Polymeric fiber masses, fibers therefrom, and processes for producing the same

• Main Authors: KELLER, LEON B, JENKINS, ROBERT K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.04.1980
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BRAIDING; COTTON-WOOL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS,NON-WOVEN FABRICS; KNITTING; LACE-MAKING; MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARYMATERIAL; MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OFARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES ORRIBBONS; NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES; NON-WOVEN FABRICS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SPINNING; TEXTILES; TRANSPORTING; TRIMMINGS; WADDING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

We have prepared a new class of polymeric fibers and masses which are produced by precipitation from solutions of the polymer. The fibers and fiber masses have novel and useful characteristics. A fiber mass of this invention is a coherent, three-dimensional network of interconnected crystalline polymeric fibers and fiber bundles randomly arrayed in all directions. The fibers are smaller in diameter than can be consistently produced by conventional fiber drawing and spinning techniques. The novel fiber masses are produced from solutions of fiber-forming linear organic polymers having regularly repeated chain structures. The polymers are precipitated from these solutions by simultaneously cooling and agitating the polymer solution at vibrations in the sonic frequency range. The fiber masses may then be removed from the solvent or, in the case of a polymerizable solvent, a composite may be formed.