Web of blended microfibers and crimped bulking fibers
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorEdward R. Hauser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mixtures of microfibers and crimped bulking fibers produce a lofty resilient web having properties that are unique for microfiber-based webs. Included in these properties are a combination of high thermal resistance per unit of thickness and moderate weight, as well as other properties which give the web a distinctive utility as thermal insulation.
Claims11
A fibrous web comprising microfibers that average less than about 10 micrometers in diameter and crimped bulking fibers that have a percent crimp of at least about 15 percent, the microfibers and crimped bulking fibers being present in a weight ratio between about 9:1 and 1:9 and being randomly and thoroughly intermixed and intertangled with one another to form a resiliently compressible fiber structure that has a loft of at least 30 cubic centimeters/gram.
A fibrous web useful as thermal insulation that provides a high thermal resistance per unit of thickness and is moderate in weight comprising microfibers that average less than about 10 micrometers in diameter and crimped bulking fibers having a percent crimp of at least about 15 percent, the microfibers and bulking fibers being present in a weight ratio between 9:1 and 1:3 and being randomly and thoroughly intermixed and intertangled with one another to form a resiliently compressible unbonded fiber structure having a loft of at least about 30 cubic centimeters/gram, and the web exhibiting a thermal resistance of at least about 1.3 clo/centimeter and a thermal insulating efficiency by weight of at least about 5 .times. 10.sup.-3 clo-square meter/gram.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.