Compositions – Organic luminescent material containing compositions – Synthetic resin containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-04-17
Koslow, C. Melissa (Department: 1755)
Compositions
Organic luminescent material containing compositions
Synthetic resin containing
C252S301340, C008S648000, C428S670000, C427S157000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217794
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fibers having at least one invisible near-infrared fluorophore coated onto at least a portion of the fiber surface. Such marked fibers can be used in the production of woven and nonwoven textiles, cellulosic materials such as paper, paper board, pulp, fluff pulp, synthetic materials and other products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the textile industry, various types of fibers and materials are used in the manufacture of threads, yarns, fabrics and finished materials. Three types of fabrics known to those skilled in the art include woven, nonwoven and knitted fabrics. Nonwoven materials are manufactured by means other than by weaving or knitting. Nonwoven materials are utilized in a broad and diverse range of products, such as, absorbent pads, wiping and cleaning sheets and fabrics, insulation, liners, wicks, relatively thick battings, compressed bonded battings and webs, bandages, incontinence structures , filters and the like. Woven and knitted materials typically use a thread or yarn material and are produced by using a weaving or knitting apparatus known to those skilled in these arts.
Synthetic materials and combinations of natural and synthetic materials are becoming increasingly plentiful and inexpensive. For example, fabrics coated at least on one side with film or foamed sheets made of various materials such as urethane, polyester, rubber, etc. are useful for producing light-weight, wind-resistant clothing; insulated materials; water-resistant products; etc. However, in certain characteristics, many of these materials do not compare well to natural fibers, such as, the ability to transport moisture satisfactorily, improved softness and wetting characteristics. All of these characteristics are important, and in the use of staple fibers, the fibers must perform satisfactorily in known operations such as blending, carding, roving, drawing, spinning, weaving, knitting, bonding, heating, compressing, hydro-entangling, needle-punching, and the like. Generally, to facilitate such operations the fibers are coated with certain processing lubricants, such as those based on potassium lauryl phosphate or mineral oil. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,372,739 and 5,677,058 disclose altering certain surface characteristics of various fibers by applying a lubricant composition having a mixture of high and low molecular weight polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters and other hydrophilic compositions. Modifications of these compositions to include various additives are also described.
Additionally, for certain useful applications, such as wet wipes and absorbent structures, liquid-transport durability is a desirable characteristic but difficult to obtain in some man-made fibers. Certain man-made fibers, and particularly those with suitable non-round cross-sections, have some initial liquid-transport characteristics which diminish after wet usage, washing or scouring. The ability of these fibers to transport liquid can in some instances diminish significantly.
Moreover, the crimping of a staple fiber by various means has been found to be an essential element in producing a certain controlled amount of fiber cohesion or resistance to pulling apart in forming carded webs. These webs of separated fibers are formed in flat-top or roller-top carding machines or the like as part of nonwoven or textile processes.
Poor crimp formation, especially in fibers with non-round cross-sections, has been associated with low and variable cohesion, weak webs, web separation, and poor processability during carding and/or subsequent operations. Relatively high lubricant levels and particularly those above 0.2 weight percent of certain processing lubricants can cause unsatisfactory cohesion and processability in carding.
Use of fluorescent agents for the tracing and identification of articles such as monitoring the integrity of the yarn or fiber during slashing, warping or weaving is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,204. The patent discloses tagging a material with a luminophore that is cross-linked with at least one poly(oxyalkylene). The tagging compound has an absorbance within the range of about 300 mn to 400 nm.
Heretofore, fluorescent materials have substantially been used for security measures. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,504,084 issued to Miehe et al. on Nov. 12, 1991 discloses a method for marking originals so that copies can be distinguished from the originals. The method includes using a printing ribbon having a substance in the form of a marking which, when used, produces an invisible distinguishable mark which is recognizable only by using a special scanner.
In the co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/303,338 entitled “FIBERS CONTAINING MARKER COMPOSITIONS AND CROSS-LINKED POLYMERS” filed on even date herewith, the entire disclosures being incorporated herein by reference, it is disclosed that certain near-infrared compositions can be applied and associated with fibers and fibrous materials by using cross-linking agents.
In some applications, removal of water is necessary using means known in the art prior to use of the treated fibers. In some applications, fairly rapid drying or evaporation of the carrier fluid is desired, which could make a water-soluble or water-dispersed coating unsatisfactory. In yet certain other applications, near-infrared markers dissolved or dispersed in water do not penetrate hydrophobic materials well.
Accordingly, there is a need for a marking compound that is substantially invisible to the unaided human eye in the ultraviolet and normal light wavelengths and which may be dried at a faster rate, a lower temperature and/or has a better penetration relative to such aqueous-based coating compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly, the present invention relates to a material having a near-infrared fluorophore associated with the material. The marked materials of the invention can be used in the manufacture of a variety of articles, such as filters, absorbent pads, insulation, liners, non-bonded and bonded battings, paper and cellulose-containing products, incontinent structures, threads, filters, garments and reinforced polymers. The near-infrared fluorophore is dissolved in an organic solvent so that less than about 0.5 weight percent of the compound after evaporation of said solvent is associated with the fiber.
Another aspect of the invention is a method for tagging a fiber with a fluorescing compound comprising contacting the fiber with a solution having less than about 0.5 weight percent of the compound dissolved in an organic solvent.
It is an object of the invention to provide a fiber or other materials having a fluorescing compound associated therewith.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method for tagging a fiber or other material with a fluorescing compound.
Numerous other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Although the present invention is susceptible to different embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
According to the present invention, a variety of fibers, natural and man-made, and further including various materials made therefrom, may be readily marked with a near-infrared compound by dissolving the compound into an organic solvent and applying the resultant solution to the fibers. Examples of suitable fibers include wool, cotton, flax, jute, cellulosic fibers, fur, polyesters including copolyesters, nylon, olefins, polyphenylene sulfide, modacrylic, rayon viscose and suitable mixtures or blends thereof. Preferred fibers include polyesters, nylon, wool, cotton, wood and blends or mixtures thereof.
The preferred polyesters including copolyesters are selected from relatively oriented polyesters, relatively non-oriented polyesters, polye
Jackson Barbara Crawford
Krutak, Sr. James John
Neal Richard Dixon
Casperson John R
Davis Mark L.
Isotag Technology, Inc.
Koslow C. Melissa
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