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US 7,000,000 B1Granted
Polysaccharide fibers
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorJohn P. O'Brien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention pertains to novel fibers made of α(1→;3) polysaccharides, and a process for their production. The fibers of the invention have “cotton-like” properties but can be produced as continuous filaments on a year-round basis. The fibers are useful in textile applications.
Claims15
A polysaccharide fiber, comprising:
- a polymer comprising hexose units wherein at least 50% of the hexose units are linked via an α(1→3) glycoside linkage, said polymer having a number average degree of polymerization of at least 100, and wherein said fiber has a tensile strength of at least 1 gram per denier.
A process for producing a polysaccharide fiber, comprising the steps of:
- dissolving a sufficient amount of a polymer comprising hexose units wherein at least 50% of the hexose units are linked via an α(1→3) glycoside linkage in a solvent or in a mixture comprising a solvent to form a liquid crystalline solution having a solids content of at least 20%;
- and spinning a polysaccharide fiber from said liquid crystalline solution.
A liquid crystalline solution, comprising:
- a solvent and an amount sufficient to form liquid crystals of a polymer comprising hexose units wherein at least 50% of the hexose units are linked via an α(1→3) glycoside linkage, and wherein the amount of polymer provides a solids content of at least 20%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.