# US 2010/0167612 A1 · Multilobal filament, fabrics and process for making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167612 A1 - Document ID: US20100167612A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/063,419 - Filed: 2006-08-08 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-10 - Inventors: Vikas Madhusudan Nadkarni; Santosh Raghavendra Huilgol; Manoj Jhaver; Makarand Renukadas Megde - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167612A1 ## CPC - D01D 5/253: with a non-circular cross section; Spinnerette packs therefor (D01D5/38 takes precedence) - D01F 8/12: with at least one polyamide as constituent - D01F 8/14: with at least one polyester as constituent - D06M 11/38: Oxides or hydroxides of elements of Groups 1 or 11 of the Periodic Table - B29C 48/0018: {combined with shaping by orienting, stretching or shrinking, e.g. film blowing (B29C48/0017 takes precedence)} - B29C 48/05: Filamentary, e.g. strands - B29C 48/18: the components being layers - B29L 2031/731: {Filamentary material, i.e. comprised of a single element, e.g. filaments, strands, threads, fibres (cables B29L2031/707)} - D06M 2200/00: Functionality of the treatment composition and/or properties imparted to the textile material - Y10T 428/2929: Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type] - Y10T 442/2008: Fabric composed of a fiber or strand which is of specific structural definition - D01D: MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS - D01F: CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBON FILAMENTS - D06M: TREATMENT, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE IN CLASS D06, OF FIBRES, THREADS, YARNS, FABRICS, FEATHERS OR FIBROUS GOODS MADE FROM SUCH MATERIALS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Method for producing multilobal bicomponent fiber or filaments comprising spinning at least two polymer components by bicomponent spinning system through round capillary to obtain fibers or filaments and treating fibers or filaments with hot alkali to obtain multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments. Alternatively fabric is produced from the bicomponent fibers or filaments and treated it with hot alkali to obtain fabric comprising multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments uniformly distributed in the matrix. The wicking property of multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments or fabric comprising the same improved with respect to standard polyester of equivalent denier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Method for producing multilobal bicomponent fiber or filaments, the process comprising (A) spinning at least two polymer components by bicomponent spinning system through round capillary to obtain fibers or filaments; and (B) treating fibers or filaments with hot alkali to obtain multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments. ### Claim 2 Method for producing fabric comprising multilobal bicomponent fiber or filaments, the process comprising (A) spinning at least two polymer components by bicomponent spinning system through round capillary to obtain bicomponent fibers or filaments; (B) converting the bicomponent fibers or filaments of step (A) into fabric by knitting, weaving or tufting etc. and (C) treating the fabric with hot alkali to obtain fabric comprising multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments uniformly distributed in the matrix. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein two polymer components of bicomponent fibers or filament have different rate of hydrolysis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2) Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one polymer component of the bicomponent fibers or filaments is selected from polyester or polyester based copolymer or polyamide and second polymer component of the bicomponent fibers or filaments is selected from polyester or polyamide or copolymers thereof or blends thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2) Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one polymer component of the bicomponent fibers or filaments is modified by adding sodium-5-isophthalate, silica, polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol or combinations thereof in the range of 1% to 10%, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2) Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein two polymer components of the bicomponent fibers or filaments are used in the ratio of 25:75 to 75:25. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2) Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein two polymer components of the bicomponent fibers or filaments are arranged in bicomponent segmented pie geometry with 8 to 128 segments, preferably 16 to 32 segments. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2) Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bicomponent fibers or filaments have solid round or hollow round cross section or combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bicomponent fibers or filaments is treated with 0.5-10% alkali solution at a temperature of 60 to 130° C. to obtain multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fabric comprising the bicomponent fibers or filaments is treated with 0.5-10% alkali solution at a temperature of 60 to 130° C. to obtain multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments uniformly distributed in fabric matrix. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments have improved wicking property vs. standard polyester. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) Method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fabric comprising multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments uniformly distributed in the matrix has improved wicking property vs standard polyester. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) Multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments having: improved wicking property vs standard polyester produced by the method as claimed in claims 1 and 3 to 9. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one polymer component of the bicomponent fibres or filaments is selected from polyester or polyamide and the second polymer component of the bicomponent fibres or filaments is selected from polyester or polyamide or copolymers thereof or blends thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) Multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one polymer component of the bicomponent fibers or filaments is modified by adding silica, polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol or combinations thereof in the range of 1% to 10%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) Multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments as claimed in claim 13, wherein two polymer components of the bicomponent fibres or filaments are used in the ratio of 25:75 to 75:25. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) Multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments as claimed in claim 13, wherein two polymer components of the bicomponent fibres or filaments are arranged in bicomponent segmented pie geometry with 8 to 128 segments preferably 16 to 32 segments. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) Multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bicomponent fibers or filaments have solid round or hollow round cross section or combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) Fabric comprising multilobal bicomponent fibers or filaments uniformly distributed in matrix and having improved wicking property vs. standard polyester as claimed in claims 11 to 16 produced by the method as claimed in claims 2, 3 to 8 and 10.