Composite Patents (Class 428/370)
  • Patent number: 6303220
    Abstract: A polyethylene fiber having a high apparent Young's modulus, high breaking tensile strength and low breaking elongation. The fiber also exhibits residual percentage crimp suitable enough for carding, so that the cardability, which has been conventionally difficult to improve, can be remarkably increased. Further, the fiber can be formed into a non-woven fabric having a soft touch feeling such that the fabric is suitable for medical use as well as hygienic use. In addition, the polyethylene fiber of this invention can be mixed with other fibers such as cellulose fiber to obtain a high absorbent fiber network material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Minamoto, Masayasu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6287689
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a textile filament with a contact angle greater than or equal to 90 degrees and a tenacity of 2.0 g/den. Such filaments are either water-repellent or resistant to chemicals, and yarns made therefrom readily processible into fabrics. In a detailed embodiment, the filaments are water-repellent and comprise a first longitudinally-extending component comprising at least one polymer selected from nylon, polyester, polypropylene, or other filament-forming polymer, and a second longitudinally-extending component, comprising a halogenated polymer. In a second detailed embodiment, the filaments are chemical-resistant and comprise a first longitudinally-extending component comprising at least one fiber-forming polymer and a second longitudinally-extending component comprising an olefin copolymer. In both embodiments, the second longitudinally-extending component is present on the exterior of the first longitudinally-extending component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Solutia Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Elliott, J. Gregory Hancock, David B. Horn, W. Keith Fisher
  • Patent number: 6287686
    Abstract: Fire retardant and heat resistant yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends which incorporate high amounts of oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers. Such yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends have a superior LOI, TPP and continuous operating temperature, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous: blends are also more soft and supple, and are therefore more comfortable to wear, compared to conventional fire retardant fabrics. The yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends incorporate up to 99.9% oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers, together with at least one additional fiber, such as p-aramid, in order to provide increased tensile strength and abrasion resistance of the inventive yarns, fabrics, felts and other fibrous blends. The yarns may be woven, knitted or otherwise assembled into a desired fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Chapman Thermal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsai Jung Huang, William J. Hanyon, Michael R. Chapman
  • Patent number: 6287690
    Abstract: Provided is a fire resistant corespun yarn. The yarn includes a core of a high temperature resistant continuous filament comprising fiberglass and a low temperature synthetic continuous filament selected from nylon, polyester, polyethylene and polyolefin, the core being two-plied. A first sheath of blended staple fibers surrounds the core. The fibers include modacrylic fibers and melamine fibers. A second sheath of staple fibers surrounds the first corespun yarn. This double corespun yarn may be woven and knit in fine, non-plied or plied form and extends the range of fineness of fabrics below heretofore achievable limits. Also provided is a fire resistant fabric which includes a fire resistant fabric substrate formed from the fire resistant corespun yarn, as well as a product upholstered with the fire resistant fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Land Fabric Corporation
    Inventor: Frank J. Land
  • Publication number: 20010014395
    Abstract: Spunbond multicomponent filaments and nonwoven webs made from the filaments are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, the multicomponent filaments contain a crimp enhancement additive. Specifically, the crimp enhancement additive is added to the polymeric component that has the slower solidification rate. The additive enhances crimp, allows for highly crimped filaments to be made at low fiber linear densities, improves the integrity of unbonded webs made from the filaments, and produces webs with improved stretch and cloth-like properties. The additive incorporated into the filaments is a random copolymer of butylene and propylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventors: MARK M. MLEZIVA, SAMUEL E. MARMON, CHRISTOPHER C. CREAGAN, DARRYL F. CLARK, KURTIS L. BROWN
  • Patent number: 6274237
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a crimpable composite fiber having a propylene copolymer is the first component and a polyethylene as the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Nakajima, Koji Minamoto, Masayasu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6254987
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a sheath core monofilament which displays enhance abrasion resistance. The core is a liquid crystalline polyester and the sheath is a blend of 1-5 percent by weight polycarbonate and a polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventor: Rex Delker
  • Patent number: 6248444
    Abstract: A powdered super absorbent polymer (SAP) has heretofore been used as a water retentive material for sanitary products, such as sanitary napkin, disposable diaper and incontinence pad. This water retentive material is used by being held between two paper sheets but the powdered SAP comes off easily from absorbent member. Moreover, even when the SAP is in a dried powdered state or in a water-absorbed gel state, it is moved between a top sheet and a back sheet in accordance with the movement of a wearer of the sanitary product. Consequently, water absorbency decreases with poor shape stability. Moreover, since the SAP in a water-absorbed gel state is sticky, the wearer feels unpleasant. According to the present invention, therefore, a cellulose fiber, such as a viscose rayon fiber containing uniformly a non-cellulose based material of high water absorbency such as polyacrylate salt is manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kido, Noriyuki Kimura, Ichiro Takeuchi, Kazuya Umino
  • Patent number: 6242094
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Arteva North America S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Breznak, Joseph Andrew Foldhazy, Robert Allen Ritchie, Herman Leslie LaNieve, III, Wolfgang Alfred Piesczek
  • Patent number: 6240716
    Abstract: A double-covered yarn based on a spandex core having a heat set of at least 50% and two sheath yarns wound in the same direction, a process for the preparation of such yarn and fabrics produced therefrom, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: DuPont Toray Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yanagawase, Shoichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6235393
    Abstract: A biodegradable complex fiber which retains excellent biodegradability and hydrolyzability and has high strength and high melting temperature suitable for practical use and a method for producing the biodegradable complex fiber are provided. The biodegradable complex fiber comprises at least one polymer material selected from the group consisting of a polyglycolic acid, a poly(glycolic acid-co-lactic acid) and polylactic acid as a core component or as a shell component and a polymer material of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) groups or a polymer material of an aliphatic polyester consisting of a dibasic acid and a diol as a shell component or as a core component. The method comprises producing the biodegradable complex fiber by melt spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Takasago International Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Kimura, Yoji Hori
  • Patent number: 6235359
    Abstract: A rocket motor assembly is insulated or thermally protected with a rocket motor ablative material formed from a prepreg. The prepreg contains at least an impregnating resin matrix and, as a precursor prior to carbonization, carded and spun staple cellulosic fibers. When patterned and carbonized, the rocket motor ablative material can be lined or otherwise placed into a rocket motor assembly, such as between the solid propellant and case, in the bulk area of the exit nozzle liner, or at susceptible portions of a re-entry vehicle, such as the nose cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Cordant Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Wilson, John K. Shigley, Allan P. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6228493
    Abstract: A polyester fiber is provided, which does not produce a huge amount of residues during its reducing process, and shows good appearance, feeling and superior characteristics as a fiber, such as a high tensile strength and elongation. Such polyester fiber is a conjugate fiber comprising a core spinned from a polyester containing an aromatic moiety and a skin layer surrounding the core, the skin layer spinned from an aliphatic polyester. The skin layer may be easily reduced by contacting it with an alkaline solution or an enzyme, to provide a reduced fiber with good appearance, feeling and superior characteristics as a fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Kyoto Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kimura
  • Patent number: 6228490
    Abstract: A polyolefin-based splittable conjugated fiber which contains a peroxide and has a melt flow rate of at least 30 g/10 min, and a nonwoven fabric comprising split fibers obtained by splitting the splittable conjugated fiber, and an absorbent article using the nonwoven fabric in a part thereof. The polyolefin-based splittable conjugated fiber has good spinnability and good stretchability, and is easy to split. This invention further provides a nonwoven fabric that is soft and uniform and has a good formation, and an absorbent article using such a nonwoven fabric in a part thereof, by solving the difficulty in splitting for a polyolefin-based splittable conjugated fiber, which has been its conventional problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Koki Nagano, Toshihiko Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 6221488
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of producing a blended fabric of polyester and cotton with superior low pilling characteristics. The method comprises polymerizing a melt consisting essentially of terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol and at least about 1300 parts per million of pentaerythritol to an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.55 dl/g. The resulting polymer can be spun into filament, textured, cut into staple, spun into yarn, and formed into fabric. The method and resulting polyester also have advantages in the production of polyester bottle resin and the resulting bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Mack Humelsine, Carl S. Nichols
  • Patent number: 6221491
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a multi-filament article comprising filaments having a substantially hexagonal cross-section and a method for making the same. The filaments are formed by spinning a melt or solution of a polymer through a capillary spinneret having an orifice with a centrally disposed, generally circular, center cavity portion with six side cavity portions projecting radially away from the center cavity portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon Kavesh, Alexander Lobovsky
  • Patent number: 6218009
    Abstract: A hydrophilic binder fiber. These fibers may be produced by co-spinning a polyolefin core material with a highly wettable aliphatic polyester blend sheath material. The highly wettable aliphatic polyester blend comprises an unreacted mixture of an aliphatic polyester polymer selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene succinate polymer, a polybutylene succinate-co-adipate polymer, a polycaprolactone polymer, a mixture of such polymers, or a copolymer of such polymers; a multicarboxylic acid; and a wetting agent. The hydrophilic binder fiber exhibits substantially improved biodegradable properties, yet is easily processed. The hydrophilic binder fiber may be used in a disposable absorbent product intended for the absorption of fluids such as body fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fu-Jya Daniel Tsai, Brigitte C. Wertheim
  • Patent number: 6207276
    Abstract: In a core-shroud bicomponent fiber, which exhibits a core and a shroud at least partially enveloping the core, an elevated abrasion behavior, a low compaction under exposure to temperature and pressure and a high strength of the fibers is achieved by having the shroud consist of 45-98% w/w of a first polyamide having a melting point exceeding 280° C., and 2-20% w/w of a layer silicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Ems-Chemie AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Spindler, Thomas Weller, Simon Sutter, Gunther Schäch
  • Patent number: 6203905
    Abstract: There is provided in accordance with the present invention a helically crimped conjugate fiber containing at least a first composition and a second composition. The first and second compositions respectively contain different thermoplastic polymer having different solidification periods, and at least one of the two compositions contains a nucleating agent. Additionally provided is a process for controlling the level of crimps in the conjugate fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Daniel Pike
  • Patent number: 6174603
    Abstract: Bicomponent fibers comprising a core of a thermoplastic material, preferably polypropylene, and a sheath of a blend of the core-forming polymer and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer are used to produce tobacco smoke filter elements which may be incorporated into tobacco smoke filter products such as filtered cigarettes. The addition of significant quantities of the core-forming material to the ethylene-vinyl acetate used to form the sheath avoids problems experienced heretofore in build-up of polymer in the forming dies using conventional filter-forming equipment Additionally, the blended sheath-forming polymer improves adhesion between the sheath and the core of the bicomponent fiber and, with the use of polypropylene, improves the hardness of the resultant tobacco smoke filter elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Filtrona International Limited
    Inventor: Richard M. Berger
  • Patent number: 6174601
    Abstract: A composite, bicomponent, sheath-core fiber (8) and methods of making (FIGS. 1 and 2) and using such fiber by it self or in a multifilament form are described in which the sheath comprises E-CTFE and the core is any spinnable polymer similara to Nylon, PET and copolymers thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ausimont USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Stanitis, Joseph P. Fagan
  • Patent number: 6162539
    Abstract: A luminous fiber described below, which does not exert a harmful effect on human bodies and is capable of emitting light for a long period of time with a high luminance, and a process for producing the luminous fiber are provided.A high luminance luminous fiber comprising a core component containing a polyolefin resin and 10-60% by weight, relative to the core component, of a luminous pigment comprising sintered fine powders represented by the formula of(M.sub.0.9995-0.998 Eu.sub.0.0005-0.002)Al.sub.2 O.sub.4.(M.sub.0.9995-0.998 Eu.sub.0.0005-0.002)O.n(Al.sub.1-b-a B.sub.b Q.sub.a).sub.2 O.sub.3,wherein M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca, Mg and Ba, Q represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, lanthanoid elements, Mn and Bi, a is 0.0005-0.002, b is 0.001-0.35 and n is an integer of 1-8, and a sheath component comprising a polyolefin resin containing no luminous pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., Chemitech, Inc. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshishige Shimizu, Ken Ogasawara, Hideo Sakakura, Atsushi Ogura, Daiji Goto
  • Patent number: 6159598
    Abstract: In a core/sheath type temperature-sensitive shape-transformable composite filament comprising a thermoplastic resin (A) and a thermoplastic polymer (B) having a glass transition temperature within the range of from 0.degree. C. to 70.degree. C., the composite filament is constituted in proportions satisfying the following expressions (1), (2) and (3).In the core;(A)/(B)=5/95 to 90/10 (% by weight) (1)In the sheath;(A)/(B)=100/0 to 50/50 (% by weight) (2)Core/sheath=10/90 to 95/5 (% by weight) (3)The filament is useful as doll hair the hair style of which is thermally shape-transformable to any desired shapes even by infants, and is easily fixable to the transformed shape by cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Ishimura
  • Patent number: 6156426
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filling yarn made of a thermally protected polyamide 66 multifilament for a tire cord fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Rhodia Filtec AG
    Inventors: Bruno Lang, Paul Schaffner
  • Patent number: 6146759
    Abstract: Provided is a fire resistant corespun yarn. The yarn includes a core of a high temperature resistant continuous filament comprising fiberglass and a low temperature synthetic continuous filament selected from nylon, polyester, polyethylene and polyolefin, the core being two-plied. A first sheath of blended staple fibers surrounds the core. The fibers include modacrylic fibers and melamine fibers. A second sheath of staple fibers surrounds the first corespun yarn. This double corespun yarn may be woven and knit in fine, non-plied or plied form and extends the range of fineness of fabrics below heretofore achievable limits. Also provided is a fire resistant fabric which includes a fire resistant fabric substrate formed from the fire resistant corespun yarn, as well as a product upholstered with the fire resistant fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Land Fabric Corporation
    Inventor: Frank J. Land
  • Patent number: 6124058
    Abstract: A fiber of sea-islands phase separation wherein the sea component comprises a vinyl alcohol based polymer with high orientation and great crystallinity and the islands component comprises a water-insoluble cellulose based polymer with excellent absorptivity of alkaline solutions, thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, and wherein the size of the islands is 0.03 to 10 .mu.m and the strength is 3 g/d or more, is readily disintegrated into a fibril of a diameter of 0.05 to 8 .mu.m when a mechanical stress is imposed onto the fiber wet in water.From the fibril with good hydrophilicity, high strength, great particle captivity and excellent reinforcing performance, and additionally with good absorptivity of alkaline solutions and great thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, none of the fiber components therein is solubilized during fibrillation. Neither a beating process nor a beating solution causes foaming or environmental pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Ohmory, Hayami Yoshimochi, Tomoyuki Sano, Satoru Kobayashi, Syunpei Naramura, Masahiro Satoh
  • Patent number: 6117548
    Abstract: A self-coating stabilizing yarn for use with conventional effect yarns in the construction of outdoor fabrics. The self-coating yarn includes a low melt constituent and a high melt constituent. After being woven with the effect yarns and exposed to a pre-selected heating temperature, the low melt constituent melts, flows through the fibers or filaments of the stabilizing yarns and onto the adjacent effect yarn, thus firming bonds and stabilizing and strengthening both the stabilizing yarns, the effect yarns, and the resulting fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Glen Raven Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: David N. Swers, Johnny E. Parrish
  • Patent number: 6110587
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of producing a blended fabric of polyester and cotton with superior low pilling characteristics. The method comprises polymerizing a melt consisting essentially of terephthalic acid, ethlyene glycol and at least about 1300 parts per million of pentaerythritol to an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 0.55 dl/g. The resulting polymer can be spun into filament, textured, cut into staple, spun into yarn, and formed into fabric. The method and resulting polyester also have advantages in the production of polyester bottle resin and the resulting bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Wellman, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Mack Humelsine, Carl S. Nichols
  • Patent number: 6096423
    Abstract: A surface-treated metal component for reinforcing structures for manufactured products made of vulcanized elastomeric material, in which the said component is coated with a layer of metal alloy and in which the said alloy is an alloy ZnMoX in which X is a metal chosen from the group comprising cobalt, iron and nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Federico Pavan
  • Patent number: 6074750
    Abstract: A composite comprised of reinforcement fibers having a continuous coating of a metal nitride wherein the metal is from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, and mixtures thereof, and a molten silicon infiltration formed silicon carbide matrix. The reinforcement fibers are fibers from the group consisting of elemental carbon, silicon carbide, and mixtures thereof. A method of forming the composite comprises depositing a continuous coating of the metal nitride on the fibers. A carbonaceous material is admixed with the coated fibers so that at least 5 volume percent of the mixture is the coated fibers. The mixture is formed into a preform having an open porosity ranging from about 25 volume percent to about 90 volume percent of the preform. The preform is heated in an inert atmosphere or partial vacuum, and infiltrated with molten silicon to produce an infiltrated product having the composition of the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Milivoj Konstantin Brun, Krishan Lal Luthra, Raj Narain Singh
  • Patent number: 6071613
    Abstract: A hybrid fiber reinforcing system that enhances ductility of concrete at small and large crack openings, while avoiding the necessity of using steel fibers at high (e.g., 1%) volumes, by taking into account Young's modulus, deploying large surface area to volume ratios for improved anchorage, and using different relative lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Klaus Alexander Rieder, Neal S. Berke
  • Patent number: 6066396
    Abstract: A vinyl-alcohol-based polymer and vinyl-halide-based polymer are dissolved in a common organic solvent for them, a typical example of which is dimethylsulfoxide, to obtain a dope wherein a solution of the vinyl-halide-based polymer having a particle size of 1-50 .mu.m is present in the solution of the vinyl-alcohol-based polymer. This dope is spun into a low temperature solidifying bath comprising a solidifying solvent such as methanol, and the organic solvent. The resultant is subjected to extraction, drying, dry heat drawing, and optional heat shrinking or acetalization to obtain fiber. In the fiber thus obtained, the vinyl-alcohol-based polymer makes sea phases, and the vinyl-halide-based polymer makes island phases whose size is 0.1-3 .mu.m. The crystallinity degree of the vinyl-alcohol-based polymer is 65-85%.The polyvinyl-alcohol-based flame retardant fiber is useful for clothes, industrial materials, living materials and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Inada, Masahiro Satoh, Hayami Yoshimochi, Akio Ohmory, Isao Tokunaga, Akira Kubotsu, Masakazu Nishiyama, Tomoyuki Sano
  • Patent number: 6045908
    Abstract: There is disclosed a biodegradable composite fiber comprising a first component consisting of a single component fiber produced by melt-spinning a biodegradable polymer composition consisting of a starch-based polymer, a partially hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl acetate and an unsaturated monomer containing no functional groups, an aliphatic polyester, a decomposition accelerating agent, and a plasticizer, or such a biodegradable polymer composition; and a second component consisting of an aliphatic polyester, in which the first component is present continuously in the lengthwise direction over at least a part of the surface of the fiber of the second component, and there is also disclosed a non-woven fabric, a knitted fabric, and a molded article produced from this fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Nakajima, Masahiko Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 6042942
    Abstract: This invention relates to a manufacturing process of synthetic yarn and the produced yarn which has superior texture and brightness, and excellent color developing, hygroscopicity, and anti-static properties. A plurality of monofilaments is drawn out at an appropriate speed, dried and heated. Then a property enhancing agent containing a metallic salt, alcohol, optional solvent and optional additional functional agent, such as a hygroscopic agent, ultraviolet protecting agent, or resist agent, etc. is applied onto the surface of the filaments which are melted and flame bonded to each other. Multi-filaments are formed with spaces therebetween in which the functional agent remains inserted. The new synthetic yarn is produced after the multi-filaments are subjected to washing, drying and take-up procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignees: Bo-Kyun Paik, Daesong Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bo-Hyun Paik
  • Patent number: 6037057
    Abstract: A sheath-core polyester fiber where the sheath includes an antimicrobial agent and the sheath comprises less than thirty percent of the total cross-sectional area of the fiber. The antimicrobial agent is selected such that the relative viscosity of the fiber lies above a defined spinnability limit, so that spinning is possible. With no loss in antimicrobial efficacy, the fiber of the present invention may be slickened with a siliconized finish in order to reduce fiber friction, thus giving the fiber a silky feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: James Victor Hartzog, Darren Scott Quinn
  • Patent number: 6017835
    Abstract: Compositions for producing irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers include a first glass composition and a second glass composition, the first and second glass compositions having nonidentical coefficients of thermal expansion, the difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion being greater than about 2.0 ppm/.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell M. Potter
  • Patent number: 6010786
    Abstract: Cement articles, having excellent bending strength and Charpy impact strength, are manufactured with an extremely strong polypropylene fiber having good dispersion. The extremely strong fiber which is made of the polypropylene fiber has a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high stereoregularity and is drawn at a high temperture and treated with normal alkylphosphate alkaline metal salt. The extremely strong polypropylene fiber is a drawn thread of highly crystalline polypropylene having Q<5, 97<HI<100, 94<IPF<100, with Q being the ratio of weight average molecular weight to number-average molecular weight, HI being the insoluble content of boiling n-heptane in wt % and IPF being the isotactic pentad fraction in mol %. The fiber comprises from 0.05% to 10 wt % of alkylphosphate alkaline metal salt and has strong breakage strength, greater than 6 g/denier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Daiwabo Create Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yousuke Takai
  • Patent number: 6008146
    Abstract: An improved composite material of high temperature and chemical resistant material and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is provided. The composite material incorporates a coherent strand of commingled filaments of fiberglass and PTFE which is far more resistant to flex, abrasion, and chemical attack than conventional materials. Preferably filaments of expanded PTFE tow yarn and filaments of PTFE are combined through a process of air-jet texturing. Fabrics made from the composite fibers are combined with thermosetting phenolic or epoxy resins to produce pleated cartridge filter elements exhibiting superior performance in high temperature and corrosive environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen K. Stark
  • Patent number: 6001475
    Abstract: Silver-containing fibers are disclosed having silver particles intermingled with domains of sulfonated polyaniline in a continuous phase of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Che-Hsiung Hsu
  • Patent number: 5998022
    Abstract: To provide a PTFE composite fiber having remarkably improved thermal bonding property, PTFE cotton-like materials which can be used for producing a non-woven fabric by thermal bonding method, processes for production thereof, a process for producing a split yarn, a process for producing a monofilament and a process for producing a multifilament having loop and/or branched structure.A thermofusing resin layer is provided on the surface of the PTFE fiber. After lamination of the PTFE film and the thermofusing resin film, uniaxial stretching is carried out at a temperature between the melting points of the respective films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Tamaru, Katsutoshi Yamamoto, Shinichi Chaen, Jun Asano
  • Patent number: 5998025
    Abstract: A powdered super absorbent polymer (SAP) has heretofore been used as a water retentive material for sanitary products, such as sanitary napkin, disposable diaper and incontinence pad. This water retentive material is used by being held between two paper sheets but the powdered SAP comes off easily from absorbent member. Moreover, even when the SAP is in a dried powdered state or in a water-absorbed gel state, it is moved between a top sheet and a back sheet in accordance with the movement of a wearer of the sanitary product. Consequently, water absorbency decreases with poor shape stability. Moreover, since the SAP in a water-absorbed gel state is sticky, the wearer feels unpleasant.According to the present invention, therefore, a cellulose fiber, such as a viscose rayon fiber containing uniformly a non-cellulose based material of high water absorbency such as polyacrylate salt is manufactured. A fiber web and nonwoven fabric produced of this fiber is used as water retentive materials in an absorbent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kido, Noriyuki Kimura, Ichiro Takeuchi, Kazuya Umino
  • Patent number: 5989710
    Abstract: A molding material for thermoplastic composites is provided. The molding material is prepared from a commingled yarn containing continuous thermoplastic fibers and continuous reinforcing fibers, in a form of threads, textile fabrics, knitted fabrics, or multiaxial laminated fabrics, wherein the fiber commingling parameter of said continuous reinforcing fibers in said commingled yarn is 20% or more, and wherein the orientation index after heat treatment of said continuous thermoplastic fibers is 0.3 or more, and/or the thermal shrinkage ratio of said continuous thermoplastic fibers is 15% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Matsuo, Toshiaki Hokudoh, Kuniharu Mori, Yoshinobu Takahashi, Takeru Toida, Hiroshi Kawada
  • Patent number: 5981408
    Abstract: A screen textile material for high precision and high density screen printing is made of a core and sheath type conjugate fiber in which a core component is formed of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester (A polymer) and a sheath component is formed by blending a flexible thermoplastic polymer (B polymer) and a thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester (C type) with a blending ratio of the C polymer of 0.15 to 0.45. The core and sheath type conjugate fiber has a specific color specification values to perform high quality printing by prevention of halation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignees: Kuraray Co.,Ltd., NBC Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junyo Nakagawa, Takashi Katayama, Toru Yokomizo, Hiroki Sano
  • Patent number: 5981630
    Abstract: Fiber additives for addition to proportioned concrete comprise a plurality of thermoplastic fibers having a profile geometry defined by the equation, ##EQU1## wherein the amplitude a.sub.0 falls within a range of from about 0.1 d.sub.f to 2.0 d.sub.f and the period .lambda. falls within a range of from about 2 d.sub.f to 15 d.sub.f for fibers having a diameter d.sub.f of from about 0.5 to about 1 mm; the peak pull-out stress .sigma..sub.peak and the specific pull-out energy absorbed to a maximal displacement of 7.5 mm .psi..sub.peak, both increase linearly with a deformity factor defined by the equation, ##EQU2## where .alpha.=0.8 and .beta.=-1, such that the peak pull-out stress is defined by the equation, ##EQU3## and the specific pull-out energy is defined by the equation, ##EQU4## the fiber additives having an optimimum deformity,D.sub.optimum .apprxeq.(0.5 to 1)D.sub.critical,D.sub.critical being that deformity where the ultimate tensile strength of the fiber equals k.sub.1 D.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Synthetic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Nemkumar Banthia, Richard E. Hingson, Ashish Dubey
  • Patent number: 5972501
    Abstract: A fiber of sea-islands phase separation wherein the sea component comprises a vinyl alcohol based polymer with high orientation and great crystallinity and the islands component comprises a water-insoluble cellulose based polymer with excellent absorptivity of alkaline solutions, thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, and wherein the size of the islands is 0.03 to 10 .mu.m and the strength is 3 g/d or more, is readily disintegrated into a fibril of a diameter of 0.05 to 8 .mu.m when a mechanical stress is imposed onto the fiber wet in water.From the fibril with good hydrophilicity, high strength, great particle captivity and excellent reinforcing performance, and additionally with good absorptivity of alkaline solutions and great thermal resistance and heat fusion resistance, none of the fiber components therein is solubilized during fibrillation. Neither a beating process nor a beating solution causes foaming or environmental pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignees: Kuraray Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Ohmory, Hayami Yoshimochi, Tomoyuki Sano, Satoru Kobayashi, Syunpei Naramura, Masahiro Satoh
  • Patent number: 5972500
    Abstract: Glass fibers of curly habit may be prepared from a heterogeneous melt of blended particles of at least two distinct glasses. Linear glass primaries controllable in pot and marble processing may be prepared from the heterogeneous melts. Fibers prepared from the randomly heterogeneous primaries exhibit a unique biodissolution mechanism and high biodissolution rates. The process is also amenable to other glass fiberization processes, including the rotary process and the sliver process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Edward Gross, William Henry Kielmeyer, Michael D. Peterson, Jon F. Bauer
  • Patent number: 5972502
    Abstract: Novel self-crimping fibers and methods for their preparation. Embodiments are provided in which fibers are melt-spun from a non-elastomeric polyamide and a thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of a polyether block polyamide copolymer and a polycaprolactone polyester. The fibers may be knit or woven into textile articles including, inter alia, hosiery, pantyhose and stockings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Optimer, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Trigg Jessee, Donald Rittler Strachan
  • Patent number: 5972499
    Abstract: A process and materials made by the process which includes a bicomponent fiber, made of a nonconductive first component, including a first fiber-forming polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, cellulose, polypropylene cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile and copolymers of polyacrylonitrile; a conductive second component, including carbon particles and a second fiber-forming polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, cellulose, polypropylene cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile and copolymers of polyacrylonitrile; and a conductive third component, including a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole and polyaniline, said polymer formed in situ and being interspersed among at least a portion of the carbon particles of the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Sterling Chemicals International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgardo Rodriguez, John W. Lindsay, William E. Streetman
  • Patent number: 5968645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a material based on inorganic fibres at least a proportion of which are multicomponent fibres and the cohesion and/or the geometry of which is (are) ensured, at least partially, by a sizing.It also relates to the use of this material for thermal and/or acoustic insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Isover Saint-Gobain
    Inventors: Gian Paolo Caccini, Guy Berthier, Jean-Luc Bernard
  • Patent number: 5968673
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid electrolyte thin film and a manufacturing method for the same. The solid electrolyte thin film of the present invention comprises yttrium stabilized zirconia and is characterized in that the thickness of the film is 10 to 50 .mu.m. In an embodiment, 80% or more of the surface area of the film is occupied by crystals having a crystal grain size of 6 to 18 .mu.m. The present invention also includes a method for producing a solid electrolyte thin film comprising a sintered body of solid electrolyte powders. The method includes regulating the grain size of said solid electrolyte powders in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 .mu.m; preparing a slurry solvent by mixing a binder and other materials with a solvent containing 10 to 80 wt % of a low volatile solvent, and mixing the slurry solvent with the solid electrolyte powder; and coating the obtained slurry onto a substrate. The slurry composition is prepared so that it has a viscosity in the range of 1 to 500 cps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Aizawa, Akira Ueno, Masahiro Kuroishi