PELLETS OF CELLULOSIC SPUN FIBERS, THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE

• US 20110020644A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenzing AG (B & C Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: Lenzing AG (B & C Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Suchomel, Friedrich, Stadlbauer, Wolfgang, Burgstaller, Christoph
• Application Number:
  US12/809,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20110020644A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/359
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 15/08 of reinforcements or fillers chemical aspects C08J, C08K
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/14 fibre-reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/03 characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/2886 of fibrous, filamentary or filling materials, e.g. thin fibrous reinforcements or fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/06 containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/12 of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2201/00 Use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose, as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2601/00 Use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/047 with mixed fibrous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2904 Staple length fiber

Abstract

The present invention relates to readily meterable pellets of cellulosic staple fibers, their use to produce compound materials by mixing these into a polymer melt and a process for the production of these pellets in which the staple fibers are pressed in a shaping device through shaping channels.

Claims

1. Pellets of cellulosic staple fibers wherein the staple fibers have a titer in the range of about 0.1 to about 15.0 dtex and a cutting length in the range of about 0.5 to about 15.0 mm and the pellet has a diameter of about 2.0 to about 10.0 mm.

2. The pellets according to claim 1, wherein the staple fibers comprise a gliding finishing agent.

3. The pellets according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the staple fibers are selected from the group consisting of Lyocell, Viscose fibers, Modal fibers and a blend of at least two of these fiber types.

4. The pellets according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising between about 0.01 and about 5.0 weight percent of hotmelt adhesive.

10. Use of pellets according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 for the production of compound materials by mixing the pellets into a polymer melt.

11. The use according to claim 10, wherein the mixing takes place in an extruder.

12. The use according to claim 10, wherein the mixing takes place in a kneader.

5. A process for the production of pellets of cellulosic staple fibers comprising pressing the cellulosic staple fibers having a titer in the range of about 0.1 to about 15.0 dtex and a cutting length in the range of about 0.5 to about 15.0 mm in a shaping device through shaping channels.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the L/D ratio of the shaping channels equals between about 1:

1 and about 4;

1;

preferably between about 1;

1 and about 3;

1.

7. The process according to claim 5, wherein the shaping device is a flat matrix press or a ring matrix press.

8. The process according to claim 5, wherein the staple fibers are brought to a humidity of about 30 to about 80 weight percent of water prior to pressing.

9. The process according to claim 5, wherein the staple fibers are mixed with about 0.01 to about 5.0 weight percentage powder-form hotmelt adhesive prior to pressing.