Claims
- 1. A process for improving impregnation of poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide including the following steps:
- extruding a solution of poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide) and a solvent through orifices in a spinneret to form amorphous fibers which together define a fiber structure, such fibers having minute pores therein,
- moving such amorphous fibers into contact with an aqueous extraction bath to remove the solvent during which such fibers become water-swollen,
- contacting such water-swollen fibers with an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble material so that the individual fibers are coated with the solution and
- heating the water-swollen fibers with steam at a temperature from about 110.degree. C. to 140.degree. C. for a time sufficient to diffuse substantially all of the water-soluble material into the pores of the fibers throughout such fiber structure.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the water-swollen fibers are heated with steam at a temperature of about 120.degree. C. for a time sufficient to diffuse substantially all of the water-soluble material into the pores of the fibers throughout such fiber structure.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble material is a surfactant.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble material is a dye.
- 5. The process of claim 3 wherein the fiber structure is dried after the surfactant has been diffused into the fibers.
- 6. The process of claim 4 wherein the water-swollen, dye-containing fibers are then further heated with steam at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the fibers for a time sufficient to collapse the pores and irreversibly lock the dye within the fibers and to crystallize such fibers and stabilize them against progressive laundry shrinkage.
- 7. The process of claim 6 wherein the fibers are heated with steam at a temperature from about 150.degree. C. to 165.degree. C.
- 8. The process of claim 6 wherein the fibers are heated with steam at a temperature of about 165.degree. C.
- 9. A process for improving impregnation of poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide fibers including the following steps
- extruding a solution of poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide) and a solvent through orifices in a spinneret to form amorphous fibers which together define a fiber structure, such fibers having minute pores therein,
- moving such amorphous fibers into contact with an aqueous extraction bath to remove the solvent during which such fibers become water-swollen,
- contacting such water-swollen fibers with an aqueous mixture containing a water-soluble dye and an organic water-insoluble material which sublimes in steam at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the fibers,
- heating the water-swollen fibers with steam at a temperature from about 110.degree. C. to 140.degree. C. for a time sufficient to diffuse substantially all of the water-soluble dye into the pores of such fibers throughout the fiber structure,
- heating the water-swollen fibers with steam at a sublimation temperature below the glass transition temperature of the fibers for a time sufficient to sublime the water-insoluble material into the pores of such fibers throughout the fiber structure, and thereafter
- heating the water-swollen fibers with steam at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the fibers for a time sufficient to collapse the pores and irreversibly lock the dye within the fibers and to stabilize the fibers against progressive laundry shrinkage.
- 10. The process of claim 9 wherein the water-swollen fibers are heated with steam at a sublimation temperature from about 110.degree. C. to 150.degree. C.
- 11. The process of claim 9 wherein the water-insoluble material is an ultraviolet light screener.
- 12. The process of claim 9 wherein the water-insoluble material is a disperse dye.
- 13. The process of claim 10 wherein the water-swollen fibers are heated with steam at a temperature of about 165.degree. C.
- 14. A process for improving impregnation of poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide fibers including the following steps:
- extruding a solution of poly(meta-phenylene isophthalamide) and a solvent through orifices in a spinneret to form amorphous fibers which together define a fiber structure, such fibers having minute pores therein,
- moving such amorphous fibers into contact with an aqueous extraction bath to remove the solvent during which such fibers become water-swollen,
- contacting such water-swollen fibers with an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble material and heating the water-swollen fibers with steam at a temperature from about 110.degree. C. to 140.degree. C. for a time sufficient to diffuse substantially all of the water-soluble material into the pores of the fibers throughout such fiber structure,
- wherein the water-soluble material is a dye, and
- wherein the water-swollen, dye-containing fibers are then further heated with steam at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the fibers for a time sufficient to collapse the pores and irreversibly lock the dye within the fibers and to crystallize such fibers and stabilize them against progressive laundry shrinkage.
- 15. The process of claim 14 wherein the fibers are heated with steam at a temperature from about 150.degree. C. to 165.degree. C.
- 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the fibers are heated with steam at a temperature of about 165.degree. C.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 905,556, filed Sept. 12, 1986, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 808,946, filed Dec. 16, 1985, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1438067 |
Jun 1976 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Continuous Tow Dyeing Range Brochure |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
905556 |
Sep 1986 |
|
Parent |
808946 |
Dec 1985 |
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