Jeffrey L Langley

US Patent:

46664548, May 19, 1987

Filed:

Sep 9, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/773765

Inventors:

Ronald N. DeMartino - Wayne NJ
Jeffrey T. Langley - Charlotte NC
Robert D. Johnson - Charlotte NC

Assignee:

Celanese Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

C04B 4130

US Classification:

8494

Abstract:

A fabric comprising polyethylene terephthalate fibers which exhibits a reduced tendency to pill upon encountering surface abrasion is formed on an expeditious basis. During the polymerization of the monomers required to form the polyethylene terephthalate, a quantity of polyethylene glycol (as described) is copolymerized therewith to form a polymer which exhibits a substantial intrinsic viscosity (as described). Following the melt-extrusion of the polymer to form fibers and fabric formation, the fabric is subjected to a dye bath at an elevated temperature wherein it is dyed, and the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer is reduced (as described). The presence of units derived from polyethylene glycol within the polymer chain has been found to lead to such intrinsic viscosity reduction within the dye bath. Accordingly, the resulting polyethylene terephthalate fibers present in the fabric tend to exhibit a strength which is closer to that of natural fibers such as cotton, and the tendency of the fabric to retain undesirable pills is greatly reduced.