(19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 260 974 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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24.05.1989 Bulletin 1989/21 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
23.03.1988 Bulletin 1988/12 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 17.09.1987 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE DE ES FR GB IT NL SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
19.09.1986 US 909345 24.12.1986 US 946562 04.02.1987 US 10651 12.02.1987 US 13853
|
(71) |
Applicant: THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY |
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Midland
Michigan 48640-1967 (US) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Jezic, Zdravko
Lake Jackson
Texas 77566 (US)
- Young, Gene P.
Lake Jackson
Texas 77566 (US)
|
(74) |
Representative: Burford, Anthony Frederick et al |
|
W.H. Beck, Greener & Co.
7 Stone Buildings
Lincoln's Inn London WC2A 3SZ London WC2A 3SZ (GB) |
|
|
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(54) |
Biconstituent polypropylene/polyethylene fibers |
(57) Biconstituent fibers consist essentially of polypropylene as a continuous phase having
distributed therein 20 to 45 weight percent of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)
fibrils as a dispersed phase arrayed in a substantially omni-directional splayed manner.
The LLDPE has a melt flow rate of 12 to 120 g/10 mins (ASTM) and preferably a density
of 0.92 to 0.94 g/cm³. The preferred alkylene comonomers of the LLDPE have 4 to 8
carbon atoms, especially 1-octene in an amount of 5 to 10 percent. Fibers of deniers
below 30, preferably below 15, can be obtained and have improved tenacity and hand
as compared to polypropylene fibers.