A process for melt spinning polyethylene terephthalate fibres and yarns

Abstract

Abstract A fibre is produced by extruding a molten polymer containing at least 90 mol. per cent. of polyethylene terephthalate through a spinneret, cooling the extruded material until solidified to a fibre and pulling the solidified material away from the spinneret at a speed, measured after the material has completely solidified, within the range 3,000 to 5,200 yards per minute. The polymer is a condensation product of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid or an ester-forming derivative thereof and may include up to 10 mol. per cent. of a polymer derived from diethylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol or hexamethylene glycol and/or from hexahydroterephthalic acid, dibenzoic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, a naphthalic acid, 2, 5-dimethyl-terephthalic acid or bis-p-carboxy phenoxy ethane, added as an initial reagent during the polymerization process or separately polymerized and melt-blended with the extrusion polymer. The fibre-advancing means may comprise a high-speed wheel, roll or pinch rolls or an air jet. A collected tow of the fibres may be forwarded to a cutter and the staple fibres heated to a temperature between 90 DEG and 200 DEG C. to obtain a crimped fibre. The heating medium may be air, water, steam, dilute nitric acid, glycol, glycerine or mineral oil, and the fibre may be supported on a moving belt or in a current of heated air. The spinning temperature may be between 260 DEG C. and 310 DEG C. Specifications 461,236, 461,237 and U.S.A. Specifications 2,071,250, and 2,071,251 are referred to.

Inventors

• 👤 Harold Henry Hebeler

Bibliographic Details