Eastman Chemical Company

Eastman-kodak Company

Allen Lynn Crain

Scott Ellery George

Daniel William Klosiewicz

Kab Sik Seo

Rakesh Kumar Gupta

Coralie McKenna Fleenor

Dean C Webster

J Stewart Witzeman

Chadwick Edward Marlow

Charles H Foster

Philip Conrad Heidt

Robert J Clemens

Joseph Robert Zoeller

Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240&#xb0; C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.

Process of making water-dispersible multicomponent fibers from sulfopolyesters

Water-dispersible and multicomponent fibers from sulfopolyesters

Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240&#xb0; C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues, and wherein said poly(ethylene) terephthalate has an inherent viscosity of less than 0.55 dL/g. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.

Processes for the recovery of a sulfopolyester polymer from an aqueous dispersion and a sulfopolyester concentrate are provided. Particularly, a sulfopolyester concentrate, from which the sulfopolyester may be recovered and reused, are formed by processes such as evaporation and/or nanofiltration. Final recovery of the sulfopolyester may be achieved by further evaporation of water and/or salt precipitation. In addition, the recovered sulfopolyester and articles manufactured from the recovered sulfopolyester are also provided.

Sulfopolyester recovery

Disclosed is a process for the preparation of ascorbic acids from 2-keto-hexonic acids or 2-keto-hexonic acid derivatives using alkaline earth silicate catalysts. The process may be carried out in water, alcohols, or in a variety of polar or moderately polar solvents or solvent mixtures and provides for simple workup and purification of ascorbic acid products. The process generates no by-product salts and thus, does not require the steps of neutralization or the handling of salt by-products. The process is particularly suited for the continuous preparation of L-ascorbic acid from 2-keto-L-gulonic acid and its esters.

Process for ascorbic acids using alkaline earth silicate catalysts

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Kingsport, TN, United States of America

Allen Lynn Crain