Fibers made from copolymers of propylene/α-olefins
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber obtainable from or comprising a propylene/α
- -olefin interpolymer, wherein the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer is characterized by one or more of the following properties;
(a) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5, at least one melting point, Tm, in degrees Celsius, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Tm and d correspond to the relationship;
Tm>
−
2002.9+4538.5(d)−
2422.2(d)2;
or(b) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5, and a heat of fusion, Δ
H in J/g, and a delta quantity, Δ
T, in degrees Celsius defined as the temperature difference between the tallest DSC peak and the tallest CRYSTAF peak, wherein the numerical values of Δ
T and Δ
H have the following relationships;
Δ
T>
−
0.1299(Δ
H)+62.81 for Δ
H greater than zero and up to 130 J/g,
Δ
T≧
48°
C. for Δ
H greater than 130 J/g,wherein the CRYSTAF peak is determined using at least 5 percent of the cumulative polymer, and if less than 5 percent of the polymer has an identifiable CRYSTAF peak, then the CRYSTAF temperature is 30°
C.;
or(c) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5 and an elastic recovery, Re, in percent at 300 percent strain and 1 cycle measured with a compression-molded film of the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Re and d satisfy the following relationship when propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer is substantially free of a cross-linked phase;
Re>
1481−
1629(d);
or(d) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5 and a molecular fraction which elutes between 40°
C. and 130°
C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a molar comonomer content of at least 5 percent higher than that of a comparable random propylene interpolymer fraction eluting between the same temperatures, wherein said comparable random propylene interpolymer comprises the same comonomer(s) and has a melt index, density, and molar comonomer content (based on the whole polymer) within 10 percent of that of the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer.
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Abstract
A fiber is obtainable from or comprises a propylene/α-olefin interpolymer characterized by an elastic recovery, Re, in percent at 300 percent strain and 1 cycle and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the elastic recovery and the density satisfy the following relationship: Re>1481-1629 (d). Such interpolymer can also be characterized by other properties. The fibers made therefrom have a relatively high elastic recovery and a relatively low coefficient of friction. The fibers can be cross-linked, if desired. Woven or non-woven fabrics can be made from such fibers.
126 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A fiber obtainable from or comprising a propylene/α
- -olefin interpolymer, wherein the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer is characterized by one or more of the following properties;(a) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5, at least one melting point, Tm, in degrees Celsius, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Tm and d correspond to the relationship;
Tm>
−
2002.9+4538.5(d)−
2422.2(d)2;
or(b) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5, and a heat of fusion, Δ
H in J/g, and a delta quantity, Δ
T, in degrees Celsius defined as the temperature difference between the tallest DSC peak and the tallest CRYSTAF peak, wherein the numerical values of Δ
T and Δ
H have the following relationships;
Δ
T>
−
0.1299(Δ
H)+62.81 for Δ
H greater than zero and up to 130 J/g,
Δ
T≧
48°
C. for Δ
H greater than 130 J/g,wherein the CRYSTAF peak is determined using at least 5 percent of the cumulative polymer, and if less than 5 percent of the polymer has an identifiable CRYSTAF peak, then the CRYSTAF temperature is 30°
C.;
or(c) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5 and an elastic recovery, Re, in percent at 300 percent strain and 1 cycle measured with a compression-molded film of the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Re and d satisfy the following relationship when propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer is substantially free of a cross-linked phase;
Re>
1481−
1629(d);
or(d) a Mw/Mn from about 1.7 to about 3.5 and a molecular fraction which elutes between 40°
C. and 130°
C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a molar comonomer content of at least 5 percent higher than that of a comparable random propylene interpolymer fraction eluting between the same temperatures, wherein said comparable random propylene interpolymer comprises the same comonomer(s) and has a melt index, density, and molar comonomer content (based on the whole polymer) within 10 percent of that of the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- -olefin interpolymer, wherein the propylene/α
-
5. A fiber obtainable from or comprising a propylene/α
- -olefin interpolymer, wherein the propylene/α
-olefin interpolymer is characterized by one or more of the following properties;
(a) having at least one molecular fraction which elutes between 40°
C. and 130°
C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a block index of at least 0.5 and up to about 1 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3;
or (b) an average block index greater than zero and up to about 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn, greater than about 1.3.
- -olefin interpolymer, wherein the propylene/α
-
6. A fiber obtainable from or comprising at least one interpolymer of propylene and C2 or C4-C20 α
- -olefin, wherein the interpolymer has a density from about 0.860 g/cc to about 0.895 g/cc and a compression set at 70°
C. of less than about 70%.
- -olefin, wherein the interpolymer has a density from about 0.860 g/cc to about 0.895 g/cc and a compression set at 70°
Specification