US 4,833,012 A · Fiber entanglements and method of producing same

Abstract

A fiber entanglement is provided which is characterized in that it is a three-dimensional entanglement comprising elastic fibers (A) each being a fine-denier fiber bundle or exhibiting porous fiber structure as seen on a fiber cross section with a number of irregularly-shaped pores extending in the fiber axis direction; nonshrinkable, nonelastic fibers (B); and shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C); said fibers (A) are at least partially bonded or fused together at various points of contact with one another and, thereby, produce a taut condition; said nonshrinkable, nonelastic fibers (B) are folded several times over by means of the elastic fibers (A) and the shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C). This fiber entanglement is useful as a base material for leather-like sheet materials.

Claims33

Dependent claims

Three-dimensional fiber entanglement comprising elastic fibers (A), nonshrinkable, nonelastic fibers (B) and shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C);

said fibers (A) being at least partially bonded or fused together at various points of contact with one another producing a taut condition;
said nonshrinkable, nonelastic fibers (B) being folded several times over by means of said elastic fibers (A) and said shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C);
and when said fiber entanglement has a thickness of 1.0 mm, it exhibits an elongation at structural failure of at least about 80% and a strength at structural failure of at least about 0.35 kg/mm.sup.2.

A method of producing a fiber entanglement which comprises:

(a) blending
(i) multicomponent fibers (d) obtained by spinning elastic and nonelastic polymers followed by stretching, said multicomponent fibers convertible to elastic fibers (A);
(ii) shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C) obtained by spinning a nonelastic polymer followed by stretching, which fibers exhibit a high shrinkage of at least about 20% as measured in hot water at about 70.degree. C.;
and
(iii) poorly shrinkable or nonshrinkable fibers (B) obtained by spinning a nonelastic polymer followed by stretching, which fibers exhibit a shrinkage of not more than about 5% as measured in hot water at about 70.degree. C.
in proportions such that elastic fibers (A) account for about 10 to about 70% by weight of the final fiber entanglement;
forming the fiber blend thus obtained into a web;
(c) subjecting the web to entanglement treatment;
and
(d) subjecting the fiber entanglement thus obtained to a combination of shrinking said fiber entanglement under conditions such that the shrinkage of the multicomponent fibers (D) and/or the shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C) is greater than that of the nonshrinkable, nonelastic fibers (B) and converting the multicomponent fibers (D) into the elastic fibers (A), by treating with a solvent, swelling or decomposing agent for a component of multicomponent fiber (D).

7 more elements

A method of producing a fiber entanglement which comprises:

(a) blending
(i) first multicomponent fibers (D) obtained by spinning elastic and nonelastic polymers followed by stretching, said multicomponent fibers (D) convertible to elastic fibers (A),
(ii) second multicomponent fibers comprising at least two nonelastic thermoplastic polymers, wherein one of said polymers is a dispersion medium polymer and the other of said polymers is a dispersoid medium polymer, said second multicomponent fibers exhibiting a high shrinkage of at least 20% as measured in hot water at about 70.degree. C. after spinning and wherein said second multicomponent fibers are convertible to shrinkable nonelastic fibers (C) by removing said dispersion medium polymer;
and
(iii) poorly shrinkable or nonshrinkable fibers (B) obtained by spinning a nonelastic polymer followed by stretching, which fibers exhibit a shrinkage of not more than about 5% as measured in water at about 70.degree. C.,
in proportions such that the elastic fibers (A) account for about 10 to about 70% by weight of the final fiber entanglement;
(b) forming the fiber blend thus obtained into a web;
(c) subjecting the web to entanglement treatment;
and
(d) subjecting the fiber entanglement thus obtained to a combination of shrinking said fiber entanglement under conditions such that the shrinkage of said first multicomponent fibers (D) and/or said second multicomponent fibers is greater than that of the nonshrinkable nonelastic fibers (B);
converting said second multicomponent fibers to shrinkable, nonelastic fibers (C) and converting said first multicomponent fibers (D) to said elastic fibers (A), by treating with a solvent, swelling or decomposing agent for a component of multicomponent fiber (D).

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fiber entanglements and method of producing same

Life of this patent

Fiber entanglements and method of producing same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33