Patent ID: 6242091
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: D01D,D01F,D02G,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for the production of bulked and entangled continuous filament yarns, which filaments consist essentially of poly(trimethylene terephthalate), which process comprises the steps of:(a) extruding molten poly(trimethylene terephthalate) polymer having an intrinsic viscosity in the range of about 0.6 to about 1.3 and a water content of less than about 100 ppm by weight through a spinneret to form filaments;(b) cooling the extruded filaments;(c) coating the cooled filaments with a spin finish;(d) heating the coated filaments to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature of the polymer filaments, but less than about 200.degree. C.;(e) drawing the heated filaments between a set of feed rolls and a set of draw rolls;(f) bulking and entangling the drawn filaments in a hot-fluid jet bulking unit in which the filaments are blown and deformed in three dimensions with a hot bulking fluid having a temperature at least as high as that of the draw rolls to form bulked and entangled continuous filaments having random 3-dimensional curvilinear crimp; and(g) cooling the bulked and entangled continuous filaments to a temperature less than the glass transition temperature of the polymer filaments.