Method for improving strength of elastic strand

• Main Authors: PEIGUANG ZHOU, WINGAK NG
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.07.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONFILAMENTS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS,THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS,e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES,DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; CONVEYING; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FINISHING OR DRESSING OF FILAMENTS, YARNS, THREADS, CORDS,ROPES OR THE LIKE; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PACKAGES; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; SPINNING; STORING; TEXTILES; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WARPING OR BEAMING; YARNS

We have determined that strength characteristics of elastic strand improve when the strand is heated. Thus, the present invention is directed to improving strength characteristics of an elastic strand by heating the strand. The strand may be heated by thermal conduction and/or convection, by irradiative methods using, for example, infrared or microwave radiation, or some combination of these. If the elastic strand is made at a location different from the location where the strand is used as a raw material, the strand may be heated at either location, or both locations. Furthermore, the strand may be heated in-line, i.e. as part of the process that makes the strand or the process that uses the strand as a raw material, or off-line, i.e. in a step separate from either of the aforementioned processes. Finally, in addition to heat treating the strand, the strand's exposure to water or water vapor may be regulated to reduce or eliminate strength degradation.