Abstract: An apparatus for spinning hollow bicomponent filaments. The apparatus includes a distributor, a spinneret having holes and a shim having openings fixed between the distributor plate and the spinneret. The distributor supplies a first polymer having an MV to a first part of the spinneret holes and a second polymer having a lower MV to a recessed section of the spinneret. The shim openings are positioned above the spinneret holes and extend away from the first part of the holes to allow the second polymer to flow from the recessed section, through the shim openings, to a second part of the spinneret holes. The two polymers travel along the opposed first and second parts of the holes until exiting the spinneret through respective asymmetric C-shaped apertures. The apertures are sized so that hydraulic split does not occur between the polymers and consequently potential filament kneeing is obviated. Upon exiting the apertures, the polymers self-join to form hollow filaments and are quenched.

Abstract: The present invention improves the effectiveness of the oxygen scavenging composition and maintains an excellent balance in the color properties of the polymer. The present invention relates to an improved oxygen scavenging PET based copolymer comprising from about 10 to about 120 ppm cobalt based on the PET polymer, and from about 15 to about 150 ppm zinc based on the PET polymer. The present invention also comprises a process for preparing a PET based oxygen scavenging copolymer, comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing a PET based polymer; b) adding Zn, Co, and an oxygen scavenging compound during said polymerizing step; c) copolymerizing said oxygen scavenging compound with said PET based polymer to form a copolymer; and d) extruding said copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyester polymer composition containing inorganic black particles in the range of about 5 to about 150 parts per million based on the polymer. The size of the inorganic black particles is greater than about 0.5 microns. Such polyester polymers having inorganic black particles incorporated therein absorb infrared radiation better than polymers containing no inorganic black particles and thus in the production of plastic bottles less energy is required to blow-mold the bottles.

Abstract: A process for bonding filament with aqueous based polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents via a foam delivery system is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a filament; (b) providing a foam prepared by foaming a solution comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents; (c) applying a foam to said filament; and (d) drying and curing said filament.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring and optionally controlling the absolute inventory of a dynamic fluid in a vessel having at least one agitator with a rotatable shaft extending in an essentially horizontal direction, wherein there is a resultant force acting on the agitator in an essentially vertical direction in relation to the shaft and a relationship exists between the absolute inventory and the force acting on the agitator in the essentially vertical direction. The method comprises determining a correlation between the vessel absolute inventory and resultant force, measuring the resultant force, and thereby determining a relative absolute inventory within the vessel. The determined absolute inventory value may then be used as a control variable for use in controlling the absolute inventory within the vessel.

Abstract: Low shrinkage, short-cut polyethylene terephthalate fiber exhibiting dispersibility suitable for incorporation into wet laid non-woven products is produced through the use of steam-annealing. The preferred fibers exhibit a hot air shrinkage value of less than about 10 percent, have a length of less than 3 inches, and a dispersion index of less than 5.

Abstract: The invention describes a low tension relax process and corresponding apparatus, wherein a tension gate is incorporated into a relax zone in a yarn production process. The tension gate can be anything that produces a drag on the yarn threadline such as an air drag device, a liquid drag device, or a solid surface contact drag device, or a combination of these. A tension gate is a device which when used in a relax zone has an outlet yarn tension greater than the inlet yarn tension thus creating a tension differential. The tension gate provides a tension differential of at least 5 mg per denier. A relax zone is typical found in a spin-drawing process, a draw-twisting process, a draw-winding process, or a draw-bulking process. The invention describes a yarn making process with a tension gate in the relax zone wherein the tension gate creates a tension differential on said yarn of at least 5 milligrams per denier.

Abstract: A substituted diaryl compound or a mixture of substituted diaryl compounds, such as dimethylbiaryl compounds are isomerized by treatment with a strong acid or mixtures of strong acids in the absence of any additional catalyst. The strong acid or mixture of acids has a Hammett acidity of less than about −12.6. The isomerization reaction conditions such as reaction temperature, amount of acid, and amount of solvent can be adjusted to selectively produce desired isomers in high yields. One or more desired isomers may be produced in high yields by isomerization of substituted diaryl compounds and selectively removing one or more desired isomers from the resulting equilibrium mixture of isomers. The isomer mixture may be re-isomerized subsequent to selective removal of the desired isomer to produce additional amounts of desired isomer.

Abstract: A caddy having a plurality of shirred food casing sticks arranged in a unique configuration therein that aids in achieving optimal utilization of available space for a plurality of caddies nested within a carton. A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a caddy for packaging and transporting fifty sticks arranged in a semi-rectangular stick configuration having eight (8) generally adjacent and densely packed rows and a stacking of 6-7-6-7-6-7-6-5. The caddy mechanically interlocks with a second caddy via a series of recessed notches and protruding members. The snugness of the fit between the caddy and the second caddy is improved therefore enhancing stability and decreasing the amount of wasted space between adjacent caddies that are nested together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition comprising: a copolyester of polyethylene terephthalate and a dicarboxylic acid or its ester equivalent, and not more than 100 microequivalents per gram of said copolyester of an anhydride selected from the class consisting of succinic, glutaric, benzoic, maleic and phthalic anhydride, said composition having a CEG content greater than about 25 microequivalents per gram and an IV greater than about 0.65.

Abstract: The invention is directed to polyester resins containing a silica selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, colloidal silica and silica beads, which resin has utility on the production of containers, particularly beverage containers, having reduced stickiness relative to containers made from the same resin but without the silica.

Abstract: A pressure process for preparing a hydroxyalkyl ester monomer and oligomer that can be used to prepare a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is disclosed. The process includes the steps of reacting, by ethoxylation, dicarboxylic acid and alkylene oxide in the presence of a compressed gas medium to form a specified mixture of monohydroxyalkyl ester and bishydroxyalkyl ester. The reaction pressure is such that the density of the gas medium is greater than or equal to half the critical density of the compressed gas medium. The mole ratio of the alkylene oxide to the dicarboxylic acid is less than about 2:1, and preferably 1.1:1.2. The DP of all reaction products is less than 5. The reactant product may be polymerized into a polyester. The process may optionally employ catalysts such as amines or amino acids. The compressed gas medium can be a solvent and an optional cosolvent. The temperature of reaction is from about 100° C. to 240° C. at a pressure of 50-5000 psi.

Abstract: Copolyesters comprising monomeric units derived from norbornane compounds such as 2,3-norbornane dicarboxylic acid anhydride or dicarboxylate exhibit amorphous characteristics. Exemplary copolymers are obtained by polycondensation of ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid, and up to about 40 mole % cis-norbornane-endo-2,3-dicarboxylic acid anhydride or dimethyl trans-norbornane 2,3-dicarboxylate or mixtures thereof, based upon the total moles of ester forming components of the polyester. The copolymers containing monomeric units derived from norbornane dicarboxylic acid or dicarboxylate can be obtained by melt polymerization and exhibit no or very low crystallinity. The copolyesters may be used to produce transparent, optically clear amorphous articles of manufacture such as containers, extruded objects, and packaging by melt processing techniques such as injection molding, blow molding, extrusion or thermoforming.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making a copolyester and a resulting copolyester fiber that has increased dyeability and dye retention properties while maintaining good physical properties for textile applications. The fiber may be formed from a mixture comprising terephthalic acid and its ester equivalent in combination with ethylene glycol, and to which is added about 2-4 mole percent of at least two dicarboxylic acids, or their anhydride or ester equivalents excluding terephthalic acid and its ester equivalent, and between about 100 to 700 ppm pentaerytoritol, both being based on the amount of the terephthalic acid and its ester equivalent The dicarboxylic acids and pentaerytliritol may be added before esterification, or after esterification and before polycondensation.

Abstract: An antistatic bicomponent fiber comprises a nonconductive first component made of a first polymer and a conductive second component made of a second polymer containing a conductive material, where the second polymer has a lower melting point than the first polymer. The bicomponent fiber is made by co-extruding the two polymers at a temperature above their melting points, stretching the extruded fiber to increase the tensile strength, and heat treating the fiber at a temperature between the melting point of the first polymer and the melting point of the second polymer to improve the conductivity of the conductive second component. The bicomponent fiber is preferably a sheath/core fiber.

Abstract: A for the production of polymeric fibers in the form of a tow includes drawing and heat setting, with and without crimping, in which the tow has a constant denier per inch during the processing. The process permits very large drawn tows to be produced having a thickness of at least 150,000 denier per inch of width during processing through the production equipment/apparatus. The production apparatus includes a conventional stacker, followed by drawing apparatus, followed by heat setting apparatus, and optionally followed by crimping apparatus. Positioning the stacker before the drawing apparatus allows very large tows to be produced using drawing and heat setting apparatus having rolls significantly shorter than is conventionally known.

Abstract: The esterification of a carboxylic or polycarboxylic acid, such as terephthalic acid, with ethylene oxide is conducted in the presence of a supercritical or near critical fluid with an esterification catalyst to form a monoester such as 2-hydroxyethylterephthalate (MHET). The monoester can be easily removed from the involatile terephthalic acid/catalyst bed by continuous extraction with supercritical fluid before subsequent reaction to the diester occurs. The esterification catalyst, such as quaternary ammonium salts, are at least substantially insoluble in the supercritical fluid and capable of withstanding prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures. The process is highly selective to formation of monoesters, and economical. The process can be modified for production of bis-esters or higher esters. The monoesters are polymerizable and can be used as monomers in the production of polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat setting a traveling tow of synthetic filaments utilizing a high pressure dewatering nip roll mechanism to remove moisture from the tow prior to heat setting. The high pressure dewatering nip roll mechanism includes a pair of nip rollers exerting a pressure of between about 500 and 2000 pounds per linear inch of transverse nip contact on the traveling tow prior to the tow entering a heat setting apparatus such as a calender apparatus. Moisture content of the traveling tow is reduced to less than 10% moisture by weight and preferably less than 5%. Reducing the moisture content of the tow prior to heat setting reduces the energy required to heat set the tow and, contrary to the prevailing wisdom in the art, does not damage the unheat set filaments of the tow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for melt spinning molten polymeric material into filaments, preferably embodied in the form of a spin pack assembly, utilizes an annular polymer filter formed of a screen mesh material to have a U-shaped axial cross-section defining an open end oriented to face upwardly for receiving polymer within the annular interior of the screen to flow outwardly therefrom to a downstream spinneret for extrusion. The filter eliminates any need to utilize sand or other filter material contained by the screen as a primary or auxiliary filtration medium and enables effective polymer flow substantially through the entire surface area of the screen without stagnation of material flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for steam-treating yarn, films, fibers, fiber tow and other polymeric articles is described. The apparatus includes a first orifice for generating minimum pressure areas and a second orifice to provide a sonic shock region operative to isolate the pressure in one chamber from the pressure in another chamber.