Biodegradable fiber and process for preparing the same
AssigneeKaneka Corporation
InventorHideki Yamane
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Abstract
The object of the present invention is to provide melt-extrusion conditions and drawing process which enable to carry out stable and smooth fiber spinning of polyester produced by microorganisms, particularly P(3HB-CO-3HH) which conventionally had problems in spinning stability, as well as P(3HB) and P(3HB-CO-3HV). Another object of the present invention is to obtain filament having particular properties according to the process. The process comprises extruding a thermoplastic polymer from a melt-extruder, then rapidly cooling the same to at most the glass transition point of the polymer immediately after the extrusion to prevent the filament from blocking, and carrying out partial crystallization of the same rapidly at not less than the glass transition point.
Claims10
A process for producing a biodegradable fiber which comprises steps of:
- preparing a melted filament by extruding a thermoplastic polymer comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate from a melt-extruder;
- rapidly cooling the filament to at most the glass transition point of the thermoplastic polymer;
- passing the filament through a hot water bath adjusted to a water temperature of at least the glass transition point;
- and drawing the same.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.