Open capillary chanel structures, improved process for making said structure and extrusion die therein

• Main Authors: EDWARD H. KRAUTTER, HUGH A. THOMPSON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.02.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CRIMPING OR CURLING FIBRES, FILAMENTS, THREADS, ORYARNS; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; LOOMS; MECHANICAL FINISHING OF YARNS OR ROPES; MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OFARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES ORRIBBONS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OF WEAVING; NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROSTHESES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SPINNING; TEXTILES; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WARPING OR BEAMING; WEAVING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; WOVEN FABRICS; YARNS; YARNS OR THREADS

Capillary channel structures having one or more intrastructure capillary channels, said structures comprising a polymer composition, wherein: said structures have a capillary channel base, and at least two polymeric capillary channel walls extending from said base along the length of said base in the axial direction for at least about 0.2 cm, said walls having a base end and a distal end, wherein said base and walls form said capillary channels; and said structures have a Specific Capillary Volume of at least about 1.2 cc/g, a Specific Capillary Surface Area of at least about 500 cm2/g, and a Compressive Strength (Dry) of at least about 13,800 dynes/cm2. The structures can be in the form of fibers or sheets. The fibers have a Specific Capillary Volume of at least about 2.0 cc/g and a Specific Capillary Surface Area of at least about 2000 cm2/g. An improved process, and extrusion dies for use therein, wherein the extrusion die has an annular orifice with wall orifices extending radially therefrom, are also provided.