Columbia Insurance Company

Fina Technology, Inc.

Total Research & Technology Feluy

Totalenergies Onetech Belgium

John Bieser

Lichih R Peng

David C Kelley

Robert R Turley

James D Goins

Charles F Diehl

Osborne K McKinney

Rexford Allison Maugans

Guillaume Pavy

Joseph A Dibbern

Alain Standaert

William Rusty Wheat

Julie B Brumbelow

Hugues Haubruge

Von Moody

Wesley W Mullinax

David Curtis Turner

Fengkui Li

Vincent Henri Barre

Likuo Sun

Mike McLeod

David Young

Hughes Haubruge

Alain Sandaert

Gaetan Henry

Rusty Wheat

Fibers can include a polypropylene composition, which can include a metallocene random copolymer of propylene and a comonomer that is an alpha-olefin different from propylene. The metallocene random copolymer can have a comonomer content of from 1.2 wt % to 1.8 wt %, a molecular weight distribution of at least 1.0 and of at most 4.0 obtained without thermal or chemical degradation, and a melting temperature Tof at most 140° C. A nonwoven can include the fibers, and a laminate can include the nonwoven. The fibers can be produced by polymerizing the propylene and comonomer in presence of a metallocene-based polymerization catalyst to obtain the metallocene random copolymer. The polypropylene composition can be melt-extruded to obtain a molten polypropylene stream, which can be extruded from capillaries of a spinneret to obtain filaments. A diameter of the filaments can be rapidly reduced to obtain a final diameter.

Process for the production of fibers

The present invention relates to fibers, particularly to as-spun fibers, having improved properties, in particular improved bonding performance and mechanical properties. In particular, the present invention relates to fibers comprising a metallocene random copolymer of propylene and one or more comonomers, said metallocene random copolymer having a broader molecular weight distribution. The present invention further relates to nonwovens comprising such fibers and to a process for producing such fibers and nonwovens. The fibers and the nonwovens of the present invention are characterized by improved properties, in particular improved bonding performance and mechanical properties, when compared to the prior art fibers and nonwovens.

Fibers and Nonwovens with improved mechanical and bonding properties

Disclosed herein are carpets and carpet tiles comprising a primary backing material having a face and a back side; a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing material and extending from the face of the primary backing material and exposed at the back side of the primary backing material; and an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition generally comprises at least one homogenously branched ethylene polymer. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the disclosed carpets and carpet tiles.

Homogeneously branched ethylene polymer carpet backsizing compositions

The present invention pertains to carpet and method of making it. In one aspect, the carpet includes (a) a primary backing which has a face and a back surface, (b) a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing and extending from the face of the primary backing and exposed at the back surface of the primary backing, (c) an adhesive backing, (d) an optional secondary backing adjacent to the adhesive backing, and (e) at least one homogeneously branched linear ethylene polymer. The method includes extrusion coating at least one homogeneously branched linear ethylene polymer onto the back surface of a primary backing to provide an adhesive backing. The method can include additional steps or procedures, either separately or in various combinations. Additional steps and procedures include preheating the primary backing prior the extrusion step, multilayer adhesive backings, washing or scouring the primary backing prior the extrusion step, and utilizing adhesive polymeric additives, high heat content fillers, blowing agents and/or implosion agents. The constructions and methods described herein are particularly suited for making carpet tile.

Carpet, carpet backings and methods

Polyolefin blends and processes for forming polyolefin blends are described. The process generally includes forming of polyolefin blends with acrylic monomer system comprising: providing a polyolefin comprising a first portion and a second portion; providing a concentrated monomer system comprising an acrylic monomers and the first portion of the polyolefin, wherein the concentrated monomer system comprises the acrylic monomers at a first concentration and a first portion of the polyolefin; and blending the concentrated monomer system with the a second portion of the polyolefin to form a modified polyolefin, wherein the modified polyolefin comprises a second concentration of acrylic monomers that is less than the first concentration. Described blends can be used as masterbatch concentrates.

Polyolefin blends used as masterbatch concentrates

Bicomponent fibers, methods of forming bicomponent fibers and articles formed from bicomponent fibers are described herein. The bicomponent fibers generally include a sheath component and a core component, wherein the sheath component consists essentially of a first metallocene polypropylene and the core component consists essentially of a second metallocene polypropylene.

Process of making bicomponent fiber

The present invention pertains to carpet and methods of making carpet. In one aspect, the carpet includes (a) a primary backing which has a face and a back surface, (b) a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing and extending from the face of the primary backing and exposed at the back surface of the primary backing, (c) an adhesive backing, (d) an optional secondary backing adjacent to the adhesive backing, and (e) at least one homogeneously branched ethylene polymer. The method includes extrusion coating at least one homogeneously branched ethylene polymer onto the back surface of a primary backing to provide an adhesive backing. The method can include additional steps or procedures, either separately or in various combinations. Additional steps and procedures include washing or scouring the primary backing and fibers prior to the extrusion step, and utilizing implosion agents. The preferred homogeneously branched ethylene polymer is a substantially linear ethylene polymer. The constructions and methods described herein are particularly suited for making tufted, broad-loom carpet having improved abrasion resistance.

Homogenously branched ethylene polymer carpet backsizing compositions

Homogeneously branched ethylene polymer carpet, carpet backing and method for making same

Articles of manufacture and a method of making the articles are provided. The articles of manufacture comprise CpFlu metallocene catalyzed polypropylene homopolymers and C&#x2013;Crandom copolymers having narrow molecular weight distributions and low xylene solubles (or extractables) contents. Because of a number of desirable properties, the polypropylene homopolymers and C&#x2013;Crandom copolymers may be used to prepare a wide variety of useful articles, including but not limited to cast films, such as packaging; fibers suitable for use in fabrics and carpet applications, and injection and blow molded items such as bottles.

End use articles derived from polypropylene homopolymers and random copolymers

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

John Bieser