Bp Amoco Corporation

Other

Bp Corporation North America Inc.

Leonid Slutsker

Ty Jackson Stokes

Bruce Howard Bersted

Richard Tutt Norris, Jr

Viacheslav A Marikhin

Lioubov Petrovna Miasnikova

A method and apparatus for continuous drawing of fibers in the form of coiled fiber loops (e.g., polygonal or serpentine loops). The successive fiber loops are continuously laid on receiving ends of a plurality of conveyer-drawing members (CDM) [e.g., rotating threaded spindles () or circulating endless chains () and ()] disposed about a central axis and diverged from this axis. Coiled fiber loops are conveyed along the central axis and simultaneously drawn by enlarging a circumference of the fiber loops by the CDM. The leading fiber loops are continuously taken off at delivery ends of the CDM and conveyed from the drawing apparatus at an outlet speed. Heat chambers () and () envelop at least the most part of CDM. The process can operate at low drawing speed and long drawing time typical for lab-scale experiments and equal or higher outlet speed and throughput typical for commercial drawing processes. The method can produce low-cost/high-strength/high-modulus/low-shrinkage commercial polymer fibers.

Method and apparatus for low-speed, high-throughput fiber drawing using coiled fiber loops

Bulked continuous filament yarns comprise a plurality of substantially continuous filaments comprising propylene polymer and having recovery from compression, as measured by Plug Crush Recovery, of at least about 85%. The yarns exhibit improved resilience and are well suited as face yarns for residential, commercial and automotive carpets.

Propylene polymer fibers and yarns

Process for treating a textile product comprising propylene polymer fibers comprises heating the textile product with the fibers in a substantially relaxed state at at least one temperature that is below the melting point of the propylene polymer but no more than about 20.degree. C. below such melting point. In one embodiment, the propylene polymer fibers subjected to such heating are characterized by a particular crystalline microstructure as determined by small angle X-ray diffraction. In another embodiment, the propylene polymer fibers subjected to such heating are melt spun, oriented fibers heated at at least one lower temperature.

Propylene polymer fibers are characterized by a unique crystalline microstructure as determined by small angle X-ray diffraction. The fibers and yarns comprising same exhibit improved recovery from compression and bending and are suited for a wide range of applications including geotextile, apparel and upholstery fabrics, carpet yarns and other textile products.

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Douglasville, GA, United States of America

Leonid Slutsker