Lyocell fibers having high hemicellulose content

• US 6,692,827 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Paper Company
• Original Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company (Weyerhauser)
• Inventors: Neogi, Amar N., Gaddis, Paul G., Luo, Mengkui, Yancey, Michael J., Roscelli, Vincent A., Camarena, Senén
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Elizabeth M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES VELAZQUEZ, NORCA LIZ
• Application Number:
  US09/955,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20020037407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 428/369, 428/397, 428/399, 428/400, 442/335, 442/336, 442/340, 442/400, 442/401, 442/408, 442/409
• US Class Current: 428/369
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/06 Wet spinning methods D01D5/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/14 with flowing liquid or gaseous stretching media , e.g. solution-blowing
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 2/00 Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of cellulose or cellulose derivatives; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 3/02 with inorganic bases or alkaline reacting compounds, e.g. sulfate processes
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/004 inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: D21C 9/10 Bleaching ; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2913 Rod, strand, filament or fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2922 Nonlinear [e.g., crimped, coiled, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2973 Particular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2976 Longitudinally varying
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2978 Surface characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/609 Cross-sectional configuration of strand or fiber material is specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/61 Cross-sectional configuration varies longitudinally along strand or fiber material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/614 Strand or fiber material specified as having microdimensions [i.e., microfiber]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/68 Melt-blown nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/681 Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/689 Hydroentangled nonwoven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/69 Autogenously bonded nonwoven fabric

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a lyocell fiber having a high hemicellulose content. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well. The fibers have a cotton-like denier.

Claims

1. A lyocell fiber having a hemicellulose content of between about 13% and about 15%, and having a greater variability in cross sectional diameter and cross sectional configuration along the fiber length compared to variability in cross sectional diameter and cross sectional configuration along the fiber length of lyocell fibers produced by a continuously drawn process.

2. The lyocell fiber of claim 1 wherein the lyocell fiber has an irregular amplitude greater than about one lyocell fiber diameter.

3. The lyocell fiber of claim 1 wherein the lyocell fiber has an irregular period greater than about five fiber diameters.

4. The lyocell fiber of claim 1 wherein the lyocell fiber has a diameter of from about 10 to about 20 micrometers.

5. The lyocell fiber of claim 1 wherein the lyocell fiber has a tenacity of about 2 to about 3 g/d.