Abstract: A method of melt spinning sheath/core bicomponent fibers including the steps of passing multiple streams of pressurized molten core polymer from distributor flow passages into multiple parallel spinneret flow passages in respective axial or coaxial alignment with said multiple distributor flow passages. In pressured molten sheath polymer is passed through channels positioned in the top surface of the spinneret and surrounding the inlets of the spinneret flow passages. The sheath polymer is directed to flow from the channels into each of the spinneret flow passages and each of the polymer streams at a controlled pressure drop.

Abstract: A fibrous structure comprising a composite fiber matrix loaded with immobilized functional particulate and including void spaces forming tortuous flow paths, is provided. The particulate is beneficially distributed in the interior of the fibrous structure in three dimensions and fused to a low melting component of the composite fibers without substantially reducing the available surface area of the particulate. A filtration structure of a composite staple having a nylon sheath and a polyester core, with activated carbon particles bonded to the fiber matrix, and including a microfiber web located within the structure, is specifically disclosed.

Abstract: Organic polymer surfaces are modified by contacting such surfaces with a haloester compound and a cationic compound of having a pK.sub.a >5. Preferably the organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, aromatic polyamides, and graphitic polymers and the contacting is conducted at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method for separating co-mingled polymeric materials, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is described. The process involves selectively dissolving a supercritical fluid into one of the materials at the appropriate temperature and pressure. Upon rapid reduction of the system pressure, the selected material foams providing a change in density. Under ambient conditions, the polymeric materials having a large density difference can be separated by means of aqueous separation and flotation. The preferred supercritical fluid for the process is carbon dioxide, and PVC is the material into which the supercritical fluid is preferentially dissolved.

Abstract: A tent fabric constructed substantially of woven polyethylenenaphthalatebibenzoate (PENBB) yarns. The PENBB yarns of the fabric exhibit very low tenacity loss resulting from UV degradation, and exhibit very good dimensional stability, very low hot air shrinkage and very low creep. A flame retardant polymer may be added to the PENBB polymer before extrusion to provide flame resistance.

Abstract: A blend of cellulose acetate and starch acetate used to make fibers, filaments, yarns, fabrics, plastic materials and other uses is disclosed. Additionally, the invention relates to the process of making said blend; cigarette filters made from tow composed of said blend; cigarettes made with filters made from tow of said blend as well as acetate flake and other compositions containing said blend.

Abstract: A heterofilament of a PBT sheath, a multifilament composite yarn composed of a plurality of heterofilaments having PBT sheath, and a conductive bundle containing a wire wrapped with a plurality of the multifilament composite yarn.

Abstract: Apparatus for analysis of defects in polymerization reactor output, such as for gels in polyester polymer. The apparatus includes a tape forming unit, a tape analysis unit, and an image analysis computer. A sample of polymerization reactor output is converted to a tape form by compression between nip rolls and wound onto a reel. The tape reel is transferred to the tape analysis unit and the tape is threaded through an inspection zone to a takeup reel. A polyester tape is illuminated with ultraviolet light at the inspection zone and a camera captures images of gel fluorescence caused by the ultraviolet light. Interference filters are provided to attenuate background light. The signal generated by the camera is sent to an image analysis computer for determination of the total number of gels in preselected size ranges, the total area of the gels, and a defect ratio, which is defined as the total gel area divided by the area of the tape selected.

Abstract: A non-woven recyclable polyester fabric suitable for use as a bale covering that is a single layer batt formed of crosslapped fiber having a structure compacted by needlepunching and calendering. A process for producing this non-woven recyclable polyester fabric that includes forming a web of fiber, crosslapping the web to form a batt, needlepunching the batt, and calendering the batt under suitable conditions.

Abstract: A process is described for recycling polyester and cotton blend fabrics by separating the polyester from the cotton fabric. The novel process to recycle the polyester/cotton blend fabrics includes the steps of (a) providing a polyester and cotton blend fabric; (b) charging said blend into a sulfone solvent; (c) dissolving the polyester in the sulfone solvent; (d) separating the dissolved polyester and sulfone solvent solution from the cotton fabric; (e) filtering the cotton to obtain isolated, cotton fabric.

Abstract: A process for producing poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate) from the reaction of either terephthalic acid or a lower dialkyl ester of terephthalic acid and 1,3-propanediol and polymerization of the monomer produced therefrom using a novel catalyst system. The novel catalyst composition includes employing an effective catalytic amount tin in the polycondensation reaction. Using the catalyst system and Hostaperm.RTM. pigments allows for the production of poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate) having yellowness of less than 4 and an IV of at least 0.80 dl/g.

Abstract: Organic polymer surfaces are modified by contacting such surfaces with a halohydroxy compound and a cationic compound of an acid having a pK.sub.a >2.5. Preferably the organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, aromatic polyamides, polyimides, and graphitic polymers and the contacting is conducted at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Synthetic fiber safety cutting scissors comprising a pair of first and second elongated scissor blades, each having an inner side and an outer side and a continuous cutting edge, a plurality of non-cutting protrusions part of the blade, and a gripping means; and a means for pivotally securing said first and second scissor blades to each other with said inner sides facing towards each other such that the said cutting edges cooperate with each other to cut strands of synthetic fiber. It has been found that with the protrusions that foreign objects such as fingers may be prevented from being intersected at the cutting edge.

Abstract: The composite membrane is disclosed having a microporous support which is coated with an aqueous polyeurethane dispersion composition wherein the microporous support is surface treated. A process for making and a process for using the membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: The composite membrane is disclosed having a microporous support which is coated with a polymer composition and a contact adhesive layer applied to said polymer. A process for making and a process for using the membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a method of producing a polyester filament which has a superior combination of tensile, dyeability and shrinkage properties. The method comprises forming a polyester copolymer from a mixture consisting essentially of terephthalic acid (TA) or dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), ethylene glycol, adipic acid, and pentaerythritol wherein the adipic acid is added in an amount of between 1.3 and 3.2 weight percent of the terephthalic acid and pentaerythritol is added in the amount from 175 to 700 ppm by weight of terephthalic acid; forming the filament from the copolymer, drawing the copolymer filament, and heat-setting the drawn filament. The invention also comprises the enhanced fiber formed by the process having an atmospheric dyeability greater than that of an unenhanced PET produced under identical conditions except for the addition of the adipic acid and pentaerythritol, a modulus of greater than 3.0 g/denier, a tenacity from about 5 to 7 g/denier and a hot air shrinkage of less than 10%.

Abstract: The composite membrane is disclosed having a microporous support which is coated with a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyacrylic acid, poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyacrylamide wherein there is no pore filing of the microporous support. A process for making and a process for using the membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for spinning bicomponent sheath/core filaments having a distributor plate and spinnerette and a shim positioned between the distributor plate and spinnerette to effect a controlled pressure drop of the sheath polymer material. In particular, the distributor plate and spinnerette each have a plurality of spaced core polymer flow passages and sheath polymer passages wherein the respective core polymer flow passages are axially aligned and the respective sheath polymer flow passages are aligned. The shim is positioned between the spinnerette and distributor plate to control the sheath polymer flow from the outlet of the distributor sheath polymer flow passages to the inlet of each spinnerette core polymer flow passage separately. Producing sheath/core bicomponent fibers using this apparatus results in fibers having concentric sheath/core configurations and increased throughput.

Abstract: A process for recycling polyester/cotton blends by reducing the polyester to a lower dialkyl ester of terephthalic acid and reducing the cotton to cellulose acetate. The novel process to recycle the polyester/cotton blends includes the steps of (a) providing a blend of polyester and cotton fibers; (b) subjecting the polyester/cotton blend to a first alcoholysis in a bath containing an alcohol and an effective catalyst at a suitable temperature until the polyester is depolymerized to a lower molecular weight polyester oligomer; (c) remove the cotton fibers from the alcoholic solution of oligomers and process the recovered cotton fibers by pulping and acetylyzing processes to recover the cellulose acetate; and (d) alcoholyze the low molecular weight polyester oligomers to produce the lower dialkyl ester of terephthalic acid.

Abstract: A blend of low shrinkage polyester fibers and high shrinkage polyester fibers is described. In particular, the blend includes high shrinkage PET copolymers having boiling water shrinkages from 6 to 11 percent and low shrinkage PET copolymer fibers having a shrinkage of less than 3 percent. Textured carpets and rugs made from the blend consistently have better initial tuft end point definition and, in most cases, better bulk than corresponding polyester carpets made from conventional polyester fibers.