Method of solution preparation of polyolefin class polymers for electrospinning processing included

• US 8,083,983 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Delaware
• Original Assignee: University of Delaware
• Inventors: Rabolt, John F., Lee, Keun-Hyung, Givens, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Elizabeth
• Assistant Examiner(s): SYKES, ALTREV C
• Application Number:
  US11/562,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20100056007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 442/401, 264/465, 264/413, 264/205, 264/464, 264/484, 526/348, 428/98, 428/292.1, 428/304.4, 428/368, 428/365, 428/370, 210/3, 210/505
• US Class Current: 264/465
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 1/02 Preparation of spinning solutions
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0038 the fibre formed by solvent evaporation, i.e. dry electro-spinning
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/04 from polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/46 of polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/4291 Olefin series
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43825 Composite fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/43838 Ultrafine fibres, e.g. microfibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/681 Spun-bonded nonwoven fabric

Abstract

A process to make a polyolefin fiber which has the following steps: mixing at least one polyolefin into a solution at room temperature or a slightly elevated temperature to form a polymer solution and electrospinning at room temperature said polymer solution to form a fiber.

Claims

1. A process to make a polyolefin fiber which comprises mixing

a) poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) or

b) polybutylene and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)

with a solvent system comprising cyclohexane and one or both of acetone and dimethyl formamide at a temperature higher than room temperature to form a polymer solution, cooling the polymer solution to room temperature, and electrospinning said polymer solution at room temperature to form a fiber.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature higher than room temperature is from above 25 to 100°

C.

3. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the temperature higher than room temperature is from 50 to 100°

C.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises cyclohexane and acetone.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises cyclohexane and dimethyl formamide.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent system comprises cyclohexane, acetone and dimethyl formamide.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 comprising mixing both of said polybutylene and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) with the solvent system, said polybutylene and poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) being in a ratio of 75/25-25/75 w/w.