US4666452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrophilic surface - modified polyolefin structures
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1986-03-12
•
Granted: 1987-05-19
•
Expires: 2006-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A shaped polyolefin structure, such as a polyolefin fiber or a nonwoven web containing polyolefin fibers, is rendered hydrophilic by contacting the structure with a gaseous mixture of chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof, in the presence of a free radical-producing means. Such treatment results in the formation of hydrogen sulfato groups at the structure surface. Preferably, the hydrogen sulfato groups are converted to ammonium sulfato groups by subsequent treatment with ammonia or a sufficiently basic amine.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald S. Nohr
- 👤 Vincent D. McGinniss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:52
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M10/00; D06M10/04; D06M10/06; C; C08; C08F; C08F8/00; C08F8/44; D06M10/001; D06M11/00; D06M11/07; D06M11/09; D06M11/51; D06M11/54; D06M11/58; D06M11/59; D06M13/00; D06M13/322; D06M13/325; D06M2101/00; D06M2101/16; D06M2101/18; D06M2101/20; D06M2200/00; D06M2400/00; D06M2400/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S8/00; Y10S8/09; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2973; Y10T428/2978; Y10T428/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
A hydrophilic shaped polyolefin structure having a surface modified by the presence of hydrogen sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the structure hydrophilic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hydrophilic shaped polyolefin structure having a surface modified by the presence of hydrogen sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the structure hydrophilic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure of claim 1 in which the concentration of chloro groups therein is sufficiently low so that the hydrophilic nature of the modified surface and the physical properties of the structure are not significantly adversely affected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 3 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hydrophilic shaped polyolefin structure having a surface modified by the presence of ammonium sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the structure hydrophilic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hydrophilic shaped polyolefin structure having a surface modified by the presence of ammonium sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the structure hydrophilic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 5 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 5 in which the concentration of chloro groups therein is sufficiently low so that the hydrophilic nature of the modified surface and the properties of the structure are not significantly adversely affected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 7 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hydrophilic polyolefin fiber having a surface modified by the presence of hydrogen sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fiber hydrophilic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hydrophilic polyolefin fiber having a surface modified by the presence of hydrogen sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fiber hydrophilic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fiber of claim 9 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fiber of claim 10 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fiber of claim 9 in which the concentration of chloro groups therein is sufficiently low so that the hydrophilic nature of the modified surface and the physical properties of the fiber are not significantly adversely affected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fiber of claim 12 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fiber of claim 13 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fiber of claim 12 in which the ratio of chlorine to sulfur at the fiber surface is less than about 3.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fiber of claim 12 in which chlorine is essentially absent from the central portion of the fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hydrophilic polyolefin fiber having a surface modified by the presence of ammonium sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fiber hydrophilic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hydrophilic polyolefin fiber having a surface modified by the presence of ammonium sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fiber hydrophilic.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fiber of claim 17 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fiber of claim 18 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fiber of claim 17 in which the concentration of chloro groups therein is sufficiently low so that the hydrophilic nature of the modified surface and the physical properties of the fiber are not significantly adversely affected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fiber of claim 20 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fiber of claim 21 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fiber of claim 20 in which the ratio of chlorine to sulfur at the fiber surface is less than about 3.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fiber of claim 20 in which chlorine is essentially absent from the central portion of the fiber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven web comprising hydrophilic polyolefin fibers having surfaces modified by the presence of hydrogen sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fibers hydrophilic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven web comprising hydrophilic polyolefin fibers having surfaces modified by the presence of hydrogen sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fibers hydrophilic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The nonwoven web of claim 25 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 26 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The nonwoven web of claim 25 in which the concentration of chloro groups in the fibers is sufficiently low so that the hydrophilic nature of the modified surfaces and the physical properties of the fibers are not significantly adversely affected.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The nonwoven web of claim 28 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 29 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The nonwoven web of claim 28 in which the ratio of chlorine to sulfur at the fiber surfaces is less than about 3.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The nonwoven web of claim 28 in which chlorine is essentially absent from the central portions of the fibers.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven web comprising hydrophilic polyolefin fibers having surfaces modified by the presence of ammonium sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fibers hydrophilic.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
A nonwoven web comprising hydrophilic polyolefin fibers having surfaces modified by the presence of ammonium sulfato groups at a concentration sufficient to render the fibers hydrophilic.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The nonwoven web of claim 33 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 34 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
The nonwoven web of claim 33 in which the concentration of chloro groups in the fibers is sufficiently low so that the hydrophilic nature of the modified surfaces and the physical properties of the fibers are not significantly adversely affected.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The nonwoven web of claim 36 in which the polyolefin is polyethylene or polypropylene.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 37 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
The nonwoven web of claim 36 in which the ratio of chlorine to sulfur at the fiber surfaces is less than about 3.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
The nonwoven web of claim 36 in which chlorine is essentially absent from the central portions of the fibers.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of imparting a hydrophilic character to a surface of a shaped polyolefin structure which comprises contacting the surface with a gaseous mixture comprising chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof in the presence of a free radical producing means under conditions sufficient to introduce hydrogen sulfato groups at the structure surface.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of imparting a hydrophilic character to a surface of a shaped polyolefin structure which comprises contacting the surface with a gaseous mixture comprising chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof in the presence of a free radical producing means under conditions sufficient to introduce hydrogen sulfato groups at the structure surface.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of of claim 41 in which the shaped polyolefin structure is a fiber.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 41 in which the shaped polyolefin structure is a plurality of fibers as a component of a nonwoven web.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 42 or 43 in which the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is less than about 2.5.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 44 in which the gaseous mixture contains oxygen.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 45 in which the gaseous mixture contains air.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 46 in which the gaseous mixture contains from about 10 to about 30 percent by volume of air.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 41, 42, or 43 in which the free radical-producing means is ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 48 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene; the gaseous mixture consists essentially of chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and air; the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is at least about 1; the gaseous mixture contains from about 10 to about 30 percent by volume of air; and the structure surface is contacted with the gaseous mixture at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature for a period of at least about three minutes.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of imparting a hydrophilic character to a surface of a shaped polyolefin structure which comprises the steps of: A. contacting the surface with a gaseous mixture comprising chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof in the presence of a free radical-producing means under conditions sufficient to introduce hydrogen sulfato groups at the structure surface; and B. converting the hydrogen sulfato groups to ammonium sulfato groups by treating the surface obtained from step A with ammonia or an amine having a sufficiently low pK B under conditions sufficient to cause such conversion.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of imparting a hydrophilic character to a surface of a shaped polyolefin structure which comprises the steps of: A. contacting the surface with a gaseous mixture comprising chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof in the presence of a free radical-producing means under conditions sufficient to introduce hydrogen sulfato groups at the structure surface; and B. converting the hydrogen sulfato groups to ammonium sulfato groups by treating the surface obtained from step A with ammonia or an amine having a sufficiently low pK B under conditions sufficient to cause such conversion.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 50 in which the shaped polyolefin structure is a fiber.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 50 in which the shaped polyolefin structure is a plurality of fibers as a component of a nonwoven web.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is less than about 2.5.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is less than about 1.0.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is less than about 0.4.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is less than about 0.1.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the gaseous mixture contains less than about 80 percent by volume of oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the gaseous mixture contains less than about 50 percent by volume of oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the gaseous mixture contains from about 2 to about 30 percent by volume of oxygen or carbon monoxide or a mixture thereof.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 59 in which the gaseous mixture contains oxygen.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 60 in which the gaseous mixture contains air.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 61 in which the gaseous mixture contains from about 10 to about 30 percent by volume of air.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 50, 51, or 52 in which the free radical-producing means is ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of claim 63 in which the polyolefin is polypropylene; the gaseous reaction mixture consists essentially of chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and air; the chlorine to sulfur dioxide volume ratio is less than about 0.1; the gaseous mixture contains from about 10 to about 30 percent by volume of air; step A is carried out at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature for a period of from about 3 to about 10 minutes; and step B utilizes excess gaseous ammonia at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperatures.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-18 | 1990-11-17 | 1991-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-18 | 1994-11-17 | 1995-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-18 | 1998-11-17 | 1999-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |