hole and an amount of polymer per distribution hole are measured by the measuring plate 1 .
  • the measured polymer flow is disposed by the distribution plate 2 such that a composite cross section of a single-fiber is formed, and the composite polymer flow formed by the distribution plate 2 is compressed and discharged by the discharge plate 3 .
  • a member in which a flow path is formed may be used for a member to be laminated above the measuring plate 1 , in accordance with a spinning machine and the spin pack.
  • an existing spin pack and a member thereof can be utilized as they are.
  • a special spinning machine only adapted for use with the spinneret is not necessary.
  • a plurality of flow path plates may be stacked between a flow path and a measuring plate or between the measuring plate 1 and the distribution plate 2 . This is for a purpose of providing a flow path through which the polymer is effectively transferred in a cross-sectional direction of the spinneret and a cross-sectional direction of the single-fiber, and introducing the polymer into the distribution plate 2 .
  • the composite fiber may be immersed in a solvent or the like capable of dissolving the easily soluble polymer to remove the easily soluble polymer.
  • a solvent or the like capable of dissolving the easily soluble polymer to remove the easily soluble polymer.
  • an aqueous alkaline solution such as a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution can be used.
  • a fiber structure formed by the composite fiber may be immersed in the aqueous alkaline solution.
  • the aqueous alkaline solution is heated to 50° C. or higher, the progress of hydrolysis can be accelerated, which is preferable.
  • a fluid dyeing machine or the like is used, a large amount can be treated at a time, which is preferable from an industrial viewpoint.
  • a chip-shaped polymer was dried to a moisture content of 200 ppm or less by a vacuum dryer, and a melt viscosity was measured by changing a strain rate stepwise by a capillograph manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisaku-sho Co., Ltd.
  • a measurement temperature was set in the same manner as the spinning temperature, and the measurement was started after a sample was put into a heating furnace under a nitrogen atmosphere for 5 minutes, and a value of a shear rate of 1216 s ⁇ 1 was evaluated as the melt viscosity of the polymer.
  • the chip-shaped polymer was dried to the moisture content of 200 ppm or less by the vacuum dryer, about 5 mg of the chip-shaped polymer was weighed, a temperature was increased from 0° C. to 300° C. at a temperature increase rate of 16° C./min and then held at 300° C. for 5 minutes for DSC measurement using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Q2000, manufactured by TA Instruments.
  • DSC differential scanning calorimeter
  • Q2000 manufactured by TA Instruments.
  • a melting point was calculated from a melting peak observed during a heating process. The measurement was performed three times for each sample, and an average value thereof was taken as the melting point. When a plurality of melting peaks were observed, a top of the melting peak on a highest temperature side was defined as the melting point.
  • a weight of 100 m of the fiber was measured, and a value obtained by multiplying the measured value by 100 was calculated. This operation was repeated 10 times, and a value obtained by rounding off an average value thereof to the first decimal place was defined as fineness (dtex).
  • the diameter was obtained by embedding the composite fiber in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing an image of a fiber cross section perpendicular to a fiber axis with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. at the magnification at which the fibers of 10 filaments or more can be observed.
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • the diameter of the circle (for example, B in FIG. 2 ( a ) ) that circumscribes the fiber surface at least two points (for example, b 1 and b 2 in FIG. 2 ( a ) ), that is present only outside the fiber, and that has the minimum possible diameter within the range in which the circumference of the circumscribed circle and the fiber surface do not intersect, was calculated.
  • a simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the ten filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was set as the circumscribed circle diameter RB.
  • the value obtained by dividing RB obtained for each fiber by RA was calculated, the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place was defined as RB/RA.
  • the fiber diameter was obtained by embedding the composite fiber and the multifilament in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing the image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at the magnification at which the fibers of 10 filaments or more can be observed.
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • the areas of the fibers randomly extracted in the same image selected from the captured images were measured, and the diameters obtained by conversion to the perfect circle were measured in units of ⁇ m to the first decimal place.
  • the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the measurement for the 10 filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was defined as the fiber diameter ( ⁇ m).
  • the area of the hollow portion is also added to the area of the fiber.
  • the composite fiber was embedded in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and the image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis was captured with the transmission electron microscope (TEM) at the magnification at which 10 or more fibers can be observed.
  • TEM transmission electron microscope
  • the shortest width of the width W (for example, W in FIG. 3 ( c ) ) of the communication portion perpendicular to the straight line S (for example, S in FIG. 3 ( c ) ) that passes through the fiber center G and is parallel to the communication portion was calculated in units of ⁇ m by performing analysis using WinROOF manufactured by Mitani Corporation of computer software.
  • the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place is defined as the communication width.
  • the value obtained by dividing the division width obtained for each filament by the fiber diameter and multiplying by 100 was calculated, the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was defined as the ratio (%) of the communication width to the fiber diameter.
  • the flatness was obtained by embedding the multifilament in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing the image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. at the magnification at which the ten or more fibers can be observed.
  • the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin
  • the value obtained by dividing the length of the long axis by the length of the short axis was calculated, with the straight line (c 1 -c 2 ) connecting two points (c 1 and c 2 ) farthest from each other among all the points on the fiber outer periphery as the long axis, and the straight line (d 1 -d 2 ) passing through the midpoint of the long axis and orthogonal to the long axis as the short axis, as shown in FIG. 5 ( a ) .
  • the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 fibers was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place was defined as the flatness.
  • the hollow ratio was obtained by embedding the multifilament in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and capturing the image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. at the magnification at which the ten or more fibers can be observed.
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • the area obtained from the outer shape including the hollow portion of the fiber and the area of the hollow portion were obtained, and the value obtained by dividing the area of the hollow portion by the area obtained from the outer shape including the hollow portion of the fiber and multiplying by 100 was calculated.
  • the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 fibers was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was defined as the hollow ratio (%).
  • the multifilament was embedded in the embedding agent such as an epoxy resin, and the image of the fiber cross section perpendicular to the fiber axis was captured with the transmission electron microscope (TEM) at the magnification at which 10 or more fibers can be observed.
  • TEM transmission electron microscope
  • the fiber in the obtained image includes the opening portion from the fiber center to the fiber surface
  • the shortest width among widths W′ (for example, W′ in FIG. 6 ( b ) ) of the opening portion perpendicular to the straight line S′ (for example, S′ in FIG. 6 ( b ) ) passing through the fiber center G and parallel to the opening portion was calculated in units of ⁇ m by performing the analysis using the image analysis software.
  • the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place was defined as the width of the opening portion.
  • the value obtained by dividing the width of the opening portion obtained for each filament by the fiber diameter and multiplying by 100 was calculated, the simple number average of the results obtained by performing the calculation for the 10 filaments was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was defined as the ratio (ratio of the opening portion) (%) of the width of the opening portion to the fiber diameter.
  • the multifilament was extracted from the fabric to not be plastically deformed, one end of the multifilament was fixed, and after the load of 1 mg/dtex was applied to the other end thereof and 30 seconds or more have elapsed, the marking was applied to an arbitrary portion where a distance between two points in the fiber axis direction of the multifilament was 1 cm. Thereafter, the fiber was separated from the multifilament to not be plastically deformed, and adjusted such that an interval between the previously attached markings was 1 cm, and fixed on the slide glass, and the image of this sample was captured at the magnification at which 1 cm marking can be observed with the digital microscope.
  • the number of crimped peaks present between the markings was obtained.
  • the simple number average of the results obtained by performing this operation on the 10 fibers made of the same polymer was obtained, and the value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was defined as the number of crimped peaks (peaks/cm).
  • the image of the fabric cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric and perpendicular to the fiber axis direction of the multifilament was captured with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. at the magnification at which 20 or more fibers can be observed.
  • SEM scanning electron microscope
  • the fibers in the obtained image have the flat cross sections, by performing analysis using the image analysis software, the straight line (c 1 -c 2 ) connecting two points (c 1 and c 2 ) farthest from each other on the fiber outer periphery as shown in FIG.
  • the obtained woven fabric was subjected to scouring, a wet heat treatment, an alkali treatment, and heat setting, and then five textures, that is, the lightweight feel, flexibility, resilience, smoothness, and roughness were evaluated by the following methods.
  • the lightweight feel was evaluated by the following method. That is, a thickness (cm) of the woven fabric of 20 cm ⁇ 20 cm was measured under a constant pressure (0.7 kPa) using a constant-pressure thickness-measuring instrument (PG-14J) manufactured by TECLOCK Co., Ltd. to calculate a volume of the woven fabric, and then a value obtained by dividing a weight (g) of the woven fabric by the obtained volume was defined as an apparent density (g/cm 3 ) of the woven fabric. From the obtained apparent density, lightness was determined in three stages based on the following criteria:
  • the flexibility was evaluated by the following method using a pure bending tester (KES-FB2) manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd. That is, the woven fabric of 20 cm ⁇ 20 cm was held with an effective sample length of 20 cm ⁇ 1 cm, and bent in the weft direction under a condition of a maximum curvature ⁇ 2.5 cm ⁇ 1 .
  • KS-FB2 pure bending tester
  • This operation was performed three times for each portion, and a simple number average of results obtained by performing this operation on a total of 10 portions was obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the third decimal place and then dividing a result of rounding-off by 100 was defined as bending hardness B ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm).
  • the flexibility was determined in three stages from the obtained bending hardness B ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 on the basis of the following criteria:
  • the resilience was evaluated by the following method. That is, using a pure bending tester (KES-FB2) manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd., a woven fabric of 20 cm ⁇ 20 cm was held with an effective sample length of 20 cm ⁇ 1 cm, and a width (gf ⁇ cm/cm) of hysteresis at a curvature of ⁇ 1.0 cm ⁇ 1 when the woven fabric was bent in the weft direction was calculated.
  • KS-FB2 pure bending tester manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd.
  • This operation was performed three times for each portion, and a simple number average of results obtained by performing this operation on a total of 10 portions was obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the third decimal place and then dividing a result of rounding-off by 100 was defined as bending recovery 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm/cm). From the obtained bending recovery 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 , the resilience was determined in three stages based on the following criteria:
  • Smoothness and the roughness were evaluated by the following methods. That is, using an automated surface tester (KES-FB4) manufactured by Kato Tech Co., Ltd., a load of 50 g was applied to a terminal of 1 cm ⁇ 1 cm, which was wrapped with a piano wire over a 10 cm ⁇ 10 cm area of the woven fabric of 20 cm ⁇ 20 cm, and the woven fabric was slid at a speed of 1.0 mm/sec to obtain an average friction coefficient MIU and a variation MMD of the average friction coefficient. This operation was performed three times for each portion, and the operation was performed for a total of 10 portions. As for results, a simple number average was obtained for the average friction coefficient MIU, and a value obtained by rounding off to the first decimal place was used as a friction coefficient. Based on the obtained friction coefficient, the smoothness was evaluated in three stages based on the following criteria:
  • the number of fibers was adjusted such that the cover factor (CFA) in the warp direction was 800 and the cover factor (CFB) in the weft direction was 1200, thereby producing the 3/1 twill woven textile.
  • the obtained woven fabric was subjected to the scouring, the wet heat treatment, the alkali treatment, and the heat setting, and then two functions, that is, the water-absorbing quick-drying property and the stretchability were evaluated by the following methods.
  • the water-absorbing quick-drying property was evaluated by the following method. That is, 0.1 cc of water was added dropwise to a woven fabric of 10 cm ⁇ 10 cm, a weight of the woven fabric was measured every 5 minutes in an environment of a temperature of 20° C. and relative humidity of 65 RH %, and a time (minutes) at which a residual moisture content was 1.0% or less was determined. A simple number average of results obtained by performing this operation on a total of three portions was obtained, and a value obtained by rounding off to the nearest whole number was defined as a water diffusion time (minutes). From the obtained water diffusion time, the water-absorbing quick-drying property was determined in three stages based on the following criteria:
  • the stretchability was evaluated by the following method. That is, the stretchability was evaluated in accordance with elongation A method (constant rate elongation method) described in JIS L1096:2010, Section 8.16.1. A load of 17.6 N (1.8 kg) in a strip method was adopted, and test conditions were a sample width of 5 cm ⁇ length of 20 cm, a clamping distance of 10 cm, and a tensile speed of 20 cm/min. As an initial load, a weight corresponding to a sample width of 1 m was used in accordance with a method of JIS L1096:2010.
  • the number of fibers was adjusted such that the cover factor (CFA) in the warp direction was 1100 and the cover factor (CFB) in the weft direction was 1100, thereby producing a plain weave fabric.
  • the produced woven fabric was dyed in black with a disperse dye Sumikaron Black S-3B (10% owf).
  • the dyed woven fabric was cut into a circle having a diameter of 10 cm, and the circle was wet with distilled water and attached to a disk. Further, the woven fabric cut into a 30 cm square was fixed on a horizontal plate in a dry state.
  • the disk to which the woven fabric wet with the distilled water was attached was brought into horizontal contact with the woven fabric fixed on the horizontal plate, and the disk was circularly moved at a load of 420 g and a speed of 50 rpm for 10 minutes such that a center of the disk drew a circle having a diameter of 10 cm, thereby rubbing the two woven fabrics.
  • a degree of color deterioration of the woven fabric attached to the disk was evaluated by grades 1 to 5 in increments of grade 0.5 using a gray scale for color deterioration.
  • the wear resistance was evaluated in three stages based on the following criteria from results of the obtained grade evaluation:
  • polyethylene terephthalate SSIA-PEG copolymer PET, melt viscosity: 100 Pa ⁇ s, melting point: 233° C.
  • polyethylene terephthalate IPA-copolymerized PET, melt viscosity: 140 Pa ⁇ s, melting point: 232° C. copolymerized with 7 mol % of isophthalic acid was prepared.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the oil agent was applied to the discharged composite polymer flow, and the composite polymer flow was wound at a spinning speed of 1,500 m/min, and stretched between rollers heated to 90° C. and 130° C. to produce a composite fiber having 56 dtex-36 filaments (fiber diameter: 12 ⁇ m).
  • the ratio RB/RA of the inscribed circle diameter RA to the circumscribed circle diameter RB of the obtained composite fiber was 1.8.
  • the communication width was 0.5 ⁇ m, which was a ratio of 4% with respect to the fiber diameter of 12 ⁇ m, and it was confirmed that the composite fiber was obtained.
  • the obtained composite fiber was woven, subjected to a scouring treatment at 80° C. and a wet heat treatment at 130° C., and then treated in a 1% by mass of sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (bath ratio: 1:50) heated to 90° C. to remove 99% or more of the polymer 1 as the easily soluble polymer.
  • the polymer 1 of the innermost layer was quickly eluted within 10 minutes after an elution treatment was started.
  • the flat hollow fiber had the opening portion, and the width of the opening portion was 0.5 ⁇ m, which was 4% of the fiber diameter.
  • the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis in the flat hollow fiber in the multifilament was 27%. Accordingly, since the long axis directions of the cross sections were misaligned, and thus the irregularities were developed on the textile surface. Accordingly, when the fabric surface was touched, it was possible to feel the soft tactile sensation due to the large roughness (friction fluctuation: 0.9 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 ) while the surface was smooth (friction coefficient: 0.3).
  • the woven fabric had complicated voids between the fibers and the hollow portions inside the fibers, and thus had the moderate resilience (bending recovery 2HB: 0.9 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 gf ⁇ cm/cm) and the puffy (apparent density: 0.33 g/cm 3 ) and soft texture (bending hardness B: 0.9 ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm).
  • the woven fabric had excellent stretchability (fabric elongation: 16%) and the water-absorbing quick-drying property (water diffusion time: 25 minutes) due to the presence of the opening portion, and was a woven fabric excellent in wearing comfort in which both texture and function directly linked to the wearing comfort of a person were achieved.
  • the woven fabric since the opening portion was narrow, the voids in the fiber were maintained without being crushed even after the processing of the woven fabric, the functional agent entering the hollow portion does not fall off by washing or the like when the functional agent was applied, and the performance durability of the functional agent was significantly improved.
  • the woven fabric also has good wear resistance (frosting: grade 4) without the color deterioration due to the fibrillation caused by the opening portion. The results are shown in the following table.
  • Example 2 Operations were performed according to Example 1, except that the cross-sectional shape was changed to the multi-lobal shape (Example 2) as shown in FIG. 3 ( b ) and a flat multi-lobal shape (Example 3) as shown in FIG. 3 ( c ) .
  • Example 2 by forming the irregularities on the fiber surface, uneven gloss (glare) of the fabric was prevented by the diffuse reflection of the light, and the water-absorbing quick-drying property was improved by the fine inter-fiber voids.
  • Example 3 since the cross-sectional shape was the combination of the flat shape and the multi-lobal shape, the complicated inter-fiber voids generated by twisting the flat shape and the fine inter-fiber voids in the irregularities on the fiber surface due to the multi-lobal shape were combined to further improve the texture such as a lightweight feel and resilience and the function such as a water-absorbing quick-drying property.
  • the results are shown in the following table.
  • Example 4 due to an effect of the inter-fiber voids generated when the easily soluble polymer of the outermost layer was removed, the fibers fixed at binding points of the woven or knitted fabric were movable, thereby improving the flexibility, and the apparent density at the high porosity was reduced, thereby improving the lightweight feel.
  • the results are shown in the following table.
  • RB/RA modification degree
  • Example 7 since the crimped form developed by the heat treatment was different for each single-fiber due to a difference in distance between the centers of gravity, the variation coefficient CV of the rotation angle of the long axis was also increased, the soft tactile sensation was more conspicuous due to the increased roughness, and the lightweight feel was also improved due to the increased inter-fiber voids.
  • the results are shown in the following table.
  • Comparative Example 1 Although a certain lightweight feel was obtained by the hollow portion inside the fiber, since the crimped form was not developed, the textile surface had no unevenness feel and lacked the roughness, and since the inter-fiber voids were not developed, the flexibility and the resilience were also lacking. The textile did not have the functions such as a water-absorbing quick-drying property and stretchability. The results are shown in the following table.
  • Example 2 Operation was performed according to Example 1, except that the composite structure was changed to a structure as shown in FIG. 4 ( b ) , in which circular hardly soluble polymers having different melting points were laminated in a direction from the fiber center toward the fiber surface.
  • polyethylene terephthalate IPA-copolymerized PET, melt viscosity: 140 Pa ⁇ s, melting point: 232° C. copolymerized with 7 mol % of isophthalic acid was prepared, and as the polymer 3, polyethylene terephthalate (PET, melt viscosity: 130 Pa ⁇ s, melting point: 254° C.) was prepared.
  • the polymer 2/polymer 3 were weighed such that a weight ratio of the polymer 2/polymer 3 was 50/50, and inflowing polymers were discharged from the discharge holes to form the hollow composite fiber as shown in FIG. 4 ( a ), which has a composite structure in which the hollow ratio was 20%, and the polymer 2 and the polymer 3 were bonded in a side-by-side manner.
  • the oil agent was applied to the discharged composite polymer flow, and the composite polymer flow was wound at the spinning speed of 1,500 m/min, and stretched between the rollers heated to 90° C. and 130° C. to produce a composite fiber having 56 dtex-36 filaments (fiber diameter: 13 ⁇ m).
  • the obtained composite fiber was woven, subjected to the scouring treatment at 80° C. and the wet heat treatment at 130° C., and then subjected to the heat setting at 180° C. to obtain the woven fabric formed by the composite fiber.
  • Example 8 Operations were performed according to Example 1, except that the communication width made of the easily soluble polymer was changed to 8% (Example 8) and 16% (Example 9) with respect to the fiber diameter.
  • Example 11 Operations were performed according to Example 1, except that the weight ratio of the polymer 2/polymer 3 was changed to 60/20 (Example 10) and 20/60 (Example 11).
  • Example 12 Operations were performed according to Example 1, except that a weight ratio of the polymer 1/polymer 2/polymer 3 was changed to 10/45/45 (Example 12) and 30/35/35 (Example 13).
  • Example 14 Operations were performed according to Example 1, except that the discharge amount was changed such that the fiber diameter was 17 ⁇ m (Example 14) and 24 ⁇ m (Example 15).
  • Example 16 when the easily soluble polymer was removed, since titanium oxide deposited on the surface of the polymer 3 also falls off, the irregularities were formed on the surface, and thus in addition to improving the appearance of the fabric by preventing the increase or decrease in reflection (glare) depending on the incident angle of the light by diffusely reflecting the light, the functionality such as anti-transparency and ultraviolet shielding due to titanium oxide inside the fiber was obtained. The results are shown in the following table.
  • Example 17 due to a property of rubber elasticity of PPT, the lightweight feel and the excellent flexible texture were developed, and a stretching function was also significantly improved. Since PPT had a low refractive index compared to PET, the obtained woven fabric was also excellent in color development property. The results are shown in the following table.
  • SSIA-PEG copolymer PET melt viscosity: 100 Pa ⁇ s, melting point: 233° C.
  • the oil agent was applied to the discharged composite polymer flow, and the composite polymer flow was wound at the spinning speed of 1,500 m/min, and stretched between the rollers heated to 90° C. and 130° C. to produce a composite fiber having 56 dtex-36 filaments (fiber diameter: 12 ⁇ m).
  • the obtained composite fiber was woven, subjected to the scouring treatment at 80° C. and the wet heat treatment at 130° C., and then treated in a 1% by mass of sodium hydroxide aqueous solution (bath ratio: 1:50) heated to 90° C. to remove 99% or more of the polymer 1 as the easily soluble polymer. Thereafter, the heat setting was added at 180° C. to obtain a woven fabric formed by a multifilament including flat hollow fibers having flatness of 1.8, a hollow ratio of 20%, and the number of crimped peaks of 12 peaks/cm as shown in FIG. 6 ( a ) .
  • Example 18 due to a property of nylon having low density and low elasticity compared to polyester, excellent lightweight feel was obtained, and more flexible texture was developed. The results are shown in Table 1.
  • Example 1 Polymer Polymer 1 SSIA-PEG SSIA-PEG copolymer PET copolymer PET Polymer 2 IPA- IPA- copolymerized copolymerized PET PET Polymer 3 PET PET (Melting point of polymer 3) ⁇ 22° C. 22° C. (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/40/40 20/40/40 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Multi-lobal fiber Composite structure FIG. 3(a) FIG. 3(b) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.2 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.5 0.3 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 4 3 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape FIG. 6(b) FIG.
  • FIG. 3(c) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.7 1.7 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.4 0.5 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 4 4 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 6(c) FIG.
  • Example 6 Polymer Polymer 1 SSIA-PEG copolymer SSIA-PEG copolymer PET PET Polymer 2 IPA-copolymerized IPA-copolymerized PET PET Polymer 3 PET PET (Melting point of polymer 3) ⁇ 22° C. 22° C. (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/40/40 20/40/40 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Round fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 1(c) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.3 1.0 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.4 0.4 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 4 3 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 10 FIG. 3(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.4 0.5 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 3 4 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 9 FIG. 6(b) fiber Flatness 1.8 1.8 Hollow ratio (%) 18 18 Width of opening portion ( ⁇ m) 0.4 0.5 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of opening portion to fiber 3 4 diameter (%) Number of crimped peaks 12 0 (peaks/cm) Multifilament Variation coefficient CV 38 6 of rotation angle of long axis (%)
  • FIG. 4(a) (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/40/40 20/40/40 Composite Cross-sectional shape Round Flat fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 4(a) FIG. 3(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) — 1.0 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 13 12 Ratio of communication width to — 8 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • Example 10 Polymer Polymer 1 SSIA-PEG SSIA-PEG copolymer PET copolymer PET Polymer 2 IPA-copolymerized IPA-copolymerized PET PET Polymer 3 PET PET (Melting point of polymer 3) ⁇ 22° C. 22° C. (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/40/40 20/60/20 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Flat fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 3(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 1.9 0.5 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 16 4 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 3(a) (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/20/60 10/45/45 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Flat fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 3(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.5 0.3 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 4 2 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 6(b) FIG.
  • Example 14 Polymer Polymer 1 SSIA-PEG SSIA-PEG copolymer PET copolymer PET Polymer 2 IPA-copolymerized IPA-copolymerized PET PET Polymer 3 PET PET (Melting point of polymer 3) ⁇ 22° C. 22° C. (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 30/35/35 20/40/40 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Flat fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 3(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.8 0.7 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 17 Ratio of communication width to 7 4 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 3(a) (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/40/40 20/40/40 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Flat fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 3(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 1.0 0.5 Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 24 12 Ratio of communication width to 4 4 fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • FIG. 6(b) FIG.
  • Example 18 Polymer Polymer 1 SSIA-PEG SSIA-PEG copolymer PET copolymer PET Polymer 2 PPT N6-66 copolymer Polymer 3 PET N6 (Melting point of polymer 3) ⁇ 21° C. 38° C. (melting point of polymer 2) Weight ratio (polymer 1/2/3) 20/40/40 20/40/40 Composite Cross-sectional shape Flat Flat fiber Composite structure
  • FIG. 2(a) Modification degree (RB/RA) 1.8 1.8 1.8 Communication width ( ⁇ m) 0.5 — Fiber diameter ( ⁇ m) 12 12 Ratio of communication width to 4 — fiber diameter (%) Hollow Cross-sectional shape
  • Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Texture Lightweight Feel (apparent A (0.33) A (0.34) A (0.31) A (0.31) evaluation density (g/cm 3 )) Flexibility (bending hardness B ⁇ A (0.9) A (0.8) A (0.9) A (0.6) 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm)) Resilience (bending recovery A (0.9) A (1.0) A (0.8) A (1.0) 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm/cm)) Smoothness (friction coefficient) A (0.3) B (0.6) B (0.7) A (0.4) Roughness (friction fluctuation ⁇ A (0.9) B (0.5) A (0.9) A (0.9) 10 ⁇ 2 Function Water-absorbing quick-drying B (25) A (20) A (15) A (20) evaluation property (water diffusion time (minutes)) Stretchability (fabric elongation %)) A (16) A (17) A (16) A (17) Wear resistance A (grade 4) A (grade 4) A (grade 4) A
  • Example 1 Texture Lightweight Feel (apparent B (0.36) B (0.38) A (0.30) B (0.44) evaluation density (g/cm 3 )) Flexibility (bending hardness B ⁇ A (0.8) A (0.7) A (0.8) C (2.8) 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm)) Resilience (bending recovery B (1.1) B (1.2) A (1.0) C (2.7) 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm/cm)) Smoothness (friction coefficient) A (0.4) B (0.5) A (0.3) A (0.2) Roughness (friction fluctuation ⁇ B (0.7) B (0.5) A (1.1) C (0.2) 10 ⁇ 2 Function Water-absorbing quick-drying B (25) B (30) A (20) C (45) evaluation property (water diffusion time (minutes)) Stretchability (fabric elongation %)) A (20) A (24) B (13) C (0) Wear resistance A (grade 4) A (grade 4)
  • Example 10 Example 12 Texture Lightweight Feel (apparent B (0.42) B (0.38) B (0.4) B (0.38) evaluation density (g/cm 3 )) Flexibility (bending hardness B ⁇ B (1.8) B (1.9) A (0.8) B (1.3) 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm)) Resilience (bending recovery B (1.9) B (1.6) B (1.2) B (1.4) 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm/cm)) Smoothness (friction coefficient) B (1.0) A (0.3) A (0.3) A (0.3) Roughness (friction fluctuation ⁇ A (0.9) B (0.6) B (0.6) A (0.9) 10 ⁇ 2 Function Water-absorbing quick-drying A (20) B (25) B (35) B (25) evaluation property (water diffusion time (minutes)) Stretchability (fabric elongation %)) B (10) B (14) B (5) A (16) Wear resistance B (grade 3) A (grade 4) A (grade 4) A (grade (grade
  • Example 16 Texture Lightweight Feel (apparent A (0.33) A (0.31) A (0.29) A (0.33) evaluation density (g/cm 3 )) Flexibility (bending hardness B ⁇ A (0.9) B (1.2) B (1.8) A (0.9) 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm)) Resilience (bending recovery A (0.6) A (0.8) A (0.6) A (0.9) 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm/cm)) Smoothness (friction coefficient) A (0.3) B (0.5) B (0.7) B (0.4) Roughness (friction fluctuation ⁇ A (0.9) A (1.0) A (1.1) A (0.9) 10 ⁇ 2 Function Water-absorbing quick-drying B (25) B (25) B (30) B (25) evaluation property (water diffusion time (minutes)) Stretchability (fabric elongation %)) B (13) B (14) B (12) A (16) Wear resistance B (grade 3.5) A (grade 4) A (grade 4) A (grade 4) A
  • Example 18 Texture Lightweight Feel (apparent A (0.31) A (0.28) eval- density (g/cm 3 )) uation Flexibility (bending hardness B ⁇ A (0.6) A (0.6) 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm 2 /cm)) Resilience (bending recovery B (1.6) B (2.0) 2HB ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 (gf ⁇ cm/cm)) Smoothness (friction coefficient) B (0.5) B (0.5) Roughness (friction fluctuation ⁇ B (0.6) B (0.8) 10 ⁇ 2 Func- Water-absorbing quick-drying A (20) B (35) tion property (water diffusion time eval- (minutes)) uation Stretchability (fabric A (27) B (14) elongation %)) Wear resistance A (grade 4) B (grade 3.5)
  • void structures inside and between fibers are finely controlled, whereby a textile excellent in wearing comfort, which achieves moderate resilience and a puffy and soft texture, can be obtained.
  • the composite fiber, the hollow fiber, and the multifilament can be suitably used for a wide variety of fiber products, from general clothing such as jackets, skirts, pants, and underwear, to interior products such as carpets and sofas, vehicle interior products such as car seats, home applications such as cosmetics, cosmetic masks, and health products in addition to sports clothing and clothing materials, taking advantage of comfortability thereof.

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