Polyester fibers and process of making

Details Polyester fibers and process of making Polyester fibers and process of making

1991-04-02

1992-11-10

Tentoni, Leo B.

Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes

Forming continuous or indefinite length work

Shaping by extrusion

2642108, 264211, 524 89, 524167, 524367, 524368, 524369, 524370, 528308, 5283081, D01D 512, D01F 110

Patent

active

051620910

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a melt-viscosity depressant for polyester resins and a polyester fiber having a high tenacity which can be produced easily by spinning.


PRIOR ART

Polyester resins are widely used as the materials for synthetic fibers and it is believed that in order to increase the tenacity of a synthetic fiber, the degree of polymerization of the polymers should be increased. However, when the degree of polymerization of the polymer is increased, the melt viscosity thereof is increased as a matter of course, which impairs the workability thereof and thereby reduces productivity. Although elevation of the melting temperature is one of the means for reducing the melt viscosity, the decomposition of the resin is accelerated at a high temperature to reduce the degree of polymerization, of the polymer. Thus the object, i.e. the production of a fiber having a high degree of polymerization, cannot be attained.
Polyester filaments having a high degree of polymerization are used in the field of industrial high-tenacity yarns. It is necessary to further increase the tenacity thereof and, for this purpose, the melt viscosity of the resin should be reduced. When the melt viscosity of a polymer used as the material for staple fibers is reduced, the extrudability through a nozzle is improved or the mechanical power necessitated for the extrusion is reduced, thus contributing to the enhancement of productivity.
In the field of high-speed spinning recently employed in practice, the reduction in the melt viscosity of the resin is effective in increasing the extrusion rate.
Although the use of a lubricant was proposed in order to solve this problem, it was found that when a lubricant such as ethylenebisstearamide, stearic acid or stearyl alcohol was incorporated into the resin, not only the melt viscosity thereof, but also the degree of polymerization thereof was reduced.
Meanwhile polyester fibers essentially have a poor hand and are apt to jar. Means for solving this problem include an increase in the fineness of the fibers, an alkaline weight reduction of the fibers, and treatment of the fibers with a softener.
The increase in fiber fineness is described in "Senshoku Kogyo (Dyeing industry)", Vol. 38, pages 288 to 299, by Shigenobu Kobayashi et al., the alkaline weight reduction is described in J. Soc. Dyers Colorists', Vol. 78, page 9 (1962) by I. E. Haden and in The Textile Mfr., page 293 (July, 1963) by B. C. . Dorset, and treatment with a softener is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,249.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the present invention are to find a melt-viscosity depressant capable of reducing the melt viscosity of a polyester resin without essentially reducing the degree of polymerization thereof, and to facilitate the production of a polyester fiber having a high tenacity by spinning by using the melt-viscosity depressant.
Compounds (1), (2) and (3) to be used in the present invention are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 93752/1983, 2824/1982 and 18463/1987, respectively.
The present invention provides a process for producing a polyester fiber which comprises adding a compound (b) of the following general formula (1), (2) or (3) to a polyester (a) comprising ethylene terephthalate as the main recurring unit and melt-spinning the resulting composition: ##STR2## wherein A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each represent an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms or an arylalkyl group, n represents 0 or 1, and X represents ##STR3## --S--, --SO.sub.2 --or --O-- in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent H or an alkyl group having 4 or fewer carbon atoms, ##STR4## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 each represent an alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, l and m each represent such an integer that l+m is 1 to 3, and n and X are as defined above, and ##STR5## wherein R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 each represent a straight-chain alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms. In the present invention, it is preferred that after the addition of the compound of the general formula

REFERENCES:
patent: 3627867 (1971-12-01), Schwarz
The Merck Index, p. 599 (11th ed. 1989).
Abstract of JP-A 58-93752 (Jun. 3, 1983).
Abstract of JP-B 57-2824 (Jan. 19, 1982).
Abstract of JP-A 62-18463 (Jan. 27, 1987).

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