The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 1982
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1980
Gerald A Berg, Lake Jackson, TX (US);
Hermann Buchert, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Steve R Duffy, Clute, TX (US);
Richard E Harder, Anderson, SC (US);
E R Higgs, Clute, TX (US);
Louis D Hoblit, Lake Jackson, TX (US);
James R Ryffel, Lake Jackson, TX (US);
Walter P Smith, Anderson, SC (US);
Edwin L Stenzel, Morristown, NJ (US);
Badische Corporation, Williamsburg, VA (US);
Abstract
An equilibrium melt from a standard hydrolytic or anionic polymerization of caprolactam is spun at a temperature between about 230.degree. and 270.degree. C. through a spinnerette, preferably one having a multiplicity of holes spaced from each other in an asymmetric arrangement, the spinning take-away speed being less than about 250 meters/minute. The molten strands of polycaprolactam are quenched in two phases: (1) gas at a temperature of less than 20.degree. C. is directed from a first entrance in a crosscurrent flow upon the face of the spinnerette and upon the molten polycaprolactam strands immediately adjacent thereto, and is exhausted adjacent to the back of the spinnerette; and (2) gas at a temperature of less than 20.degree. C. is directed in a countercurrent flow from a second entrance downstream from the first entrance with respect to the direction of movement of the polycaprolactam strands; whereby the surface temperature of the polycaprolactam strands is reduced to 30.degree.-70.degree. C. A drawing and crimping lubricant and antistatic agent is then applied to the surface of the polycaprolactam strands, which are then drawn at a total draw ratio between 3 and 5. The polycaprolactam strands are then crimped and cut into staple lengths, which are subsequently washed in multiple stages, dried, and packaged for subsequent use or sale.