Method of coating nylon and polyester fibers with water dispersible polyvinyl acetate and coating achieved therefrom

Abstract

An aqueous, coatable, thermally condensable composition is disclosed. The coating is based on dispersions of vinyl acetate polymers in water. Uniquely, the coating can be advantageously used for both nylon and polyester yarns. The coated yarns exhibit performance equivalent to or better than coated yarns based on traditional compositions.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an aqueous coating process for use with synthetic fibers. In particular, this invention relates to a coating process that can be effectively employed with both solution dyed nylon yarn and non-solution dyed nylon yarn as well as with polyester yarns. Specifically, this invention relates to a water dispersible coating based upon polyvinyl acetate.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNylon and polyester yarns, regardless of the number of plies, are generally not suitable for use in industrial sewing applications unless they are bonded with a polymeric coating that encircles, or encapsulates, the yarn. The coating protects the twisted yarn from breaking and unraveling into the individual cords. An uncoated yarn used in industrial sewing applications will experience fraying and a significant number of breaks due to the high line speeds, significant tension, and significant friction.Coating compositions, or bonding agents, that are employed with nylo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The need to employ a separate scouring operation for the various yarns is minimized with the polyvinyl acetate and water system. The need f

Problems solved by technology

Nylon and polyester yarns, regardless of the number of plies, are generally not suitable for use in industrial sewing applications unless they are bonded with a polymeric coating that encircles, or encapsulates, the yarn.

An uncoated yarn used in industrial sewing applications will experience fraying and a significant number of breaks due to the high line speeds, significant tension, and significant friction.

Such systems pose fire, health, and environmental hazards and are expensive.

These organic solvents are also prone to cause leaching of dye from the yarns.

Additionally, the use of such systems may in the future become limited due to governmental regulations.

Between methanol and methylene chloride, the concomitant hazards associated with the use of methylene chloride are appreciably more severe than those associated with the use of methanol.

Unfortunately, the use of methanol systems to coat polyester yarns with common coatings, such as the aforementioned low molecular wei