To produce a water-dispersible fiber from a sulfopolyester, which exhibits flexibility, and in particular, which exhibits adequate tensile strength, absorptivity, flexibility, and fabric integrity upon exposure to human bodily fluids.
There is provided a method for producing a multicomponent fiber derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer. In the method, the multicomponent fiber has an as-spun denier of less than about 6. The water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise as measured at 240°C at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec. The sulfopolyester comprises less than about 25 mol% of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. There is also provided a method for producing a microdenier fiber by drawing the multicomponent fiber at a relatively high speed (for example, a speed of at least about 2,000 m/min) and then bringing the multicomponent fiber into contact with water to remove the sulfopolyester.
SCOTT ELLERY GEORGE
CROSIEWICZ DANIEL WILLIAM
SEO KAB SIK
FLEENOR CORALIE MC KENNA
CRAIN ALLEN LIN
| JP2005154450A | 2005-06-16 | |||
| JPH0770827A | 1995-03-14 | |||
| JP2005256267A | 2005-09-22 |
| WO2004113598A2 | 2004-12-29 |
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