Dyeable spandex
AssigneeInvista North America S.A.R.L.
InventorsBeverly Selle, Steven Pardinl, Robert Dewhurst, Elizabeth Singewald, Nathan Houser, Gordon Selling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Commercial spandex can be prepared with greater efficiency, improved consistency and at lower costs from a high-solids content polyurethaneurea polymer solution. The polyurethaneurea is prepared using a combination of 4,4′-MDI and 2,4′-MDI, and an amount of chain extenders and chain terminators such that the polymer solution, prior to spinning, is highly soluble and has an appropriate pre-spun IV and primary amine content. Such spandex fibers, and the fabrics and garments comprising them, have good dyeability and colorfastness, as well as other desirable characteristics.
Claims39
A method of making a polyurethaneurea comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting at least one polymeric glycol selected from the group consisting of polyether glycols and polyester glycols;
- with a diisocyanate mixture comprising at least about 78 mole percent 4,4′-MDI and at least about 5 mole percent 2,4′-MDI;
- wherein the molar ratio of the at least one glycol to the total moles of diisocyanate is between about 1:1.5 and about 1:2;
- (b) contacting the product of step (a) with a composition comprising:
- (1) a solvent selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylpyrrolidinone, and mixtures thereof;
- (2) at least one chain extender mixture comprising ethylenediamine and, optionally, a secondary chain extender;
- wherein ethylenediamine is at least about 90 mole percent of the total moles of chain extenders;
- (3) at least one chain terminator to form a polymer, wherein the pre-spun IV of the polymer is between about 0.65 and about 1.0 dl/g and the primary amine content is between about 25 and about 70 meq/Kg.
The method of claim 2 wherein:
- (i) the polyether glycol has a number average molecular weight between about 1800 and about 2000 and is selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneether glycol, polytrimethyleneether glycol, polytetramethyleneether glycol, polytetramethylene-co-2-methyl-tetramethyleneether)glycol, polytetramethylene-co-tetramethyleneether glycol, and mixtures thereof;
- (ii) at least one secondary chain extender is present and selected from 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine and 1,2-propanediamine;
- and (iii) at least one chain terminator is selected from the group consisting of diethylamine, diisopropylamine, piperidine, and dibutylamine. The method of claim 3 wherein:
- (i) the polyether glycol is polytetramethyleneether glycol having a number average molecular weight of about 1800;
- (ii) the diisocyanate mixture comprises between about 83 and about 91 mole percent 4,4′-MDI and further comprises between about 9 and about 17 mole percent 2,4′-MDI and further comprises less than 1 mole percent 2,2′-MDI;
- (iii) the at least one chain terminator is diethylamine, and (iv) the solvent is N,N-dimethylacetamide.
A polyurethaneurea polymer formed by the reaction of:
- (a) at least one polymeric glycol selected from the group consisting of polyether glycols and polyester glycols;
- (b) a diisocyanate mixture comprising at least about 78 mole percent 4,4′-MDI and at least about 5 mole percent 2,4′-MDI;
- wherein the molar ratio of the at least one glycol to the total moles of diisocyanate is between about 1:1.5 and about 1:2;
- and
- (c) a composition comprising:
- (1) at least one chain extender mixture comprising ethylenediamine and, optionally, a secondary chain extender;
- wherein ethylenediamine is at least about 90 mole percent of the total moles of chain extenders;
- and
- (2) at least one chain terminator;
- wherein the resulting polyurethaneurea polymer has a pre-spun IV between about 0.65 and about 1.0 dl/g and a primary amine content between about 25 and about 70 meq/Kg.
Spandex prepared from a polyurethaneurea polymer formed by the reaction of:
- (a) at least one polymeric glycol selected from the group consisting of polyether glycols and polyester glycols;
- (b) a diisocyanate mixture comprising at least about 78 mole percent 4,4′-MDI and at least about 5 mole percent 2,4′-MDI;
- wherein the molar ratio of the at least one glycol to the total moles of diisocyanate is between about 1:1.5 and about 1:2;
- and
- (c) a composition comprising:
- (1) at least one chain enter mixture comprising ethylenediamine and, optionally, a secondary chain extender;
- wherein ethylenediamine is at least about 90 mole percent of the total moles of chain extenders;
- and
- (2) at least one chain terminator;
- wherein the polyurethaneurea polymer used to make the spandex has a pre-spun IV between about 0.65 and about 1.0 dl/g and wherein the spandex has an as-spun primary amine content of at least about 5 meq/Kg.
Spandex prepared from a polyurethaneurea polymer formed by the reaction of:
- at least one polymeric glycol selected from the group consisting of polyether glycols and polyester glycols;
- a diisocyanate mixture comprising at least about 78 mole percent 4,4′-MDI and at least about 5 mole percent 2,4′-MDI;
- wherein the molar ratio of the at least one glycol to tie total moles of diisocyanate is between about 1:1.5 and about 1:2;
- and a composition comprising:
- (1) at least one chain extender mixture comprising ethylenediamine and, optionally, a secondary chain extender;
- wherein ethylenediamine is at least about 90 mole percent of the total moles of chain extenders;
- and
- (2) at least one chain terminator;
- wherein the polyurethaneurea polymer used to make the spandex has a pre-spun IV between about 0.65 and about 1.0 dl/g and wherein the spandex has a boiled-off primary amine content of at least about 3 meq/Kg.
Spandex having an as-spun primary amine content of at least 5 meq/Kg, wherein the spandex as dyed has an improved color shade lightness ΔL, taken as an absolute value, of at least about 3.0 on the CIELAB color scale as determined by spectrocolorimetry when compared to the color shade lightness L of spandex having an as-spun primary amine content of less Man about 3 meq/Kg.
Spandex having a boiled-off primary amine content of at least about 3 meq/Kg, wherein the spandex as dyed has an improved color shade lightness ΔL, taken as an absolute value, of at least about 3.0 on the CIELAB color scale as determined by spectrocolorimetry when compared to the color shade lightness L of spandex having an as-spun primary amine content of less than about 3 meq/Kg.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.