Microvoiding with alkali metal hydroxide a heat fused fabric of polyamide with fiber occluded axially aligned polyester microfibers

Abstract

Abstract A fibrous material, which can be a filament, fabric, or a film, having increased whiteness and a desirable luster is produced by a process which comprises treating the fibrous material comprising a polyamide matrix having polyester microfibers dispersed therein with a hot, aqueous caustic solution containing about 0.5 to 10, preferably about 2 to 6, weight percent of a caustic material which can be an alkali metal oxide or hydroxide or an alkali metal salt of a weak acid which is capable of producing a pH of at least about 12.5 at a concentration of 0.1N in aqueous solution, at a temperature of at least about 95* C, for a period of time sufficient to remove a portion of the polyester microfibers to produce elongated microvoids in the fibrous material thereby increasing the whiteness and imparting a lustrous effect to the fibrous material.

Inventors

• 👤 Carlo Meneghini
• 👤 Richard Eugene Mayer
• 👤 Stanley David Lazarus
• 👤 Norman Barry Rainer

Bibliographic Details