Method of forming supported antistatic yarn

• US 4,545,835 A
• Filed: 06/15/1983
• Issued: 10/08/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shakespeare Conductive Fibers LLC (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Badische Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Thomas E., Gusack, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BALL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US06/504,359
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 156/180, 156/305, 156/308.6, 156/166, 156/290, 428/368, 428/373, 428/372, 428/374, 428/378, 428/395, 428/922, 57/901, 57/251, 57/258, 57/297, 57/242
• US Class Current: 156/180
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/40 Yarns in which fibres are united by adhesives; Impregnated yarns or threads
• CPC Class Codes: D02G 3/441 Yarns or threads with antistatic, conductive or radiation-shielding properties electroconductive, anti-static or radiation-shielding filaments D01F1/09, D01F1/106; anti-static fabrics D03D15/533; conducting, insulating or anti-static layers for floor coverings D06N7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/922 Static electricity metal bleed-off metallic stock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 57/901 Antistatic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/292 In coating or impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 including structurally defined particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2929 Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2969 Polyamide, polyimide or polyester

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of making a supported antistatic yarn and products resulting therefrom. The method involves merging a support yarn into contact with a filamentary polymer substrate immediately after the filamentary substrate has had a mix applied thereto. The support yarn is solvent bonded to the polymer substrate due to the characteristics of the mix.

Claims

1. A continuous method of making a supported antistatic yarn, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) suffusing finely divided, electrically conductive particles into a polymeric filamentary substrate by applying a dispersion of particles in a liquid, the liquid being a solvent for the substrate; and

(b) contacting the filamentary substrate with a support yarn before the solvent applied to the filamentary substrate has evaported, the solvent being a solvent for both the filamentary substrate and the support yarn; and

(c) evaporating the solvent so that the filamentary substrate is intermittently solvent-bonded to the support yarn.

2. A method of making a supported antistatic yarn as described in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying to a traveling filamentary polymer substrate a dispersion of finely-divided electrically conductive particles, in an amount sufficient to render an electrical resistance of not more than 10⁹ ohms/cm, the dispersion of particles being in liquid which is a solvent for the filamentary polymer substrate but does not dissolve or react with the electrically conductive particles; and

(b) merging a traveling support yarn into contact with the substrate traveling at substantially the same speed, the liquid being both a solvent for the substrate and the support yarn, the merging being accomplished without substantially altering the direction of travel of the filamentary substrate, the merging being accomplished before a substantial amount of solvent has evaporated therefrom, the merging being accomplished while allowing the filamentary substrate to contact only the atmosphere and the support yarn until the solvent has substantially evaporated therefrom; and

(c) passing the merged support yarn and substrate through an evaporation zone in which the support yarn and substrate are in longitudinal contact, the evaporation tube evaporating the solvent which was applied to the filamentary substrate whereby the filamentary substrate is intermittently solvent-bonded to the support yarn.

3. A method of making a supported antistatic yarn as described in claim 2, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying to a traveling filamentary polymer substrate a dispersion of finely-divided electrically conductive particles, in an amount sufficient to render an electrical resistance of not more than 10⁹ ohms/cm, the dispersion of particles being in liquid which is a solvent for the filamentary polymer substrate but does not dissolve or react with the electrically conductive particles; and

(b) changing the direction of travel of a traveling support yarn with a guide to effect a merging of the support yarn into contact with the substrate traveling at substantially the same speed, the liquid being a solvent for both the substrate and the support yarn, the merging being accomplished without substantially altering the direction of travel of the filamentary substrate, the merging being accomplished before a substantial amount of solvent has evaporated therefrom, the merging being accomplished while allowing the filamentary substrate to contact only the atmosphere and the support yarn until the solvent has substantially evaporated therefrom; and

(c) passing the merged support yarn and substrate through an evaporation zone which the support yarn and substrate are in longitudinal contact, the evaporation tube evaporating the solvent which was applied to the filamentary substrate whereby the filamentary substrate is intermittently solvent-bonded to the support yarn.

4. A method as described in claim 3 wherein the merging of the support yarn into the filamentary substrae is done so that the filamentary substrate and the support yarn are brought together in a side-by-side relationship.

5. A method as described in claim 4 wherein at the guide the distance between the support yarn and the filamentary substrate is less than 3 millimeters, and the path of travel of the filamentary substrate is substantially undeflected by the support yarn.

6. A method as described in claim 4 wherein both the support yarn and the filamentary substrate are polyamides.

7. A method as described in claim 4 wherein the solvent is formic acid.