METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MELT-SPINNING THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER FIBERS

Abstract: A thermoplastic polymer yarn is spun into a spinning tube charged with a pressurized gas of more than 1 kg/cm²G and withdrawn through a yarn exit provided with a unique sealing means which substantially prevents the charged gas from leakage but allows passage of the yarn out from the spinning tube. The resultant yarn has a high molecular orientation due to the improved quenching effect and the increase of resistance against yarn travelling of the charged gas.

Description: Background of the invention 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for melt-spinning thermoplastic polymer fibers having high molecular orientation by extruding a fiber-forming polymer into a pressurized atmosphere and then taking it up under normal atmospheric conditions. 2. Description of related art For obtaining a well-oriented fiber by the ordinary melt-spinning system, in which a thermoplastic polymer is melted, spun through a spinneret, and taken up at a constant speed after being quenched and oiled, the melt-spinning operation is carried out under a high take-up speed. The increase of the take-up speed is the most effective for this purpose and the control thereof is easier than with other factors influencing the molecular orientation of the resultant fiber, such as the polymerization degree of the polymer, melting temperature, draft ratio, extrusion rate of the polymer per nozzle hole, or quenching conditions. Of course, by properly determining the melting temperature, draft ratio, quenching conditions, and other spinning conditions, the degree of molecular orientation in the resultant fiber can be further improved. For example, a higher melting temperature, larger draft ratio, and rapid quenching speed may result in highly oriented fibers. In such spinning, however, the conditions are critical if one wishes to have a useful yarn having high uniformity and properties necessary for practical use. Further, control is very difficult. JP-A-53-52730 describes an apparatus for spinning an acrylonitrile polymer incorporated in a specific amount of water, which apparatus comprises a spinneret and directly beneath the spinneret a spinning tube with an exit for the yarn and an inlet for a pressurized gas. The pressurized gas is prevented from escaping through the yarn exit by a liquid phase chamber disposed beneath the yarn exit. In operation the yarn is spun under the influence of the gas which is at high temperature and pressure; the yarn is not quenched under pressure. A method in which the yarn is quenched under pressure is disclosed in US-A-3707593 and Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku) Nos. 47-32130 and 47-33736. In this method, a molten polymer is spun at a high spinning speed from a spinneret into a pressurized chamber disposed directly beneath the spinneret. In the chamber, the polymer is quenched to form fibers. Thereafter, it is ejected as a fully drawn fiber out from the chamber through a nozzle provided on the bottom of the chamber together with a flow of high pressure gas. This method aims to obtain a fully drawn fiber utilized as a material for making a non-woven fabric or web. The method, however, has a drawback that the control of yarn processing factors, such as yarn take-up speed, drawing force, or draw ratio is very difficult because the yarn is propelled mainly by a dragging force of the jet air. Another method for spinning a polymer under a highly pressurized atmosphere has been proposed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 50-71922, in which a yarn extruded from a spinneret is quenched under normal atmospheric pressure until just before it has reached a fully solidified state and then is taken up through a chamber pressurized above 1.098×10⁵ Pa (0.1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure). According to this method, however, sealing means for the yarn inlet and exit of the chamber are necessary. Particularly, in the area of the inlet, non-touch sealing is required because the yarn passing thereby is not yet fully solidified. Thus, the cross-section of the inlet must be large, whereby the sealing effect tends to be lowered. As a result, as described in the above publication, the interior pressure of the chamber can be elevated only to 1.686×10⁵ Pa (0.7 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure). Under such a low pressure, high molecular orientation of the resultant yarn cannot be expected. Summary of the invention It is a primary object of the present invention to eliminate the above drawbacks of the prior art. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for producing a highly oriented yarn of thermoplastic polymer through a spinning chamber kept at a high pressure of at least 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure), in which the yarn is propelled by easily controllable take-up means other than the jet air as utilized in the conventional method, thereby enabling ready and accurate adjustment of the processing speed, draft force, and draw ratio of the yarn. The above object of the present invention is achieved by a method for producing a yarn from a thermoplastic polymer according to the present invention. The method comprises extruding the molten polymer through a spinneret into a chamber disposed beneath the spinneret and containing a fluid at a pressure above atmospheric, quenching the molten polymer in the chamber to form a solidified filament yarn, and withdrawing the filament yarn from the chamber at a speed of at least 1000 m/min. by take-up means provided outside the chamber, the chamber being sealed at the yarn exit so as to prevent a substantial flow of the pressurized fluid through said exit. The fluid maintaining the interior of the chamber at a higher pressure than that of the outer atmosphere may be a pressurized gas. The above method is preferably carried out by an apparatus according to the present invention, which apparatus comprises a spinneret, a chamber capable of receiving a fluid at a pressure above atmospheric and disposed beneath the spinneret so as to allow a yarn path to pass through the chamber, and a take-up device disposed outside the chamber for withdrawing the yarn from the chamber, the chamber being provided with an exit for the yarn and with an inlet for the pressurized fluid, the chamber being so dimensioned as to allow the yarn to be quenched and solidified, and the yarn exit containing a tubular member and a plug detachably inserted into the tubular member, which tubular member and plug have respective mutually contacting inner and outer surfaces at least one of which has therein a longitudinal groove for providing a yarn exit passage, which passage is so dimensioned as to be capable of restricting passage of the pressurized fluid therethrough, and thereby prevent a substantial flow of the pressurized fluid through the exit. The chamber may be provided by a spinning tube disposed directly beneath the spinneret so as to allow a yarn path to pass through the spinning tube. The spinning tube may encircle both the spinneret and the yarn path leading from the spinneret. The spinning tube is provided with an exit for the yarn and with an air inlet conduit for introducing pressurized gas into the interior of the spinning tube, which is so dimensioned as to allow the filaments of the yarn to be quenched and solidified. The yarn exit is substantially sealed against leakage of the gas charged in the spinning tube so as to prevent a substantial flow of the pressurized gas through it. Thus, the yarn exit is effectively sealed so as to avoid substantial pressure loss while allowing the yarn to pass therethrough. The sealing arrangement comprises a tubular member and a plug detachably inserted into the tubular member so as to provide a substantially fluid-tight seal therewith. The inner surface of the tubular member and/or the outer surface of the plug is provided with at least one said groove through which the yarn path runs. Further, outside of the chamber, means for withdrawing the filament yarn from the spinning tube is arranged. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a spinning apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of a main part of the spinning apparatus shown in Fig. 1, illustrating a detaching position of a spinning tube; Figs. 3a and 3b are respective top and side views of a plug to be set in a tubular member provided at the bottom end of the spinning tube; Figs. 3c and 3d are top and side views of another embodiment of the plug; Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of a main part of the spinning tube, illustrating a threading operation through a groove; Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of a yarn exit of the spinning tube; Fig. 6 is a section of the yarn exit shown in Fig. 5 along line A-A; Fig. 7 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the yarn exit of the spinning tube; Fig. 8 is a section of the yarn exit shown in Fig. 7 along line B-B; Fig. 9 is a side sectional view of further embodiment of the yarn exit of the spinning tube; Fig. 10 is a section of the yarn exit shown in Fig. 9 along line X-X; Figs. 11a and 11b illustrate a side sectional view and a section along line C-C of the former, respectively, of a still further embodiment of the yarn exit of the spinning tube. Figs. 12a through 12n illustrate various cross-sections of a spinning hole of a spinneret utilized for producing a fiber having non-circular cross-sections; Figs. 13a through 13e illustrate typical cross-sections of non-circular cross-sectional fibers; and Fig. 14 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of a spinning apparatus according to the present invention. Description of the preferred embodiments Overall construction of the apparatus In Fig. 1, a spinning apparatus according to the present invention includes a melt spinning device 1 including a hopper 2 for accommodating polymer chips T, an extruder 3, a metering pump 4, a variable speed motor 5, a spinning pack 6, and a spinneret 7. The polymer chips T in the hopper 2 are melted and supplied to the metering pump 4 through the extruder 3. The molten polymer passes through a filter (not shown) in the pack 6 and finally is extruded from the spinneret 7 as a filament yarn Y at a temperature from a melting point Tm of the polymer to (Tm+100)°C. The extrusion rate of the molten polymer from the spinneret 7 can be controlled by the metering pump 4 which, in turn, is controllable by the rotation of the variable speed motor 5. A spinning tube S is disposed directly beneath the pack 6 in which the spinneret 7 is secured. The interior of the spinning tube S is maintained at a high pressure by introducing a pressurized gas, usually air therein. The structure of the particular spinning tube S of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 will now be described in detail. A heating tube 8, if necessary, may be provided beneath the spinneret 7. Beneath the heating tube 8 is secured, via an insulating member 11 an annular chimney 12 for introducing pressurized quenching air into the spinning tube S. The heating tube 8 is effective when a high viscosity molten polymer is spun for the production of industrial material, but may be eliminated when a low viscosity molten polymer is extruded for the production of clothing material. The heating tube 8 is provided with a thermopile 9 for detecting the temperature within the heating tube 8. The thermopile 9 is connected to a temperature controller 10 so that the temperature within the heating tube 8 can be maintained at a preset value by means of a heater (not shown) built in the heating tube 8. In the usual spinning condition, the temperature of the heating tube 8 is maintained within a range of from (Tm-40) to (Tm+100)°C, wherein Tm stands for a melting point of the polymer treated, and the length thereof is within a range of from 5 to 100 cm. The annular chimney 12 has a cylindrical porous filter 13 which uniformly distributes pressurized quenching air fed from an air inlet conduit 14 through the entire circumference thereof. The air inlet conduit 14, disposed in an upstream zone of the spinning tube S, has a flow regulator 15 for adjusting an air flow rate and a pressure gauge 26. A main portion of spinning tube S disposed beneath the annular chimney 12 is formed as a double tube including a movable body 17 and a stationary body 18, both of which are telescopically displaceable relative to each other so that the movable body 17 can be lowered from a first position shown in Fig. 1 to a second position shown in Fig. 2 in the axial direction within the stationary body 18 in accordance with the operation of a power cylinder 19 secured to the former. Namely, in the case of periodic replacement or cleaning of the spinneret 1, correction of yarn breakage, or starting of the spinning, the movable body 17 is lowered to form an access space A for a worker between the bottom of the annular chimney 12 and the top of the movable body 17 (see Fig. 2). For normal spinning, it is lifted up so that the movable body 17 is pressed onto the annular chimney 12 for a fluid-tight seal therebetween. For this fluid-tight seal, there are provided O-rings 16, 16' in the thrust portion between the movable and stationary bodies 17 and 18 and the contact area between the movable body 17 and the annular chimney 12. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the displaceable body 17 can be moved in the axial direction relative to the upper portion of the spinning tube S. This structure is advantageous because even if the displaceable body 17 is detached from the upper portion, the yarn path from the spinneret to the yarn exit is not disturbed thereby and a worker may perform his job while keeping the yarn in a running state. Of course, other directional displacement of the displaceable body 17 can be adopted, for example, to the transverse direction of the yarn path. Further, if the total length of the spinning tube S is short, it need not be formed as two parts 17 and 18, but may be formed as a single displaceable part. At a lower portion of the stationary body 18 is provided an oiling device 21 in a form of a yarn guide. A yarn exit E in a downstream zone of the spinning tube S, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided at the lowermost end of the stationary body 18, which includes a tubular member 25 and a plug 24 inserted into the tubular member 25 as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b or Figs. 3c and 3d. A plug 24 having a column-like shape is shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, and a plug 24A having a plate-like shape is shown in Figs. 3c and 3d. The plug 24 has a slit-like axial groove 28, through which yarn can pass with a small width-wise clearance but through which gas in the spinning tube S is prevented from leaking due to the pressure loss along the groove 28. When the dimensions of the groove 28 are properly selected, the gas in the spinning tube S can be substantially completely sealed in except for some leakage accompanied by the withdrawn yarn, whereby vibration of the yarn and entanglement of the filaments which often occur when an air flow arises can be avoided. A pressure gauge 27 and an air outlet conduit 23 are provided at the lower portion of the stationary body 18. The conduit 23 is communicated to the outer air through a valve 22. According to the above structure, a chamber Sa of the spinning tube sealed from the outer air and kept at a pressurized state is readily obtainable beneath the spinneret 7 by just pressing the movable body 17 into the annular chimney 12. An outer wall of the stationary body 18 is encircled by a heat exchanger 29 through which a cooling medium (not shown) flows, whereby the interior of the sealed chamber Sa can be quenched from the outside. On the other hand, the pressure and flow rate of the quenching air supplied directly into the interior of the sealed chamber Sa can be controlled by the operation of the valve 22 and the valve 15 provided at the inlet portion of annular chimney 12. The operation of the apparatus will be described below. The molten polymer is extruded from the spinneret 7, as a filament yarn Y, into the sealed chamber Sa and passes through a hot zone provided by the heating tube 8 maintained at a preset temperature by means of the temperature controller 10. Thereafter, the yarn Y is quenched by pressurized gas (usually air) supplied from the annular chimney 12. The yarn is completely quenched and solidified while it runs through the movable body 17 and the stationary body 18 encircled by the heat exchanger 29. Thereafter, oil is imparted to the yarn Y by means of the oiling device 21. The yarn Y is withdrawn from the sealed chamber Sa through the yarn exit E with the aid of a first godet roller 30a and a second godet roller 30b, both provided outside of the sealed chamber and rotated at a constant peripheral speed, and, finally, is wound on a bobbin 34 set on a take-up device 33. In this connection, the rotational speed of the bobbin 34 on the take-up device 33 is controlled by a controller 32 so that a winding tension of the yarn Y is kept constant based on a known feed-back control system of the yarn tension detected by a tension detector 31 disposed between the second godet roller 30b and the take-up device 34. According to the present invention, the interior pressure of the sealed chamber Sa can be maintained at a desired constant value by adjusting the volumes of air supplied into and exhausted from the sealed chamber Sa by means of the valves 15 and 22, respectively, while freely controlling the flow rate of the quenching air flowing along the yarn path in the sealed chamber Sa. In the above-mentioned embodiment, air is utilized as a pressurized gas charged in the sealed chamber Sa. However, in accordance with the object of the process, other gas, such as nitrogen or steam, may also be utilized. When high molecular orientation of the resultant yarn is solely desired, a gas having a higher density is advantageous. Usually, however, air is sufficient for this purpose. For enhancing the effect of the present invention, the interior pressure of the spinning tube is preferably higher than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure). According to the above embodiment, the yarn Y is taken up on the bobbin 34 after being relaxed in spinning tension by means of the godet rollers 30a, 30b. However, another take-up system can be adopted, such as a so-called "direct spin-draw" system, in which the yarn is drawn once or twice by a plurality of godet rollers before being taken up. As for the oiling device, the position thereof is optional, provided the yarn has already been solidified. That is, it may be disposed in the outer air, for example, outside of the yarn exit E. Further, the oil may be applied from the plug 24 when the yarn passes through the groove 28, as described later. Regarding the kind of oiling device, the yarn guide type as shown in Fig. 1 is especially advantageous when the yarn speed is more than 2,000 m/min. However, an oiling roller type may be utilized for relatively low speed spinning. The heat exchanger 29 is designed to quench the interior atmosphere of the sealed chamber Sa so that the air within the spinning tube S is prevented from rising in temperature by heat transfer from the yarn, such a rise in temperature resulting in a poor quenching effect on the yarn. The heat exchanger 29 is not limited to one in which the quenching medium flows around the outer wall of the stationary body 18 as shown in Fig. 1. Other types, such as cooling pipes, may be adopted for directly quenching the atmosphere in the sealed chamber Sa. Moreover, another annular chimney may be provided in the spinning tube in the vicinity of the yarn exit to supply additional quenching air into the sealed chamber Sa while the flow rate thereof is controlled, so as to maintain the interior pressure at a preset value taking the flow rate from the first chimney into account. If the extrusion rate of the molten polymer is rather low and the elevation of the temperature in the spinning tube is sufficiently suppressed by other quenching means than the additional chimney, the latter may be closed. Similarly, the heat exchanger 29 and/or the valve 22 for facilitating flow of the quenching air supplied from the chimney 12 may be eliminated if the spinning conditions allow it. This is also applicable to the heating tube 8, which is designed to equalize the viscosity of the molten polymer extruded from each spinning hole of the spinneret 7. The yarn produced from the above apparatus has a high degree of molecular orientation. This is because the yarn must pass through the spinning tube against the resistance of an atmosphere of increased density due to high pressure, whereby the spinning tension is increased relative to conventional spinning. In addition, it is presumed that heat transfer from the yarn surface to the atmosphere may be improved by the increased density of the gas, whereby the molecular orientation of the yarn is enhanced due to the rapid quenching effect on the heated yarn. Structure of yarn-exit Next, various types of yarn exit according to the present invention will be described, with reference to the drawings. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a first embodiment of the yarn exit E. To the lowermost end of the spinning tube S, a tubular member 25 is detachably secured by means of a flange 45 and bolts 46. A plug 24 is inserted into the tubular member 25 and detachably secured thereto by means of a pin 48. The tubular member 25 has a longitudinal groove 57 on an inner wall thereof so that a yarn Y can pass therethrough. The yarn Y is withdrawn from the interior of the spinning tube S through the groove 57 and is guided to a take-up means (not shown) via a yarn guide 49. Fit tolerances between the tubular member 25 and the spinning tube S and between the tubular member 25 and the plug 24 should be as small as possible in order to minimize gas leakage from the interior of the spinning tube S, provided removal of the plug 24 from the tubular member 25 or that of the tubular member 25 from the spinning tube S is possible. If necessary, a gasket 50 may be placed between the spinning tube S and the tubular member 25 for tighter sealing therebetween. The tubular member 25 and the plug 24 are preferably of a circular cross-section. However, other configurations may be adopted, such as a square. Alternatively, the cross-sectional configuration of the groove 57 may be, for example rectangular, triangular, half-oval or U-shape. The width and depth of the groove 57 should be set in accordance with the thickness of the yarn and/or the interior pressure of the spinning tube. Generally, it is preferable that the depth of the groove be larger than the width thereof for avoiding hitching of the yarn between the fitting surfaces of the tubular member 25 and the plug 24. The inner surface of the groove 57 is finished so as to protect the yarn even if it touches the groove surface. For enhancing this yarn protecting effect, the yarn exit E may be provided with oiling means, as shown in Fig. 7. That is, oil is supplied from a pipe 51 secured to the lower portion of the spinning tube S into the groove 57 through a hole 52 and an orifice 53 of the tubular member 25 communicating to the groove 57. O-rings 54, 54' may be arranged on the outer wall of the tubular member 25 for sealing the oil supplied to the groove 57 from leakage. According to this oiling means, a usual oiling device such as one shown in Fig. 1 and referred to as 21 may be eliminated. Since the orifice 53 is opened directly on the wall of the groove 57, the oil can effectively be imparted to the running yarn Y. Thereby, frictional resistance between the wall of the groove and the yarn decreases and also coherency of the filaments composing the yarn can be improved, which results in stable running of the yarn. In the case of a multiple-yarn spinning apparatus, in which multifilaments spun from a single spinneret are divided into a plurality of yarns, each of which is individually withdrawn from the spinning tube, the yarn exit according to the present invention may be used by changing the tubular member to one having a plurality of grooves 57', each corresponding to respective divided yarns. This is shown in Fig. 8, illustrating processing of two yarns Y and Y'. In order to ensure the desired sealing effect of the yarn exit, according to the study of the present inventors, the cross-section of the grooves 57 is preferably not more than 4.0 mm² per individual groove more preferably not more than 0.7 mm². Further, the length of the grooves should be within a range of from 2 to 50 mm. If the length is less than the lower limit, the sealing effect of the groove becomes poor. On the other hand, if longer than the upper limit, the resistance of the groove wall against the running yarn becomes significant, whereby the yarn tends to break. Threading operation to yarn exit The threading operation to the yarn exit will be described with reference to Fig. 4. After releasing the charged gas in the spinning tube S to the outside atmosphere, the plug 24 is removed from the tubular member 25 by pulling out the pin 48 to form an opening at the yarn exit E. The yarn Y being continuously extruded from a spinneret 7 is withdrawn through the opening and sucked in an aspirator (not shown). According to the present invention, since the wide opening can be formed during the threading operation, yarn waste, which tends to deposit in the spinning tube, can easily be cleaned. The yarn Y is threaded to a yarn guide 49 and guided so as to run along the groove 57, while being sucked in the aspirator. The plug 24 is fit to the tubular member 25 so as to close the opening and fixedly secured thereto by the pin 48. Thereafter, the gas is charged in the spinning tube S to a predetermined pressure and the yarn is transferred from the aspirator to take-up means (not shown) in the conventional manner. Thus, the threading operation is completed. The essential point of the above operation resides in the fitting of the plug 24 to the tubular member 25. It is important to preliminarily guide the yarn Y into the groove 57 by means of the yarn guide 49 prior to the fitting of the plug 24. Otherwise, some of the filament composing the yarn tends to be caught between the plug 24 and the tubular member during the fitting operation. In this regard, the yarn guide 49 is preferably movable between two positions as shown in Fig. 4. Namely, prior to the fitting operation of the plug 24, the yarn guide 49 is retracted to a first position as indicated by a chain line where the yarn Y is forcibly deflected from its normal yarn path so as to completely enter into the groove 57 and, after the fitting operation is over, returns to a second position, a normal position, as indicated by a solid line. Further, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a yarn collector 56 may be provided upstream of the tubular member 25 on the axis of the groove 57. The collector 56 has a slit 55 having substantially the same width as that of the groove 57. Therefore, the filaments of the yarn Y are prevented from spreading out by passing through the slit 55 prior to introduction to the groove 57, which facilitates the fitting operation of the plug 24 and decreases the possibility of hitching of the yarn as well as the abrasion of the yarn by the end portion of the groove 57. The shape of the yarn collector 56 is not limited to a slit type as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, but may be any type, such as a pig-tail, provided the threading operation is readily carried out. In Figs. 11a and 11b, a further embodiment of the yarn exit is illustrated. This embodiment is essentially identical to that shown in Fig. 7, except that four yarns are simultaneously processed. Oil is imparted to each yarn Y by means of respective oiling means 60 while the yarn passes through a groove 57. In this embodiment, the yarn Y rests on a first yarn guide 61 during the threading operation and then returns to a second yarn guide 62 stationarily arranged on the yarn path after the completion of the threading operation. The apparatus according to the present invention may be utilized such that liquid, such as water or liquid containing yarn treating agent, is further charged in the bottom portion of the spinning tube and the yarn is withdrawn from the yarn exit after passing through the charged liquid as shown in Fig. 14. Due to the larger quenching capacity and resistance against yarn travel of liquid compared to gas, rapid quenching and steady drawing can be obtained. In addition, by varying the height of the charged liquid or the kind of the charged liquid in the bottom portion of the spinning tube, the quenching efficiency and the drawing ratio can be easily controlled. This is especially preferable when a thicker yarn is desired. Fig. 14 illustrates a side sectional view of another embodiment of a spinning apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus shown in Fig. 14 is only different at around the structure of the bottom portion of the spinning tube of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. 14, a bed element 64 is provided at the bottom of the spinning tube S. The bed element 64 has an inner opening into which the tubular member 25 is inserted. To the tubular member 25, the plug 24 is inserted. The bed element 64 has a conduit 65 for feeding water and a conduit 66 for exhausting water. A water layer 63 is formed at the bottom portion of the spinning tube S. Furthermore, a cover box is provided at the bottom of the bed element 64. At the bottom of the cover box 67, a yarn outlet 68 is formed and a concave portion 69 for receiving water is formed. An exhaust pipe 70 of water is connected to the concave portion 69. In the cover box 67, an air jet nozzle 71 is provided to remove water adhered to the yarn Y. Yarn guides 73, 73 are positioned at both sides of the air jet nozzle 71 and a compressed air supply pipe 72 is connected to the air nozzle 71. Polymer usable for the invention Thermoplastic polymers usable for the present invention are those which can form a fiber under usual melt-spinning conditions, for example, polyamide, such as poly-ε-capramide, polyhexamethylene adipamide, polyhexamethylene sebacamide, polytetramethylene adipamide, polyhexamethylene terephthalamide, polyhexamethylene isophthalamide, polydodecamethylene dodecamide, polymetaxylylene adipamide, polyparaxylylene adipamide, poly-11-aminoundecanoic acid; polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polytetramethylene terephthalate, polyethylene 1,2-diphenoxyethane PP'-dicarboxylate, polynaphthalene terephthalate; polyolefin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene-1; polyfluorovinylidene; polyfluoroethylene-polyfluorovinylidene copolymer; polyvinyl chloride; polyvinylidene chloride; and polyacetal. These polymers may be utilized independently or in the form of a copolymer or mixed polymer. Method for producing polyamide yarn Now, features of the present invention when applied to production of a polyamide yarn will be described. Since the quenching effect is superior to that of the conventional method, according to the present invention, a polyamide fiber having less spherulites therein and, thus, having excellent mechanical properties is obtained. The spinning temperature is preferably within a range of from (Tm+20) to (Tm+100)°C, wherein Tm stands for the melting point of polyamide. The extrusion rate of the spinneret, which, in the prior art, is limited to 3.0 g/min per spinning hole due to generation of spherulites, can be increased. The gas charged in the spinning tube may be air, nitrogen, and steam, but air is convenient for this purpose. The interior pressure of the spinning tube must be more than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure), especially more than 2.47×10⁵ Pa (1.5 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) for suppressing generation of the spherulites. The polyamide fiber obtained by the present invention has less spherulites in addition to a high molecular orientation, already described. Therefore, the fiber is of high birefringence, high strength, and low elongation. Moreover, since the dimensional stability and durability can be improved by drawing, usage for sportswear and for industrial purposes, especially for tirecords, are expected. Example 1 Polyhexamethylene adipamide having a viscosity of 3.2 relative to sulfuric acid was melt-spun by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The above polyamide did not contain a delusterant but had 100 ppm of copper acetate and 0.1 weight % of potassium iodide as an antioxidant. The diameter of the extruder was 30 mm and the spinning temperature of the polymer in the pack was 295°C. The spinneret had an outer diameter of 100 mm and was provided with 24 holes, each having 0.3 mm diameter, arranged in a double ring manner. The extrusion rate of the polymer per hole was 3.0 g/min. The heating tube had a length of 150 mm and an inner diameter of 150 mm. The temperature thereof was controlled so that a point a distance of 75 mm from the upper part and 10 mm from an outer filament was maintained at 240°C. The annular chimney had a length of 200 mm and an inner diameter of 150 mm and was insulated from the heating tube by an insulating plate of 20 mm width. Quenching air of 25°C temperature was blown into the chimney to adjust the spinning tube, having a length of 5 m and an inner diameter of 150 mm, to a predetermined interior pressure. Various runs were carried out under different yarn take-up speeds of 1000, 3000, and 4500 m/min, and levels of interior pressure of 1.68×10⁵, 2.47×10⁵, 5.90×10⁵ and 8.35×10⁵ Pa (0.7, 1.5, 5.0, and 7.5 kg/cm₂ respectively, above atmospheric pressure). Further, for comparison, instead of the spinning tube, as a conventional apparatus, a punched duct of 1 m length provided with a plurality of holes on the circumference thereof, the total area of the holes being 60%, was mounted beneath the chimney and a normal duct of 4 m length was attached thereto so that the air supplied from the upstream side could smoothly flow down through the normal duct and be exhausted from the lowermost end thereof. Air of 25°C temperature was supplied from the chimney at a rate of 1.5 Nm³/min. Characteristics of various samples obtained from the runs were measured and listed in Table 1. The test methods were as follows: 1. Breakage strength and elongation Measurement was conducted according to Japan Industrial Standard (JIS)-L1017 (1979). That is, a sample yarn was relaxed in a hank form by being left stationary for 24 hours under conditions of 20°C and 65% RH. Thereafter, measurement was carried out by means of a "Tension" UTM-4 type elongation tester supplied by Toyo-Baldwin K.K., Japan. For an undrawn yarn, the test length was 5 cm and the elongation rate was 10 cm/min. For a drawn yarn, the test length was 25 cm and the elongation rate was 30 cm/min. 2. Birefringence (Δn) Measurement was conducted according to the Bereck compensator method by means of a polarizing microscope supplied by Nippon Kagaku K.K., Japan. 3. Transparency Transparency was determined by examination by the naked eye. 4. Generation of spherulites This was observed by a polarizing microscope. As apparent from Table 1, when the interior pressure of the spinning tube is 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) or less (run Nos. 1 to 6), the resultant fiber has many spherulites and is poor in transprency. Contrary to this, when the interior pressure is more than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) (run Nos. 7 to 15), the resultant fiber is excellent in transparency as well as mechanical properties. Example 2 Sample yarns obtained by Run Nos. 3, 5, 8, 11, and 14 were further subjected to two-step drawing as stated below: The yarn was at first drawn between a feed roller heated at 80°C and a first draw roller heated at 110°C and then was further drawn between the first draw roller and a second draw roller heated at 230°C with the aid of a hot plate of 50 cm length heated at 235°C disposed therebetween. The draw ratio between the feed roller and the first draw roller was changed to various levels, while the draw ratio between the first draw roller and the second draw roller was kept constant at 1.4, so that the total draw ratio varied as shown in Table 2. By this, the elongation of the yarn was adjusted to be within a range of from 15% to 17%. Thereafter, the yarn was relaxed 5% between the second draw roller and a tension adjusting roller of normal temperature and was wound on a bobbin at a rate of 400 m/min. The mechanical properties of the drawn yarns are also listed in Table 2. As apparent from Table 2, the yarn obtained by the present invention becomes extremely strong by proper drawing. Example 3 Poly-ε-capramide having a viscosity of 2.62 relative to sulfuric acid and containing titanium oxide of 3.2 weight % was melt-spun by the same apparatus as utilized in Example 1 with the interior pressure of the spinning tube kept at 4.92×10⁵ Pa (4.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) (run No. 16). The spinning temperature was 265°C, the extrusion rate per hole was 1.25 g/min, and the take-up speed was 4,000 m/min. Further, a finishing agent was applied in the form of an aqueous emulsion to the yarn before the yarn was wound on a package. As a comparative example, normal pressure spinning was carried out as in the case of Example 1 (run No. 17). Characteristics of the resultant yarns are listed in Table 3. As apparent from Table 3, according to the present invention, a polyamide yarn having a higher molecular orientation is obtainable relative to the conventional method even with the same take-up speeds. Method for producing polyester yarn Features of the present invention when applied to production of a polyester yarn will now be described. For obtaining a highly oriented polyester yarn, it is important that the polyester polymer be extruded from the spinneret, as a filament yarn, into a sealed spinning tube, the interior of which is kept at a higher pressure than the outside atmosphere, i.e., preferably more than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) and, when the yarn is quenched to a temperature in a range of Tg to (Tg-30)°C, wherein Tg stands for a glass transition temperature, the yarn is withdrawn out from the interior of the spinning tube to the outside atmosphere. If the yarn-withdrawing operation is carried out when the yarn temperature is still higher than Tg, the pressurized atmosphere cannot fully influence the molecular orientation of the fiber. On the other hand, if the yarn travels in the pressurized atmosphere after quenching lower than (Tm-30)°C, the yarn having been properly drawn is stretched again due to the resistance of the pressurized atmosphere, which causes irregular attenuation or filament breakage because the yarn has already been solidified. Example 4 Polyethylene terephthalate chips having an intrinsic viscosity [η] of 0.63 and a glass transition temperature Tg of 79°C were melt-spun at a spinning temperature of 295°C by means of the same apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 except for the elimination of the heating tube. The spinneret was provided with 24 spinning holes, each having a diameter of 0.3 mm. Between the spinneret and the annular chimney was mounted an insulating tube of 100 mm length. The annular chimney had a length of 200 mm and an inner diameter of 150 mm. The sealed spinning tube had a length of 150 mm length and an inner diameter of 150 mm and the interior thereof was charged at a pressure of 4.92×10⁵ Pa(4.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) by quenching air of 25°C supplied from the annular chimney. The polyester polymer was extruded from the spinneret at a rate of 33.4 g/min and was withdrawn from the spinning tube at a rate of 4000 m/min. The yarn temperature at the yarn exit was 65°C. The characteristics of the resultant yarn (run 18) and the comparative yarn obtained by utilization of a conventional spinning tube (run 19) are listed in Table 4. As apparent from Table 4, the yarn according to the present invention presents higher strength and lower elongation as well as higher degree of molecular orientation relative to the conventional one. Example 5 Spinning tests were carried out under the same conditions as run No. 18 of Example 4, except that the length of the spinning tube was varied to inspect the quenching effect. Characteristics of the resultant yarn are listed in Table 5. As apparent from Table 5, in run No. 20, the pressurized atmosphere had almost no effect because the yarn was withdrawn before properly quenched and, therefore, the yarn characteristics were substantially the same as those of run No. 19 of Example 4 (the conventional method). On the other hand, in run Nos. 24 and 25, variance of birefringence of the resultant yarn was large and generation of fluffs and/or yarn breakage was conspicuous during the spinning operation. Run Nos. 21 to 23 according to the present invention gave satisfactory results. Method for producing yarn composed of non-circular cross sectional fibers The present invention can be suitably utilized for spinning a yarn composed of non-circular cross-sectional fibers. A fiber having a non-circular cross-section is well-known in the art for improving the luster and hand of synthetic fabrics. Such a fiber is produced by extruding molten polymer through a spinning hole as illustrated in Figs. 12a to 12n. Recently, it is desired to increase the deformation degree of the cross-sectional configuration of fibers so as to impart various functions, such as hygroscopicity, anti-flammability, or antistatic ability to the textile product. In general, the deformation degree of the fiber cross-section depends on factors such as the shape of the spinning hole, the properties of the molten polymer (melting point, elastic recovery, or surface tension), or the spinning conditions (extrusion rate, spinning temperature, spinning speed, atmospheric temperature, or quenching speed). In order to maintain stable spinning, the above factors are critical, so it is difficult to obtain a fiber having a largely deformed cross-sectional configuration. For example, if a spinning hole having a largely deformed cross-section is utilized, the area of the hole naturally becomes larger than that of an ordinary one, whereby the back pressure of the spinneret tends to drop, which causes irregular extrusion of the polymer from the spinning hole and results in increased unevenness of the resultant yarn and/or in yarn breakage. Such a phenomenon is conspicuous for low melting viscosity polymers such as polyhexamethylene adipamide. In another method, in order to maintain a deformed configuration on a non-solidified polymer flow extruded from a spinning nozzle, strong quenching air is forcibly applied thereto. However, according to this method, irregular quenching occurs, whereby the mechanical properties of the resultant yarn become degraded and an uneven thickness results. Contrary to this, according to the present invention, as stated before, since the quenching effect is superior to the conventional technique, a fiber of a largely deformed cross-section can be obtained even utilizing a conventional spinning hole having not so large an area and utilizing a low-melting-viscosity polymer such as polyhexamethylene adipamide. In this specification, the term "deformation degree of the cross-section" is defined as follows: In the case of a multilobal configuration as shown in Figs. 13a and 13b, the deformation degree M is defined by R/r wherein r stands for a diameter of the inscribed circle of the section and R stands for a diameter of the circumscribed circle thereof. In the case of the U-shaped configuration as shown in Fig. 13C M is also defined by R/r', wherein r' stands for a diameter of the inscribed circle for the widest portion of the cross-section. In the case of the doughnut shape as shown in Fig. 13d, M is defined by S/(S-s), wherein S stands for the total apparent area of the cross-section and s stands for the area of the hollow space. Further, in the case of the V-shape as shown in Fig. 13e M is defined by b/a, wherein a stands for the wall width of the cross-section and b stands for a length thereof. The effects of the present invention when utilized for production of the non-circular cross-sectional fiber yarn will be clearer from the following examples. Example 6 Polyhexamethylene adipamide having a viscosity of 2.78 relative to sulfuric acid and containing titanium oxide of 0.022 weight % was melt-spun into a spinning tube by means of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The spinneret had 17 spinning holes of a Y-shape as shown in Fig. 12a, in which the slit width (W) was 0.07 mm, the slit length (l) 1.00, and a deformation degree (I/W) 14.3. The extrusion rate of the polymer was 2.0 g/min per hole, and the take-up speed of the yarn was 4500 m/min. Air of 25°C temperature was supplied from the annular chimney at a rate of 300 Nl/min and was exhausted from the air outlet conduit so that the interior pressure of the spinning tube was maintained at 2.47×10⁵ Pa (1.5 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) (run No. 30) or alternatively 5.90×10⁵ Pa (5.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) (run No. 31). As a comparative test, runs were carried out under the following conditions: 1. The interior pressure of the spinning tube was kept at 1.686×10⁵ Pa (0.7 kg/cm² above atmospheric) (run No. 29). 2. The interior pressure of the spinning tube was kept at 5.9×10⁵ Pa (5.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric) while the exhaust was stopped (run No. 32). 3. The spinning tube was replaced by a conventional spinning duct having no sealing means, while keeping the supply of the quenching air at a rate of 300 Nl/min (run No. 26). 4. In the conditions of run No. 26, the spinneret was replaced by one with spinning holes with a slit width (W) of 0.07 mm, a slit length (l) of 2.00, and a deformation degree (I/W) of 28.6 (run No. 27). 5. In the conditions of run No. 26, the supply rate of the quenching air was changed to 1500 Nl/min (run No. 28). Characteristics of the resultant yarns obtained from the runs are listed in Table 6. As apparent from Table 6, the yarns according to conventional spinning under normal pressure (run No. 26) and under lower pressure less than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure) (run No. 29) had a small deformation degree of the fiber cross-section and inferior mechanical properties. When the deformation degree of the spinning hole was increased (run No. 27) or the supply rate of the quenching air was increased (run No. 28) under the conventional spinning pressure, the deformation degree of the fiber cross-section became larger, but the irregularity of the yarn increased and the mechanical properties thereof were degraded. Contrary to this, according to the present invention, since the spinning was carried out under a pressurized atmosphere of more than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure), the resultant yarn had a larger deformation degree of fiber cross-section as well as excellent mechanical properties (run Nos. 30, 31 ). However, even by the spinning operation under a pressurized atmosphere of more than 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1.0 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure), when the exhaust of the interior atmosphere was stopped (run No. 32), sublimated substances such as monomers or oligomers deposited to a significant amount inside of the spinning tube and the interior temperature of the spinning tube was gradually elevated as the time passed, whereby the spinning operation was interrupted in a short time due to lowering of the quenching capacity. Example 7 Poly-ε-capramide having a viscosity of 2.62 relative to sulfuric acid and containing titanium oxide of 0.3 weight % was melt-spun under the same conditions as each run of Example 6, except that the spinning temperature was changed to 265°C. The results are listed in Table 7. The same results were obtained as Example 6.

Claims: A method for producing a yarn (Y, Y') from a molten thermoplastic polymer, which method comprises extruding the molten polymer through a spinneret (7) into a chamber (Sa) disposed beneath the spinneret (7) and containing a fluid at a pressure above atmospheric, quenching the molten polymer in the chamber (Sa) to form a solidified filament yarn (Y, Y'), and withdrawing the filament yarn (Y, Y') from the chamber (Sa) with a speed of at least 1000 m/min., characterized in that the chamber (Sa) is sealed at the yarn exit (E) so as to prevent a substantial flow of the pressurized fluid through said exit (E), and the filament yarn (Y, Y') is withdrawn from the chamber (Sa) by take-up means (30a, 30b, 33) provided outside of the chamber (Sa). A method defined by Claim 1, wherein said pressure in said chamber (Sa) is at least 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure). A method defined by Claim 1 or 2, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a polyamide. A method defined by Claim 1 or 2, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is polyester. A method defined by Claim 4, wherein said polyester filament yarn (Y, Y') is withdrawn from said chamber (Sa) when the yarn (Y, Y') is quenched to a temperature within a range of from Tg to (Tg -30)°C wherein Tg stands for a glass transition temperature of the polyester. A method defined by any preceding claim, wherein said spinneret (7) has at least one spinning hole for spinning a fiber (Y, Y') having a non circular cross-section. A method defined by any preceding claim, wherein a liquid (63) is charged into said chamber (Sa) and said yarn (Y, Y') is withdrawn after passing through said liquid (63). An apparatus for producing a yarn (Y, Y') from a molten thermoplastic polymer, which apparatus comprises a spinneret (7), and a chamber (Sa) capable of receiving a fluid at a pressure above atmospheric and disposed beneath the spinneret (7) to as to allow a yarn path to pass through the chamber (Sa), the chamber (Sa) being provided with an exit (E) for the yarn (Y, Y') and with an inlet (14) for the pressurized fluid, and the chamber (Sa) being so dimensioned as to allow the yarn (Y, Y') to be quenched and solidified, characterized in that the yarn exit (E) contains a tubular member (25) and a plug (24, 24A) detachably inserted into the tubular member (25), which tubular member (25) and plug (24, 24A) have respective mutually contacting contacting inner and outer surfaces at least one of which has therein a longitudinal groove (28, 28A, 57, 57') for providing a yarn exit passage, which passage is so dimensioned as to be capable of restricting passage of the pressurized fluid therethrough, and thereby prevent a substantial flow of the pressurized fluid through the exit (E), and means (30a, 30b, 33) for withdrawing the yarn (Y, Y') from the chamber (Sa) is disposed outside of the chamber (Sa). An apparatus defined by Claim 8, wherein said chamber (Sa) further comprises an annular chimney (13) encircling the yarn path, in which chimney (13) said inlet conduit (14) for introducing pressurized fluid is opened. An apparatus defined by Claim 8 or 9, wherein said inlet conduit (14) is provided with a flow regulator (15). An apparatus defined by Claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said chamber (Sa) further comprises an outlet conduit (23) for exhausing pressurized fluid from the interior of said chamber (Sa) in the vicinity of said yarn exit (E). An apparatus defined by Claim 11, wherein said outlet conduit (23) is provided with a flow regulator (22). An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 12, wherein the chamber (Sa) is capable of operation at a pressure of at least 1.98×10⁵ Pa (1 kg/cm² above atmospheric pressure). An apparatus defined by Claim 8, wherein the said groove (28, 28A, 57, 57') has a cross-sectional area of not more than 4 mm². An apparatus defined by Claim 14, wherein the said groove (28, 28A, 57, 57') has a cross-sectional area of not more than 0.7 mm². An apparatus defined by Claim 14, wherein the said groove (28, 28A, 57, 57') has a depth within a range of from 2 to 50 mm. An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 16, wherein a plurality of the said grooves (28, 28A, 57, 57') are provided, each allowing a respective one of a plurality of yarns (Y, Y') to pass along the groove (28, 28A, 57, 57') through the exit (E). An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 17, wherein said chamber (Sa) further has therein oiling means directly upstream of said yarn exit (E). An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 17, wherein said chamber (Sa) further has therein oiling means (51, 52, 53, 60), an oil feeding pipe (51) of which is opened to said groove (57, 57'). An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 19, wherein said spinneret (7) has at least one spinning hole having a non-circular cross-section. An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 20, wherein at least part (17) of said chamber (Sa) is detachably secured to the remaining part (12) of said chamber (Sa) secured to said spinneret (7) so that the former part (17) is displaceable from the latter part (12). An apparatus defined by any of Claims 8 to 21, wherein said yarn withdrawing means comprises a godet roller (30a, 30b). An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the chamber (Sa) encircles the spinneret (7) at an upper region of the chamber (Sa).

Inventors: FUJIOKA, KOTARO, HASEGAWA, KATSUMI, OHNO, MICHIO, SAITO, ISOO
Applicants: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: D01D5
IPC codes: D01F6, D01D5, D01D13