US 6,471,727 B2 · Lyocell fibers, and compositions for making the same

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions, useful for making lyocell fibers, having a high hemicellulose content, a low lignin content and including cellulose that has a low average degree of polymerization (D.P.). Further, the present invention provides processes for making compositions, useful for making lyocell fibers, having a high hemicellulose content, a low lignin content and including cellulose that has a low average degree of polymerization. The present invention also provides lyocell fibers containing a high proportion of hemicellulose. Further, the lyocell fibers of the present invention have enhanced dye-binding properties and a reduced tendency to fibrillate.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A process for making a composition for conversion to lyocell fiber, said process comprising:

(a) contacting a pulp comprising cellulose and hemicellulose with an amount of a reagent sufficient to reduce the average degree of polymerization of the cellulose to within the range of from about 200 to about 1100, without substantially reducing the hemicellulose content of the pulp;
and
(b) reducing the copper number of the pulp treated in accordance with step (a) to a value less than about 2.0.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/768,741Filed 23 Jan 2001 · continuation

Priority

23 Aug 1996

Published

US 2001/0028955 A111 Oct 2001

Granted

29 Oct 2002

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

D01D 1/02
Treatment of filament-forming or like material: preparation of spinning solutions
D01D 5/098
Melt spinning methods: with simultaneous stretching
D01D 5/18
Formation of filaments, threads, or the like: by means of rotating spinnerets
D01F 2/00
Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives

Family

Application60/024,462Us provisional application · filed 23 Aug 1996

Application60/023,909Us provisional application · filed 23 Aug 1996

Application08/916,652Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Aug 1997

Application09/039,737Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Mar 1998

Application09/185,423Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Nov 1998

Application09/256,197Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Feb 1999

US 2001/0028955 A1Pre-grant publication · published 11 Oct 2001

US 6,210,801 B1Parent of this continuation

Application09/256,197Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,306,334 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,235,392 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,471,727 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Lyocell fibers, and compositions for making the same

Life of this patent

Lyocell fibers, and compositions for making the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12