Patent ID: 9168719
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: B32B,D06M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a modified, high tenacity fiber which has been modified by a plasma treatment or modified by a corona treatment, said modified, high tenacity fiber having a tenacity of at least about 33 g/denier at ambient room temperature, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing a high tenacity fiber having a tenacity of at least about 33 g/denier at ambient room temperature, wherein said fiber has fiber surfaces and wherein said surfaces are at least partially covered by a fiber surface finish; b) washing the fibers to remove only a portion of the fiber surface finish from the fiber surfaces wherein a residual finish remains on the fiber surfaces; and c) subjecting the high tenacity fiber to a plasma treatment or to a corona treatment within a chamber maintained at a non-vacuum pressure under conditions effective to modify the high tenacity fiber; wherein the high tenacity fiber is plasma treated with a plasma energy flux of about 100 W/ft thereby producing a modified, high tenacity fiber which has been modified by a plasma treatment or modified by a corona treatment, which modified high tenacity fiber has a tenacity of at least about 33 g/denier at ambient room temperature, and wherein from 50% to 99.0% of the fiber surface area is exposed and not covered by the residual fiber surface finish.