US4842792A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drafting process for preparing a modified polyester fiber
Assignee: Clemson University Research Foundation
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Filing: 1988-02-16
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Granted: 1989-06-27
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Expires: 2008-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Preparation of a novel polyester fiber, such as a poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber, having at least one continuous groove wherein the surface of the groove is rougher than the surface outside the groove is accomplished through a drafting process involving surface hydrolysis. The fibers have improved cover, softness, and wetting characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Shriram Bagrodia
- 👤 Bobby M. Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:26
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/253; D01F; D01F11/00; D01F11/04; D01F11/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S8/00; Y10S8/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A drafting process for preparing a modified polyester fiber comprising: hydrolyzing and drafting an unhydrolyzed polyester fiber having formed therein and extending along the length thereof at least one continuous groove. wherein the cross-section of said fiber has at least one groove such that 0.15 ≦W/H ≦8.0 where W is width of the groove and H is height of the groove; said hydrolyzing ocurring to the extent necessary to modify said polyester fiber such that the mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove is about 10% to about 600% higher than the mean EB Roughness outside said groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A drafting process for preparing a modified polyester fiber comprising: hydrolyzing and drafting an unhydrolyzed polyester fiber having formed therein and extending along the length thereof at least one continuous groove. wherein the cross-section of said fiber has at least one groove such that 0.15 ≦W/H ≦8.0 where W is width of the groove and H is height of the groove; said hydrolyzing ocurring to the extent necessary to modify said polyester fiber such that the mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove is about 10% to about 600% higher than the mean EB Roughness outside said groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A drafting process for preparing a modified polyester fiber comprising: (a) contacting an alkaline medium and an unhydrolyzed polyester fiber having formed therein and extending along the length thereof at least one continuous groove, wherein the cross-section of said fiber has at least one groove such that 0.15 ≦W/H ≦8.0 where W is width of the groove and H is height of the groove: and (b) heating and drafting the fiber treated by step (a) to the extent necessary to modify said polyester fiber such that the mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove is about 10% to about 600% higher than the mean EB Roughness outside said groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
A drafting process for preparing a modified polyester fiber comprising: (a) contacting an alkaline medium and an unhydrolyzed polyester fiber having formed therein and extending along the length thereof at least one continuous groove, wherein the cross-section of said fiber has at least one groove such that 0.15 ≦W/H ≦8.0 where W is width of the groove and H is height of the groove: and (b) heating and drafting the fiber treated by step (a) to the extent necessary to modify said polyester fiber such that the mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove is about 10% to about 600% higher than the mean EB Roughness outside said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said polyester material is poly(ethylene terephthalate).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said polyester material is poly(ethylene terephthalate).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said alkaline solution is an aqueous solution of a metal hydroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3 wherein said metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the concentration of sodium hydroxide in the alkaline solution is between about 1 percent and about 10 percent by weight, the residence time of step (a) is between about 1 second and about 10 seconds, the temperature for step (a) is between about 60° and about 90° C., the residence time for step (b) is between about 1 second and about 60 seconds, and the temperature for step (b) is between about 130° C. and about 240° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the residence time of step (b) is between about 1 to 30 seconds at a temperature of between about 170° C. to about 230° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 wherein step (b) is carried out in the presence of superheated steam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said fiber has 2 to 6 grooves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said fiber has 2 to 6 grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 2 including the additional steps of neutralizing, drying, lubricating, crimping and cutting the treated fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 wherein said alkaline solution contains an accelerator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the modified fiber has a mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove of about 0.08μ to about 0.37μ and a mean EB Roughness outside said groove of about 0.06μ to about 0.20μ.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the modified fiber has a mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove of about 0.08μ to about 0.37μ and a mean EB Roughness outside said groove of about 0.06μ to about 0.20μ.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The proces of claim 1 wherein, after hydrolysis, the mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove is about 25 to about 500 percent higher than the mean EB Roughness outside said groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 2 wherein, after step (b), the mean EB Roughness at the bottom of said groove is about 25 to about 500 percent higher than the mean EB Roughness outside said groove.
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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) | 1992-06-26 | 1992-12-26 | 1993-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-26 | 1996-12-26 | 1997-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-26 | 2000-12-26 | 2001-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |