Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Particulate-loaded polymer fibers and extrusion methods

a polymer fiber and extrusion method technology, applied in the direction of spinnerette packs, yarn, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve the problems of less economically viable processes for forming fibers, process temperature and process pressure may, however, be limited by the equipment employed, so as to reduce or eliminate the need for pulling

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-01-03
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
View PDF23 Cites 18 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method for extruding polymer fibers that have a plurality of particles distributed within the polymer binder. These particles can be encapsulated within the binder or partially exposed on the outer surface of the fiber. The particles can be distributed in a way that enhances fiber strength and also allows for the distribution of additional particles as the polymer binder is removed during use. The use of a separate lubricant can provide orientation to the polymer material as it moves through the die without the need for pulling or stretching. The method can also allow for the extrusion of multiple polymer fibers simultaneously at low pressures, resulting in cost savings. The fibers can be monocomponent, bicomponent, or conjugate fibers. The MFI of the extruded polymers can be relatively low, allowing for the use of high molecular weight polymers without the need for solvents.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, improvements in polymeric material performance are conventionally tied to increased molecular weight and corresponding relatively high melt viscosities.
The higher melt viscosities typically result in slower, less economically viable processes for forming fibers.
The process temperature may typically, however, be limited by degradation of the polymeric material at higher temperatures.
Process pressure may, however, be limited by the equipment employed to extrude the fibers.
The reduced molecular weight results in a corresponding compromise in material properties of the extruded polymeric fibers.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Particulate-loaded polymer fibers and extrusion methods
  • Particulate-loaded polymer fibers and extrusion methods
  • Particulate-loaded polymer fibers and extrusion methods

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0114]A polymeric fiber was produced using apparatus similar to that shown in FIG. 6. A single orifice die as shown in FIG. 7 was used. The die orifice was circular and had an entrance diameter of 1.68 mm, an exit diameter of 0.76 mm, a length of 12.7 mm and a semi-hyperbolic shape defined by the equation:

rz=[0.00140625 / ((0.625*z)+0.0625)]̂0.5  (9)

where z is the location along the axis of the orifice as measured from the entrance and rz is the radius at location z.

[0115]Polypropylene homopolymer (FINAPRO 5660, 9.0 MFI, Atofina Petrochemical Co., Houston, Tex.) was extruded with a 3.175 cm single screw extruder (30:1 L / D) using a barrel temperature profile of 177° C.-232° C.-246° C. and an in-line ZENITH gear pump (1.6 cubic centimeters / revolution (cc / rev)) set at 19.1 RPM. The die temperature and melt temperature were approximately 220° C. Chevron SUPERLA white mineral oil #31 as a lubricant was supplied to the entrance of the die using a second ZENITH gear pump (0.16 cc / rev) set at...

example 2

[0117]A polymeric fiber was produced as in Example 1 except that a die similar to that depicted in FIG. 3 was used. The die orifice had a circular profile with an entrance diameter of 6.35 mm, an exit diameter of 0.76 mm, a length of 10.16 mm and a semi-hyperbolic shape defined by Equation (8) as described herein.

[0118]Molten polymer pressure and mass flow rate of the extrudate are shown in Table 1 below with and without lubricant.

example 3

[0119]A polymeric fiber was produced as in Example 1 except that a die as shown in FIG. 2 was used. The die orifice had a circular profile with an entrance diameter of 6.35 mm, an exit diameter of 0.51 mm, a length of 12.7 mm and a semi-hyperbolic shape defined by Equation (8).

[0120]Polyurethane (PS440-200 Huntsman Chemical, Salt Lake City, Utah) was used to form the fiber. The polymer was delivered with a 3.81 cm single screw extruder (30:1 L / D) using a barrel temperature profile of 177° C.-232° C.-246° C. and an in-line ZENITH gear pump (1.6 cc / rev) set at 19.1 RPM. The die temperature and melt temperature was approximately 215° C. Chevron SUPERLA white mineral oil #31 as a lubricant was supplied to the entrance of the die via two gear pumps in series driven at 99 RPM and 77 RPM respectively. Molten polymer pressure and mass flow rate of the extrudate is shown in Table 1 below. A control sample was also run without the use of lubricant.

Mass Flow Rates for Examples 1-3:

[0121]

TABLE ...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

PropertyMeasurementUnit
sizeaaaaaaaaaa
temperatureaaaaaaaaaa
widthaaaaaaaaaa
Login to View More

Abstract

Particulate-loaded polymer fibers along with methods and systems for extruding polymeric fibers are disclosed. The particulate-loaded polymer fibers have a fiber body that includes a polymeric binder with a plurality of particles distributed within the polymeric binder. Some of the particles are completely encapsulated within the polymeric binder and others may be embedded such that they are partially exposed on the outer surface of the fiber body. The polymers used in the fibers may be of high molecular weight and the encapsulated particles may be preferentially distributed towards the outer surfaces of the fibers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of particulate-loaded polymer fibers along with extrusion processing and apparatus for manufacturing the same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Conventional fiber forming methods and apparatus typically involves the extrusion of polymeric material through orifices. The rates, pressures and temperatures of the typical fiber extrusion process represent a compromise between economic requirements and the physical characteristics of the polymeric material. For example, the molecular weight of the polymeric material is directly tied to both melt viscosity and polymeric material performance. Unfortunately, improvements in polymeric material performance are conventionally tied to increased molecular weight and corresponding relatively high melt viscosities. The higher melt viscosities typically result in slower, less economically viable processes for forming fibers.[0003]To address the high melt viscosities of higher mole...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): D02G3/00
CPCD01D4/02Y10T428/2933D01F6/60D01F1/10D01F8/12D06M23/12
Inventor WILSON, BRUCE B.STUMO, ROGER J.ERICKSON, STANLEY C.KOPECKY, WILLIAM J.BREISTER, JAMES C.
Owner 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com