Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation

Colin J H Morton

Thomas Friend Thompson

Ashutosh H Sharma

The present invention is aimed at a method of providing wettability to polyester fibers or filaments, to woven or nonwoven fabrics made therefrom and to resultant articles of manufacture. The method comprises melt extruding a mixture comprising a polyester and one or more alkyl metal sulfonates where the metal is Na, Li or K and the alkyl is straight or branched chain alkyl of 12 to 15 carbon atoms, or is straight or branched chain alkenyl of 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The alkyl metal sulfonates are present from about 2% to about 5% by weight based on the weight of the polyester. A post treatment step such as an alkaline treatment step is not included. The melt extrusion mixtures do not include certain additives such as polyoxyalkylene compounds, alkylmonoethonolamide compounds, alkyldiethanolamine compounds and polyetheramide compounds.

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Riehen, Switzerland

Colin J H Morton