Taggant fibers

a technology of taggant fibers and fibers, applied in the field of taggant fibers, can solve the problems of limited number of polymer domains available for arrangement, combination, and/or modification to make different patterns, and achieve the effects of less noticeable use, less likely to degrade or interfere with performance, and low cos

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-10-13
FIBER INNOVATION TECH
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention provides multicomponent fibers suitable for the production of taggant materials. The fibers of the invention allow for the production of taggants having a desired size and are particularly useful in the production of exceptionally small taggants. The resultant taggants can be less noticeable in use and further are less likely to degrade or interfere with the performance of the tagged product. The fibers of the invention can also provide taggants at relatively low costs and with good productivity.

Problems solved by technology

The number of polymer domains available for arrangement, combination, and / or modification thereof to make different patterns is limited primarily by the cost of the fiber spinning equipment needed to form a sufficient number of different patterns.

Method used

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  • Taggant fibers
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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0063] In a multicomponent fiber spinning apparatus as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,736, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, distribution plates and metering plates were formed so as to produce a round cross section fiber with twelve round “island” polymer domains in a “sea” polymer domain, said twelve island domains positioned around the perimeter of the fiber and surrounding a central core comprising an additional domain of the “island” polymer, said core being predominantly circular but having a substantial indentation as well as a fully-enclosed domain comprising the “sea” polymer, such that the shaped core resembled a “Pac-Man” shape similar to that of the computer game character. Plasticized polyvinyl alcohol was extruded through the distribution plate channels to form the “sea” polymer domains, and polylactic acid was extruded through the distribution plates to form the “island” polymer domains. The fiber was melt extruded through 175 round-hole spinneret ...

example 2

[0064] In the same spinning apparatus as used in Example 1, a single distribution plate was replaced by a new distribution plate that prevented the “island” polymer from flowing into position for three of the twelve circumferential islands formed in the fiber of Example 1. In all other respects, the production of the fiber was identical to that of the fiber of Example 1. The resulting fiber's cross section had the same shaped core domain, and had “island” polymer domains in the same positions as in Example 1, in the case of only nine of the twelve “islands,” whereas only “sea” polymer was present where the missing three “islands” appeared in the fiber of Example 1. This fiber was also subsequently cut into short lengths and adhered to products, where they were analyzed by the same machine vision system, which was able to distinguish the cross section of these fibers from those of Example 1 by virtue of the number and position of the missing islands.

example 3

[0065] The fibers of Examples 1 and 2 were alternately processed with a step that exposed the fibers to water, which dissolved and removed the polyvinyl alcohol “sea” component. As a result, the twelve and nine (respectively) “islands” were dissociated from the shaped core, and the “eye” of the shaped core was made hollow. Without the association of the twelve or nine (respectively) islands with the core, the fibers lost their ability to be distinguished by the machine vision system.

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Abstract

Multicomponent fibers are provided that include a plurality of coextruded polymeric components arranged in discrete structured domains. The polymer domains have one or more identifying characteristics that can be varied to form a plurality of different identifying patterns. A plurality of islands in the sea fibers can be provided, the plurality of fibers including two or more subsets of fibers, each subset comprising a uniquely identifiable cross sectional pattern of island domains, each pattern being formed from an array comprising a predetermined number of island domains in predetermined locations within the array, wherein each pattern is determined by classifying individual island domains within the array as present or absent from the pattern. The plurality of fibers can be meltspun simultaneously to form a filament yarn or tow.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 557,569, filed Mar. 30, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to fibrous structures including structured coextrudable polymeric components, useful for making identifiers or taggants for a variety of products, and to processes for making and using the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Materials known generally as taggants have been proposed for incorporation into products to identify and / or verify various characteristics of the same. For example, taggants have been proposed for the identification of products such as explosives, certain bulk chemicals that can be used to make explosives, ammunition, paint, petroleum products, and documents, among others. Materials have also been applied to products to track point of origin, authenticity,...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): D01D5/36D01F8/04D06H1/00
CPCD01D5/36Y10T428/2913D06H1/00D01F8/04
Inventor DUGAN, JEFFREY S.
Owner FIBER INNOVATION TECH
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