The Dow Chemical Company

Dow Global Technolgoies LLC

Kimberly S Houchens

Rajen M Patel

Thoi H Ho

Pak-Wing Steve Chum

Selim Bensason

Rona L Reid

Leonie K Walsh

The present invention relates to a method for making a heat-resistant elastic article and a heat-resistant elastic article. The invention especially relates to a method of making elastic fibers and polymeric elastic fibers wherein the elastic fibers are capable of withstanding dyeing and heat-setting processes that typically are conducted at elevated temperatures (such as 110-230&deg; C. and especially at greater than or equal to 130&deg; C. for minutes). The inventive method comprises radiation crosslinking an article (or plurality of articles) under an inert or oxygen limited atmosphere (for example, in N , argon, helium, carbon dioxide, xenon and/or a vacuum) wherein the article (or articles) comprises at least one amine stabilizer and preferably another optional stabilizer additive. More preferably, the radiation crosslinking is performed at a low temperature (&minus;50 to 40&deg; C.). The elastic article (or articles) comprises a homogeneously branched ethylene interpolymer (preferably a substantially linear ethylene interpolymer), a substantially hydrogenated block polymer, or a combination of the two. The heat-resistant elastic articles (especially fibers) are useful in various durable or repeated-use fabric applications such as, but not limited to, clothing, under-garments, and sports apparel. The heat-resistant elastic fibers can be conveniently formed into fabrics using well-known techniques such as, for example, by using co-knitting techniques with cotton, nylon, and/or polyester fibers.

Method of making elastic articles having improved heat-resistance

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Seabrook, TX, United States of America

Kimberly S Houchens