A method for making surface functionalised bicomponent fibre

摘要

The invention relates to producing polyester fibres, with high and durable wicking properties and good retention of tensile properties. Many approaches like modifying the cross section of the fibre, modification of fibre surface and chemically modifying the polymer prior to spinning have been patented as approaches for achieving moisture management properties in polyester fibres. Chemical approaches are known to give high and durable wicking, while surface treatment are known to give enhanced wicking without loss of other bulk properties. In the present invention, high and durable wicking polyester fibres have benn prepared by a novel approach of surface funtionalisation of polyester fibres, wherein benefits of chemical modification and surface modifications can be effectively combined. In the present invention, a hydrophilic masterbatch was gravimetrically fed to the main polymer stream during melt spinning to obtain fibres having good and durable moisture management properties. Addition of the masterbatch was also restricted to sheath in a bicomponent sheath/core spinning system to get the effect. In addition, the work has shown that by reducing the sheath component (restricting addition closer to surface), while keeping the masterbatch addition on sheath same, improved wicking could be achieved. Alternately, under reduced sheath component, similar transport levels could be achieved with a lower percentage of materbatch addition on sheath.