Regenerated cellulose fiber

Abstract

The present invention relates to a regenerated cellulose fiber, which is characterized by the combination of the following features: the fiber has in its dry condition a collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure the fiber has in its wet condition a cross-sectional structure with cavities the fiber is segmented in the longitudinal direction by dividing walls there is incorporated into the fiber an absorbent polymer, in particular carboxymethylcellulose. The fiber may be obtained by a process, wherein there is admixed a carbonate as well as an absorbent polymer, in particular carboxymethylcellulose, to a viscose dope.

Claims

1. A regenerated cellulose fiber, wherein: the fiber is a superinflated fiber the fiber is segmented in the longitudinal direction by dividing walls the fiber further comprises an absorbent polymer.

2. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1, wherein the fiber has a cross-section in the dry condition that is multilobal and/or is irregularly grooved.

3. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber has a width and a length, wherein the fiber comprises dividing walls and wherein the distance between the dividing walls is between 0.3 and 3 times the fiber width averaged over the fiber length.

4. The cellulose fiber according to claim 3, the distance between the dividing walls is between 0.5 and 2 times the fiber width averaged over the fiber length.

5. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber comprises-5% by weight to 50% by weight of the absorbent polymer based on underivatized cellulose.

6. The cellulose fiber according to claim 5, wherein the fiber comprises 15% by weight to 40% by weight of the absorbent polymer based on underivatized cellulose.

7. The cellulose fiber according to claim 5, wherein the fiber comprises 20% by weight to 30% by weight of the absorbent polymer based on underivatized cellulose.

8. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the absorbent polymer is carboxymethylcellulose.

9. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cellulose fiber is present in the form of a staple fiber.

10. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber has a titer of 0.5 dtex to 8 dtex.

11. The cellulose fiber according to claim 10, wherein the fiber has a titer of 1.3 dtex to 6 dtex.

12. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber has a length which is from 2 mm to 80 mm.

13. The cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein characterized by a water retention capacity of at least 300%.

14. A cylindrical tampon obtained from the cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said cylindrical tampon has a mass of 2.72 g, a length of 44 mm, a diameter of 13 mm and a Syngina value of at least 5.2 g/g.

15. The regenerated cellulose fiber according to claim 1 or 2 for use in absorbing products, sanitary products, in particular tampons, sanitary aids for incontinence, sanitary napkins and panty liners, packaging of foodstuff, in particular for meat products, papers, in particular filter papers, clothes and wound dressings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows the longitudinal section of a dried cellulose fiber according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a much enlarged longitudinal section of a dried cellulose fiber according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the cross-section of dried cellulose fibers according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the tubular cross-section of a cellulose fiber according to the invention upon contact with water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The present invention provides a regenerated cellulose fiber with a collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure, which is characterized by the combination of the following features: the fiber has in its dry condition a collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure the fiber has in its wet condition a cross-sectional structure with cavities the fiber is segmented in the longitudinal direction by dividing walls there is incorporated into the fiber an absorbent polymer.

(6) The absorbent polymer is preferably carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Other suitable absorbent polymers may be selected from the group of polymers that are compatible with the viscose process, such as, for example, viscose carbamate, carboxymethylcellulose, alginates or homo- and co-polymers of acrylic acids (such as, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,255).

(7) By means of the present invention, there is, for the very first time, provided in the preferred embodiment a combination of a hollow viscose fiber, which has a tubular structure with cavities again upon re-wetting, and a viscose mixed fiber with CMC.

(8) The expert understands that a regenerated cellulose fiber with collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure is a viscose fiber, the cross-section of which has been so strongly inflated that the cross-sectional structure collapses in itself. The production of such fibers (through admixture of sodium carbonate) is described in GB 1,333,047 A and GB 1,393,778 A.

(9) The fiber according to the invention has in its dried condition preferably an irregular multilobal cross-section or an irregularly grooved cross-section. Such fibers are also designated as SI fibers (for superinflated). In contrast to the fibers described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,990 A the cross-section will re-open upon wetting of the fibers and it will regain its tubular form, with cavities being formed.

(10) The fiber according to the invention is different to the fibers described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,990 A in particular due to the presence of a segmentation in the longitudinal direction as a result of dividing walls.

(11) The distance between the dividing walls thus is preferably between 0.3 and 3 times, preferably 0.5 to 2 times, the fiber width averaged over the fiber length. There is assumed that the presence of these dividing walls is in part responsible for the fact that upon wetting of the fibers, there is re-formed a tubular structure with cavities.

(12) This tubular structure is probably responsible for the fibers according to the invention having excellent absorbance compared to the fibers of the U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,990 that remain flat also upon re-wetting.

(13) By the measure that there is incorporated an absorbent polymer, in particular CMC; into the fiber the expert understands as being integrated, in the matrix of the (upon regeneration of the fiber) underivatized cellulose, the absorbent polymer, for example CMC. This isin contrast to the application of CMC onto the already fabricated fiberpossible, especially, by spinning in CMC into the viscose dope.

(14) The cellulose fiber according to the invention has a very high water retention capacity; the fiber character, however, still remains the same in its wet condition. Furthermore, there has been shown that the fiber according to the invention, in contrast to conventional viscose-CMS mixed fibers, may be well produced and in particular processed in a conventional viscose process.

(15) The portion of absorbent polymer, in particular of CMC, in the fiber according to the invention is preferably 5 to 50% by weight, especially preferably 15 to 40% by weight, most preferably 20 to 30% by weight, based upon the underivatized cellulose.

(16) The cellulose fiber according to the invention is preferably available in the form of a staple fibers and may be produced in all common titer areas. Preferably, the fiber titer may be 0.5 dtex to 8 dtex, preferably from 1.3 to 6 dtex.

(17) The fiber length of the fiber according to the invention may be from 2 mm to 80 mm and is dependent in particular on the field of application. For a wet-laid process, there are suitable in particular fiber lengths of 2 to 20 mm, for a carding process, fiber lengths from 20 to 80 mm are suitable.

(18) The tenacity of the fiber according to the invention is typically above 10 cN/tex; the tear elongation is above 15%.

(19) The cellulose fiber according to the invention has preferably a water retention capacity of at least 300%, measured according to DIN 53814.

(20) There was, for example, measured in the fibers according to the invention with a portion of 35% by weight CMC a water retention capacity of up to 400% WRC.

(21) A cylindrical tampon prepared from the fiber according to the invention with a mass of 2.72 g, a length of 44 mm and a diameter of 13 mm has preferably a Syngina value of at least 5.2 g/g, measured according to EDANA/INDA Standard Test Methods for the Nonwovens and Related Industries ERT 350.0 or WSP 350.1, respectively.

(22) In this way, the fiber has a higher Syngina value than the currently commercially most important absorbent viscose fiber, a viscose fiber with a regular trilobal cross-section marketed under the trade name Galaxy (EP 0 301 874 A1).

(23) For the production of a regenerated cellulose fiber according to the present invention, there is used a process, comprising the steps providing a viscose dope admixing a carbonate compatible with viscose into the viscose dope admixing of an absorbent polymer into the viscose dope spinning the viscose dope in a spinning bath, thereby forming fibers, wherein the degree of ripening of the viscose dope before spinning is less than 15 Hottenroth, preferably 10 to 14 Hottenroth the content of H.sub.2SO.sub.4 in the spinning bath is 8% to 10% the content of ZnSO.sub.4 in the spinning bath is 0.3% to 0.5% and the content of Na.sub.2SO.sub.4 in the spinning bath is 25% to 30%.

(24) The process according to the invention, hence, combines the so far known step of spinning in a carbonate, in particular sodium carbonate, for producing a hollow cross-section, with the step of spinning in an absorbent polymer.

(25) In comparison with the method described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,990, there is spun in the process according to the invention a viscose with a lower degree of ripening (expressed in Hottenroth) and the spinning bath has a smaller portion of H.sub.2SO.sub.4 and ZnSO.sub.4. There is made the assumption that these different procedures result in the differences mentioned above between the fiber according to the invention and the fiber described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,990, in particular in terms of cross-sectional structure and also in terms of the other characteristics.

(26) The absorbent polymer is preferably CMC. The following embodiments relate to this preferred embodiment; they apply, however, mutatis mutandis also to other absorbent polymers that are compatible with the viscose process.

(27) As carbonate, there is suitable any carbonate, in particular an alkali metal carbonate, which is compatible with the conditions of the viscose process. Especially suitable is sodium carbonate. Other suitable carbonates are potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate as well as in general all carbonates releasing carbon dioxide under the influence of an acid.

(28) Exerting influence on the cross-sectional form of the fiber (inflation and collapse) in a way so that there is developed a collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure, for example, by selecting the appropriate conditions in the spinning bath, selection of temperature and, of course, amount of carbonate added, is known to the expert in particular from the patent publications cited above.

(29) Preferably, the carbonate is admixed in an amount of 11% by weight to 23% by weight (calculated as (CO.sub.3).sup.2), based on the cellulose in the viscose dope. In the specific case of sodium carbonate, the preferred amount is from 20% by weight to 40% by weight based on cellulose.

(30) Further preferably, the absorbent polymer, in particular the carboxymethylcellulose, is admixed in an amount of 5% by weight to 50% by weight, especially preferably 15% by weight to 40% by weight, most preferably 20% by weight to 30% by weight, based on the cellulose in the viscose dope.

(31) The carbonate and/or the carboxymethylcellulose may preferably be admixed in the form of a solution.

(32) In particular, the carboxymethylcellulose may be admixed in the form of an alkaline solution, containing 2% by weight to 9% by weight, preferably 3% by weight to 5% by weight NaOH and 5% by weight to 15% by weight, preferably 6% by weight to 12% by weight, carboxymethylcellulose.

(33) The carbonate and the carboxymethylcellulose may also be admixed together, in particular in the form of a joint solution.

(34) For the production of a cellulose fiber according to the invention there may also be used a conventional viscose dope.

(35) A typical embodiment of the process according to the invention comprises the following measures:

(36) To a viscose dope produced according to conventional methods (cellulose content=9-10%, NaOH content 5-6%; viscosity 30-50 falling ball seconds, degree of ripening 10-15 Hottenroth) there are added 25-35% by weight Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 (to be varied according to fiber titer), based on the cellulose in the viscose dope, in the form of a 20% solution of Na.sub.2CO.sub.3. There are further added to the dope 5% by weight to 45% by weight, preferably 20% by weight to 30% by weight, based on the cellulose in the viscose dope, carboxymethylcellulose in the form of an alkaline solution (2-9% by weight NaOH; preferably 35% by weight). The concentration of the solution is 5% by weight to 15% by weight, preferably 8-12% by weight. The carboxymethylcellulose is a commercially available product with a degree of substitution DS of 0.6-1.2, preferably 0.65-0.85 and a viscosity (2% solution; 25 C.) of 30-800 mPas; preferably 50-100 mPas.

(37) The additive solutions (carbonate and CMC) are preferably injected into the already spinnable viscose dope, in particular immediately before the spinning. The viscose is subsequently homogenized, preferably via a dynamic mixer.

(38) The viscose is spun out and subjected to a post-treatment at parameters common for textile fibers.

EXAMPLES

(39) For the production of regenerated cellulose fibers described in the following there was used a conventional viscose dope.

(40) Experiment A: spinning of the viscose dope without additives

(41) Experiment B: spinning of the viscose dope with 30% Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 based on cellulose

(42) Experiment C (according to the invention): spinning of the viscose dope with 30% Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 and 20% CMC (DS=0.81; viscosity 2%=53 mPas, Type Blanose 7M1F, producer: company Aqualon France (Hercules)), each based on the cellulose present in the viscose dope.

(43) The dopes were spun out into fibers with a titer of 4.4 dtex with identical spinning parameters.

(44) Experiment D: spinning of the viscose dope without additives

(45) Experiment E: spinning of the viscose dope with 20% CMC (specification as in experiment C) based on cellulose

(46) Experiment F: spinning of the viscose dope with 30% CMC (specification as in experiment C) based on cellulose

(47) The dopes were spun out into fibers with a titer of 3 dtex with identical spinning parameters.

(48) Morphology of the Produced Fibers

(49) Viewed with a microscope, the fibers B and C are hollow fibers of the SI type (superinflated, segmented). The fibers A, D, E and F are fibers with a grooved and round cross-section that is typical for viscose fibers.

(50) Longitudinal section and cross section of the dried fiber C according to the invention are illustrated in the FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

(51) In the FIGS. 1 and 2 there is clearly visible the segmentation in the longitudinal direction, which is typical for the fiber according to the invention. The segmentation is the result of dividing walls, whichas may be recognized in FIG. 2 in an increased magnificationin fact result in a rigid and membrane-like sub-division.

(52) In FIG. 3 there is visible the collapsed hollow cross-sectional structure, which is typical for SI fibers, with the formation of a plurality of sides or irregularly grooved cross-sections.

(53) FIG. 4 shows the tubular cross-section of the fiber according to the invention upon wetting of the dry fiber.

(54) Spinning Performance:

(55) All fibers may be spun with the conventional parameters. Whereas the fibers E and F tend to deposit in the baths of the post-treatment of the fibers, this effect is not observable in the fiber C according to the invention.

(56) Water Retention Capacity:

(57) For all fibers, the water retention capacity was measured in % according to DIN 53814.

(58) Fiber A: 80%

(59) Fiber B: 220%

(60) Fiber C: 335%

(61) Fiber D: 93%

(62) Fiber E: 149%

(63) Fiber F: 193%

(64) As the results show, the water retention capacity in absolute terms may be increased by spinning in 20% CMC based on the cellulose by about 50%, by spinning in 30% CMC by 100%. (comparison of the fibers D->E->F).

(65) By spinning in 30% Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 based on cellulose, the water retention capacity may be increased by 140%. (comparison of the percentage, fiber A->B).

(66) By spinning in 20% CMC and 30% Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 based on cellulose (according to the invention), the water retention capacity, however, may be increased by 255%. This shows that the effects of the two additives do no increase additively but rather synergistically:

(67) The effect of the addition of CMC alone or Na.sub.2CO.sub.3 alone, respectively, amounts to:

(68) A->B=+140%

(69) D->E=+56%

(70) The expected value for the fiber C, hence, would be 80+140+56=276%

(71) As the measured water retention capacity of the fiber amounting to 335% is higher by the factor 1.2, the two additive components surprisingly, hence, act in a synergistic way.

(72) Gel Effect:

(73) The surface gel effect (slimy and soapy touch) is somehow stronger in the fibers C according to the invention than in the comparative sample E (with the same content of CMC). This gel effect is only developed in a wet condition.

(74) Fiber Values:

(75) The fiber C according to the invention obtains at a titer of 4.4 dtex a tenacitiy of 13.1 cN/tex with a tension of 22.9%, which is acceptable for a use in the field of fleece processing.

(76) Absorption Under Pressure:

(77) From the fibers A, B and C there were pressed tampon plugs, each amounting to 2.72 g, and there was carried out an Syngina measurement according to WSP 351.0. As an additional reference, there was produced an identically produced plug made of 100% commercial trilobal viscose fiber (Galaxy).

(78) Results:

(79) Fiber A: 4.56 g/g

(80) Fiber B: 4.75 g/g

(81) Fiber C: 5.73 g/g

(82) 100% Galaxy: 5.05 g/g

(83) The result shows that with the fibers according to the invention there may be obtained a significantly higher Syngina absorption even in comparison with commercial trilobal fibers.

(84) The regenerated cellulose fiber according to the invention, hence, is especially suitable for the use in absorbing products, sanitary products, in particular tampons, sanitary aids for incontinence, sanitary napkins and panty liners, packaging of foodstuff, in particular for meat products, papers, in particular filter papers, clothes (e.g., clothing textiles for the moisture management in combination with other fibers or as multi-layered construction) and wound dressings.