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EP0719355A1 - Liaison de fibres - Google Patents

Liaison de fibres

Info

Publication number
EP0719355A1
EP0719355A1 EP94924925A EP94924925A EP0719355A1 EP 0719355 A1 EP0719355 A1 EP 0719355A1 EP 94924925 A EP94924925 A EP 94924925A EP 94924925 A EP94924925 A EP 94924925A EP 0719355 A1 EP0719355 A1 EP 0719355A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fibre
assembly
jets
melt
web
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP94924925A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0719355B1 (fr
Inventor
Peter University of Manchester FOSTER
Itzchak University of Manchester PORAT
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, University of
MANCHESTER Institute of Science and Technology, University of
Original Assignee
MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, University of
MANCHESTER Institute of Science and Technology, University of
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, University of, MANCHESTER Institute of Science and Technology, University of filed Critical MANCHESTER INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, University of
Publication of EP0719355A1 publication Critical patent/EP0719355A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0719355B1 publication Critical patent/EP0719355B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H3/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length
    • D04H3/08—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating
    • D04H3/14—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of yarns or like filamentary material of substantial length characterised by the method of strengthening or consolidating with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/44—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/54—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties by welding together the fibres, e.g. by partially melting or dissolving

Definitions

  • This invention relates to producing fibre assemblies and fabrics.
  • non-woven fabricating methods which produce fabrics more quickly and/or at lower cost, or with special properties.
  • Some of these methods use heat to melt fusible fibre in a web to produce a so-called thermobonded fabric - such fabrics are produced using a heated roller which may have an embossed pattern which spot- or point- bonds the web so as to leave intervening unbonded areas so that he resulting material has a degree of textile flexibility, though the fabrics tend to be quite stiff nevertheless.
  • Thermobonding is usually associated with high energy consumption.
  • the present invention provides methods for making improved non-woven fabrics.
  • the invention comprises-a iiethod for bonding a fibre assembly comprising impinging a high temperature jet on the assembly to melt a melt component of the assembly to fuse fibres together.
  • the jet may entangle as well as melt fibres and particularly interesting results are obtained when jets melt and entangle. It may be arranged that all jets melt and entangle to greater or lesser relative extents to produce fabrics or structures of various characteristics. It may be arranged that purely entangling jets are present with purely melting jets or with jets that both melt and entangle.
  • the melt component may be a thermoplastic fibre - by "fibre” as used herein, unless otherwise indicated, is meant continuous filament or staple fibre. Two thermoplastic fibres may be used together, one of which, by virtue of its lower melting temperature, comprising a melt fibre, the other a structure fibre.
  • thermoplastic fibre may be the sole constituent of the assembly and molten portions of it fuse other portions together.
  • a melt fibre may be a single component fibre or may be a bicomponent fibre having at least one thermoplastic component.
  • thermoplastic fibre may however be one of at least two components of the assembly, the other of which may or may not be thermoplastic, and may melt to bond other or the other component fibre.
  • the jet may be a steam jet, and may be a super- heated steam jet.
  • the invention also comprises a method for making a fabric comprising bonding a fibre web using a method as described.
  • a plurality of spaced-apart jets may act on the web; the jets may be spaced apart in two-dimensional array.
  • the jets may be apertures in a platen backed by a superheated steam plenum chamber, or may be apertures in a rotary cylinder.
  • the jets may be spaced apart by distances of the order of two or three millimetres.
  • the fibre assembly may be backed by a permeable support, which may comprise a perforate belt or wire, which may wrap around a rotary cylinder for example or which may constitute a conveyor for the web.
  • a permeable support which may comprise a perforate belt or wire, which may wrap around a rotary cylinder for example or which may constitute a conveyor for the web.
  • the invention also comprises a bonded fibre assembly and a bonded fabric produced by a method as described.
  • the invention also comprises apparatus for bonding a fibre assembly comprising high temperature jet means adapted to impinge a fibre assembly in such manner as to melt a melt component of the assembly to fuse fibres together.
  • the high temperature jet means may comprise steam, in particular superheated steam jet means.
  • the apparatus may be adapted for making a fabric comprising fibre web support means adapted to support a fibre web for impingement by said high temperature jet means.
  • Said support means may be permeable, and may comprise a perforate belt or wire.
  • Said steam jet means may comprise an apertured platen, which may be backed by a plenum chamber.
  • Said support means may, on the other hand, comprise an apertured roller.
  • the steam jet means may-comprise steam jets arranged in an array with a spacing of the order of 2 or 3 mm.
  • the invention also comprises a fibre assembly or fabric produced by any such apparatus.
  • the invention also comprises a fabric comprising a web of textile fibre having spaced apart bonding points where the fibres are less densely arranged than in the rest of the web and have interfibre melt bonds.
  • Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section through steam jet means of the invention acting on a fibre web
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of fabric bonding plant including steam jet means according to the invention
  • Figure 3 is a diagrammatic cross-section through another fibre bonding plant according to the invention.
  • Figure 4 is a view of a section of a surface of a bonded web according to the invention.
  • Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 to a larger scale
  • Figure 6 is a view of a single bond point of a web as depicted in Figures
  • Figure 7 is a-view of bonded fibres in a bond point as illustrated in Figure
  • Figure 8 is a view like Figure 7 of a different fabric according to the invention.
  • the drawings illustrate methods and apparatus for bonding a fibre assembly and in particular a fibre web 11 to form a bonded fabric, and bonded fabrics formed thereby.
  • Figures 1 to 3 illustrate apparatus and methods of using it in which high temperature superheated steam jets 12 impinge on the fibre web 11 to melt a melt component fibre thereof to fuse fibres together.
  • melt component is a thermoplastic fibre. It must, however, be pointed out that it would be possible to incorporate a melt component in some other way, such, for example, as in powder or particulate form. However, using a melt component fibre means that any unmelted melt component remains as part of the fibre make-up of the fabric and this suggests that incorporation of melt component in fibre form is most efficient.
  • hydroentanglement has been used as a means of making a fabric from a web or fleece of fibre
  • the jets contemplated for use in the present invention can correspond substantially to those used in hydroentanglement in regard to size, spacing, cross- sectional area, velocity and so forth, with the essential difference that they are hot enough to melt at least a melt component of the fibre assembly or web to fuse fibres together.
  • FIGs 1 and 2 illustrate an arrangement in which a plenum chamber 21 backs a platen 22 with jet apertures 23 impinging the web 11 supported on a perforate backing mesh or wire 24.
  • the mesh or wire 24 constitutes an endless belt running over rollers 25 and beneath the platen 22, the plenum chamber 21 of which is supplied with superheated steam from a steam generator 26.
  • a support bed 27 (which may also be perforated to allow escape of steam) is provided beneath the platen 22 to support the mesh or wire 24.
  • the platen 22 can be raised from and lowered on to the top of the web 11 which can be " moved intermittently, a platen-length at a time, when the platen is raised, steam being applied when the travel is temporarily arrested and the platen lowered.
  • FIG. 3 A continuous processing arrangement is illustrated in Figure 3 in which a perforated roller 32 with an interior plenum chamber 31 is used instead of the platen 21 of Figures 1 and 2.
  • the web 11 is guided around and pressed against the platen 32 by a perforate belt 34 running on rollers 35.
  • the jets of the roller 32 are blanked off except where the web 11 is wrapped.
  • the treatment zone is encased in suitable jacket means, not shown, to prevent dangerous escape of high pressure, superheated steam and to provide for heat and possibly water recovery.
  • suitable jacket means not shown, to prevent dangerous escape of high pressure, superheated steam and to provide for heat and possibly water recovery.
  • Appropriate controls and safety measures will also be provided, as well as the necessary fibre preparation and web-laying equipment, fibre take-up and so forth.
  • Figure 4 shows a surface, somewhat enlarged, of a bonded web produced on apparatus as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
  • spots 41 are noticeable in a configuration corresponding to the array of jets in the apparatus.
  • Figures 5 and 6 show the spots 41 to larger scales - some bonding is evident more particularlyin Figures 6.
  • Figure 7 is a further enlargement of a fibre region within a spot 41 in which melt bonds are clearly visible as globules 42. This is typical of bonding with distinct melt and structure components.
  • Figures 8 which is a view to a somewhat higher magnification even than Figure 7, illustrates a bond typical of a single component fabric where the individual fibres 81 become tacky and form bonds by means of fibrils 82 bridging them.
  • both types of bond may be found within a multicomponent fabric according to the processing temperatures.
  • jets instead of spot bonding, jets can be traversed relatively to the web to form continuous line bonds in various patterns. The equivalent would be possible also with methods according to the invention.
  • a variety of fabric specifications may also be generated by using different temperatures and pressures, patterned backing elements, patterns and sizes of jet orifices and different degrees of constricting the fibres in the web against movement under the jets.
  • the fibre may be continuous filament or staple fibre or a mixture of the two, and a melt component may be provided as one component of a bicomponent fibre.
  • the superheated steam may contain additives which may help or serve to effect thermal bonding between fibres or to condense a treatment substance on to the fibres, and indeed many variations on the basic principles hereinabove disclosed will be found useful.
  • Typical fabrics produced by the method of the invention have tenacities (in Cn/tex) of about 1.3 which compares favourably with thermally bonded fabrics (about 1.2) and very favourably with conventionally hydro- entangled fabrics (about 0.8).
  • the flexural rigidity of a typical fabric of the invention is about 1200 mg.cm, which is intermediate between a thermally bonded fabric (about 1700 mg.cm) and a hydroentangled fabric (about 800 mg.cm).
  • the fabric of the invention can be produced to different specifications, and particularly at different strengths and flexural rigidities without the one necessarily having to be traded off against the other.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un procédé de liaison d'un assemblage de fibres consistant à projeter un jet à haute température sur ledit assemblage de manière à faire fondre un composant fusible de l'assemblage afin de réunir les fibres par la fusion.
EP94924925A 1993-08-28 1994-08-24 Liaison de fibres Expired - Lifetime EP0719355B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9317946 1993-08-28
GB939317946A GB9317946D0 (en) 1993-08-28 1993-08-28 Fibre bonding
PCT/GB1994/001856 WO1995006769A1 (fr) 1993-08-28 1994-08-24 Liaison de fibres

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0719355A1 true EP0719355A1 (fr) 1996-07-03
EP0719355B1 EP0719355B1 (fr) 1998-07-29

Family

ID=10741209

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94924925A Expired - Lifetime EP0719355B1 (fr) 1993-08-28 1994-08-24 Liaison de fibres

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0719355B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7502994A (fr)
DE (1) DE69412106T2 (fr)
GB (1) GB9317946D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1995006769A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9758925B2 (en) 2006-03-31 2017-09-12 Kuraray Co., Ltd. Molded object having nonwoven fibrous structure

Families Citing this family (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10019342B3 (de) * 1999-07-16 2006-02-09 Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. Verfahren zur Verfestigung von Faser- und/oder Filamentvliesen
DE19933360A1 (de) * 1999-07-16 2001-01-18 Saechsisches Textilforsch Inst Verfahren zur Verfestigung von Faser und/oder Filamentvliesen
US6736916B2 (en) * 2000-12-20 2004-05-18 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Hydraulically arranged nonwoven webs and method of making same
JP4439854B2 (ja) 2002-10-08 2010-03-24 三菱レイヨン・エンジニアリング株式会社 加圧蒸気噴出ノズルと同ノズルを用いた不織布の製造方法
US7022201B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2006-04-04 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Entangled fabric wipers for oil and grease absorbency
US6958103B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2005-10-25 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Entangled fabrics containing staple fibers
US7194788B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2007-03-27 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Soft and bulky composite fabrics
US7645353B2 (en) 2003-12-23 2010-01-12 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Ultrasonically laminated multi-ply fabrics
DE102006001036A1 (de) * 2006-01-07 2007-07-12 Entwicklungsgesellschaft für Akustik (EfA)mbH Faserformteil mit teppichartiger Textiloberfläche
JP5123497B2 (ja) * 2006-06-23 2013-01-23 ユニ・チャーム株式会社 不織布、不織布製造方法及び不織布製造装置
DE102007043523A1 (de) 2007-09-12 2009-03-19 Fleissner Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung dreidimensional strukturierter Vliesstoffe
DE102007043543A1 (de) 2007-09-12 2009-03-19 Fleissner Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung dreidimensional strukturierter Vliesstoffe
DE102007053030A1 (de) 2007-11-05 2009-05-07 Fleissner Gmbh Einrichtung zur Beaufschlagung von Stoffen mittels heißen Gasen
DE202011004335U1 (de) 2011-03-23 2012-03-26 Trützschler Nonwovens Gmbh Einrichtung zur Verfestigung eines textilen Produktes mittels heißen Gasen
WO2022202142A1 (fr) * 2021-03-23 2022-09-29 Jnc株式会社 Textile non-tissé et procédé pour sa production
CN116917561B (zh) * 2021-03-23 2024-09-27 捷恩智株式会社 无纺布及其制造方法、吸收性物品

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE304105B (fr) * 1962-10-03 1968-09-16 Berger G Welin
US3192560A (en) * 1963-11-08 1965-07-06 Du Pont Apparatus for heat treating porous sheet material
US3458905A (en) * 1966-07-05 1969-08-05 Du Pont Apparatus for entangling fibers
US3353225A (en) * 1966-07-05 1967-11-21 Du Pont Process of forming nonwoven fabric with opposed jets

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9506769A1 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9758925B2 (en) 2006-03-31 2017-09-12 Kuraray Co., Ltd. Molded object having nonwoven fibrous structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7502994A (en) 1995-03-22
DE69412106T2 (de) 1999-03-25
GB9317946D0 (en) 1993-10-13
EP0719355B1 (fr) 1998-07-29
DE69412106D1 (de) 1998-09-03
WO1995006769A1 (fr) 1995-03-09

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