(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 761 846 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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05.11.1997 Bulletin 1997/45 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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12.03.1997 Bulletin 1997/11 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 06.08.1996 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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DE DK FR GB IT |
(30) |
Priority: |
08.08.1995 US 512351
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(71) |
Applicant: HERCULES INCORPORATED |
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Wilmington,
Delaware 19894-0001 (US) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Gupta, Rakesh Kumar
Conyers,
Georgia 30208 (US)
- Harrington, James H.
Stone Mountain,
Georgia 30208 (US)
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(74) |
Representative: De Minvielle-Devaux, Ian Benedict Peter |
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CARPMAELS & RANSFORD
43, Bloomsbury Square London WC1A 2RA London WC1A 2RA (GB) |
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(54) |
Cardable hydrophobic staple fiber with internal lubricant and method of making and
using the same |
(57) Hydrophobic polyolefin fibers are provided with an internal hydrophobic polysiloxane
of the formula X-[Si(R
1)(R
2)-O-]
z-Y, in which X, Y, R
1, and R
2, which may be the same or different, or substituted or unsubstituted independently
of each other, are aliphatic groups having not more than about sixteen carbon atoms,
R
1 and R
2 also being selected from among aryl groups, and z being a positive number sufficiently
high that the polysiloxane is hydrophobic (z is generally at least 10). The invention
also provides a novel polymer melt for spinning these hydrophobic fibers. The fibers
can be cut into staple lengths and carded and bonded to form hydrophobic woven and
nonwoven products suitable for use in hygiene devices such as diapers. Such devices
are improved by these fibers, which, as spun, present a greater hydrophobicity than
melt-spun polyolefin fibers lacking the internal siloxane lubricant; the improved
hydrophobicity is evidenced by an advancing contact angle for the as-spun fibers of
at least about 95°.
