Patent ID: 6495204
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: B05D,C03C,D02J,D06B

Abstract:
A method of modifying elongated monofilaments and bundles of monofilament comprising:providing a treatment apparatus chamber having a passageway passing entirely therethrough, said passageway comprising a first region, a second region, and a constricted medial region between said first region and said second region; passing either a monofilament or a bundle of monofilaments through said passageway so that said monofilament or said bundle of monofilaments moves continuously therethrough; flowing a chemical treatment mixture through said constricted medial region of said passageway during movement of said monofilament or said bundle of monofilaments through said passageway, said chemical treatment mixture comprising a modifying composition in a carrier medium, said carrier medium being selected from the group consisting of a supercritical fluid, a near-critical fluid, a superheated fluid, a superheated liquid, and a liquified gas, and wherein said modifying composition separates from said carrier medium upon a pressure drop when said chemical treatment mixture is flowed through said constricted region of said passageway applying said modifying composition to said monofilament or said bundle of monofilaments to produce a modified monofilament or a modified bundle of monofilaments by extracting a component of said monofilament or said bundle of monofilaments with said modifying composition.