U.S. patent application number 12/280688 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for vinyl chloride resin fiber and method for producing same.
This patent application is currently assigned to DENKI KAGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Yukihisa Hoshino, Akira Sakurai.
Application Number | 20100233390 12/280688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38458969 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100233390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sakurai; Akira ; et
al. |
September 16, 2010 |
VINYL CHLORIDE RESIN FIBER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME
Abstract
To provide a fiber made of a vinyl chloride resin which is
excellent in heat resistance and thus hardly shrinks thermally even
at a temperature exceeding 100.degree. C. The fiber obtained by
melt-spinning a resin composition comprising a vinyl chloride resin
and from 1 to 300 parts by mass of a polyester resin based on 100
parts by mass of the vinyl chloride resin, wherein the vinyl
chloride resin has a viscosity average polymerization degree of
from 600 to 2,500; the polyester resin is a polylactic acid type
resin; and the polyester resin has the melting point of from 100 to
300.degree. C.
Inventors: |
Sakurai; Akira; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Hoshino; Yukihisa; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
DENKI KAGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI
KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38458969 |
Appl. No.: |
12/280688 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
February 22, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/053314 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/15 ;
264/210.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D01D 5/08 20130101; D01F
6/48 20130101; D01F 6/92 20130101; D01F 6/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/15 ;
264/210.5 |
International
Class: |
D01F 8/04 20060101
D01F008/04; D01D 5/08 20060101 D01D005/08; D02J 1/22 20060101
D02J001/22; A41G 5/00 20060101 A41G005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 28, 2006 |
JP |
2006-051859 |
Claims
1. A vinyl chloride resin fiber made of a melt-spun fiber of a
resin composition comprising a vinyl chloride resin and a polyester
resin in an amount of from 1 to 300 parts by mass, based on 100
parts by mass of the vinyl chloride resin.
2. The vinyl chloride resin fiber according to claim 1, wherein the
vinyl chloride resin has a viscosity average polymerization degree
of from 600 to 2,500.
3. The vinyl chloride resin fiber according to claim 1, wherein the
polyester resin has a melting point of from 100 to 300.degree.
C.
4. The vinyl chloride resin fiber according to claim 1, wherein the
polyester resin is a polylactic acid type resin.
5. The vinyl chloride resin fiber according to claim 1, which has a
fineness of monofilament of from 1 to 200 decitex.
6. Artificial hair made of the vinyl chloride resin fiber as
defined in claim 1.
7. A process for producing a vinyl chloride resin fiber comprising
the sequential steps: (a) mixing a resin composition comprising a
vinyl chloride resin and a polyester resin; (b) melt-spinning the
mixed resin composition from a spinneret at a resin temperature of
from 150 to 200.degree. C.; (c) stretching the melt-spun fiber in
an atmosphere of air held at a temperature of from 30 to
150.degree. C. to have a stretching ratio of from 2 to 20 times as
much; and (d) subjecting the stretched fiber to a thermal relaxing
treatment in an atmosphere of air held at a temperature of from 80
to 200.degree. C. until the entire length of the fiber becomes from
99.8 to 50% of the length before the treatment.
8. The process for producing a vinyl chloride resin fiber according
to claim 7, wherein the sectional area per nozzle hole used in the
melt-spinning step is at most 3 mm.sup.2.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a vinyl chloride resin
fiber which is excellent in heat resistance and thus hardly shrinks
thermally, and to a process for producing it.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Heretofore, a vinyl chloride resin has been used for various
applications as a typical plastic for general purposes, since it is
excellent in weather resistance, transparency, flame retardance or
chemical resistance and is inexpensive. The fiber has a strength,
degree of elongation, texture, etc. similar to natural hair,
whereby it is commonly used as a fiber for artificial hair such as
a hair wig or doll hair.
[0003] However, in order to make it more similar to natural hair,
various secondary processing of the fiber is carried out. However,
as a result, in the processing step for a hair wig, there is a
problem such that the fiber shrinks thermally more than necessary.
As a method to overcome such a problem, it is suggested to use a
vinyl chloride fiber made of a vinyl chloride resin and a
chlorinated vinyl chloride resin (Patent Document 1). However, in
such a method, it is difficult to add a large amount of the
chlorinated vinyl chloride resin, and a sufficient effect was not
sometimes obtained.
[0004] Further, it is suggested to use a vinyl chloride fiber
wherein 2 types of specific chlorinated vinyl chloride resins are
added (Patent Document 2). By such a method, it was possible to
increase the amount of the chlorinated vinyl chloride resin to be
added, and it was possible to prevent thermal shrinkage around
100.degree. C. However, in recent years, since styles of wigs for
head decoration became diversified and sophisticated, a processing
treatment is required to be carried out at a higher temperature,
which was difficult to fulfill with the above method, and the fiber
was sometimes poor in is processing characteristics.
[0005] Patent Document 1: JP-B-60-18323
[0006] Patent Document 2: JP-A-2003-193329
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Object to be Accomplished by the Invention
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a fiber
made of a vinyl chloride resin which is excellent in heat
resistance and thus hardly shrinks thermally even at a temperature
exceeding 100.degree. C., and to provide a process for producing
it.
Means to Accomplish the Object
[0008] Namely, the present invention provides the following.
(1) A vinyl chloride resin fiber made of a melt-spun fiber of a
resin composition comprising a vinyl chloride resin and a polyester
resin in an amount of from 1 to 300 parts by mass, based on 100
parts by mass of the vinyl chloride resin. (2) The vinyl chloride
resin fiber according to the above (1), wherein the vinyl chloride
resin has a viscosity average polymerization degree of from 600 to
2,500. (3) The vinyl chloride resin fiber according to the above
(1) or (2), wherein the polyester resin has a melting point of from
100 to 300.degree. C. (4) The vinyl chloride resin fiber according
to any one of the above (1) to (3), wherein the polyester resin is
a polylactic acid type resin. (5) The vinyl chloride resin fiber
according to any one of the above (1) to (4), which has a fineness
of monofilament of from 1 to 200 decitex. (6) Artificial hair made
of the vinyl chloride resin fiber as defined in any one of the
above (1) to (5). (7) A process for producing a vinyl chloride
resin fiber sequentially comprising:
[0009] (a) a step of mixing a resin composition comprising a vinyl
chloride resin and a polyester resin;
[0010] (b) a step of melt-spinning the above resin composition from
a spinneret at a resin temperature of from 150 to 200.degree.
C.;
[0011] (c) a step of stretching the above melt-spun fiber in an
atmosphere of air held at a temperature of from 30 to 150.degree.
C. to have a stretching ratio of from 2 to 20 times as much;
[0012] (d) a step of subjecting the above stretched fiber to
thermal relaxing treatment in an atmosphere of air held at a
temperature of from 80 to 200.degree. C. until the entire length of
the fiber becomes from 99.8 to 50% of the length before the
treatment.
(8) The process for producing a vinyl chloride resin fiber
according to the above (7), wherein the sectional area per nozzle
hole used in the above step of melt-spinning is at most 3
mm.sup.2.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to
provide a fiber made of a vinyl chloride resin which is excellent
in heat resistance and thus hardly shrinks thermally even at a
temperature exceeding 100.degree. C., has a little gloss and is
suitable as a fiber for hair decoration or artificial hair; and to
provide a process for producing it.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0014] The fiber made of a vinyl chloride resin of the present
invention is formed by a resin composition comprising a vinyl
chloride resin and from 1 to 300 parts by mass of a polyester
resin, based on 100 parts by mass of the vinyl chloride resin.
[0015] As the vinyl chloride resin used in the present invention,
it is possible to use a resin obtained by e.g. bulk polymerization,
solution polymerization, suspension polymerization or emulsion
polymerization. However, in consideration of e.g. the initial
coloration of fibers, it is preferred to use one prepared by
suspension polymerization.
[0016] The vinyl chloride resin may be a homopolymer resin which is
a conventional homopolymer of vinyl chloride or various types of
conventional vinyl chloride copolymer resins and is not
particularly limited.
[0017] As such a vinyl chloride copolymer resin, it is possible to
use a conventional copolymer resin. It may, for example, be a
copolymer resin of vinyl chloride with a vinyl ester, such as a
vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer resin or a vinyl
chloride/vinyl propionate copolymer resin; a copolymer resin of
vinyl chloride with an acrylate, such as a vinyl chloride/butyl
acrylate copolymer resin or a vinyl chloride/2-ethylhexyl acrylate
copolymer resin; a copolymer resin of vinyl chloride with an olefin
such as a vinyl chloride/ethylene copolymer resin or a vinyl
chloride/propylene copolymer resin; and a vinyl
chloride/acrylonitrile copolymer resin. It is particularly
preferred to use a homopolymer resin which is a homopolymer of
vinyl chloride, or a vinyl chloride/ethlene copolymer resin or a
vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer resin.
[0018] In such a vinyl copolymer resin, the content of the
comonomer is not particularly limited and may be determined
depending upon the required product quality such as the molding
processability, fiber properties, etc. The content of the comonomer
is preferably from 2 to 30 mass %, particularly preferably from 2
to 20 mass %.
[0019] The viscosity average polymerization degree of the vinyl
chloride resin to be used in the present invention is preferably
from 600 to 2,500, more preferably from 600 to 1,800. If it is less
than 600, the melt viscosity tends to be low, and the obtained
fibers tend to be susceptible to thermal shrinkage. On the other
hand, if the viscosity average polymerization degree exceeds 2,500,
the melt viscosity tends to be high, and the nozzle pressure tends
to be high, whereby a safe production will sometimes be difficult.
Here, the viscosity average polymerization degree is a value
calculated by JIS K6720-2 by dissolving 200 mg of the resin in 50
ml of nitrobenzene and measuring the specific viscosity of this
polymer solution in a constant temperature tank of 30.degree. C. by
using a Ubbelohde viscometer.
[0020] The polyester resin to be used in the present invention may,
for example, be an aromatic polyester resin such as polyethylene
terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene
terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate; or an aliphatic
polyester resin such as polylactic acid, polyhydroxy butanoic acid,
polycaprolactone, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate,
polyethylene succinate, polyglycolic acid, poly-3-hydroxypropionate
or poly-3-hydroxybutylate.
[0021] Further, the above polyester resin includes a copolymer of
such a polyester resin, a block or a graft polymer of such a
polyester resin and a blended product with other resins. It is not
particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of mixing property
with a vinyl chloride resin, it is preferably an aliphatic
polyester resin, particularly preferably a polylactic acid
resin.
[0022] The melting point of the polyester resin of the present
invention is preferably from 100 to 300.degree. C., particularly
preferably from 120 to 250.degree. C., most preferably from 130 to
200.degree. C. It is preferred to use one having crystallinity. If
the melting point of the polyester resin is less than 100.degree.
C., heat resistance of fiber to be obtained therefrom will
sometimes be poor. On the other hand, if the melting point exceeds
300.degree. C., it will sometimes be difficult to mix it with the
vinyl chloride resin.
[0023] The above melting point of the polyester resin represents a
temperature at the peak of a calorie for melting when by using a
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), 5 mg of a sample was
heated at a temperature raising rate of 10.degree. C./minute in
nitrogen and is a value calculated in accordance with
JISK-7121.
[0024] The preferred polylactic acid resin of the present invention
is not particularly limited.
[0025] Generally it is known that when the optical purity of the
polylactic acid is low, the crystallinity will decrease,
particularly, the melting point will decrease. Therefore, one
having L form at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, particularly
preferably at least 90%, is used.
[0026] The molecular weight of the polylactic acid resin to be used
in the present invention is, as a weight-average molecular weight
as calculated as standard polystyrene measured by gel permeation
chromatography, preferably from 10,000 to 1,000,000, more
preferably from 20,000 to 750,000, particularly preferably from
30,000 to 500,000. If the weight-average molecular weight is small,
the effect for improving the heat resistance of fiber to be
obtained will be poor, and if it is large, the mixing with the
vinyl chloride resin will sometimes be difficult.
[0027] The resin composition constituting the fiber of the present
invention is one comprising a vinyl chloride resin and a polyester
resin in an amount of from 1 to 300 parts by mass, preferably from
2 to 200 parts by mass, particularly preferably from 5 to 150 parts
by mass, most preferably from 10 to 100 parts by mass, based on 100
parts by mass of the vinyl chloride resin. If the polyester resin
is less than 1 part by mass, the heat resistance of fiber to be
obtained will deteriorate. On the other hand, if the polyester
resin exceeds 300 parts by mass, the flame retardancy of fiber to
be obtained will deteriorate.
[0028] In the resin composition for constituting the fiber of the
present invention, in addition to the vinyl chloride and the
polyester resin, it is possible to mix conventional additives to be
used for the vinyl chloride resin, as the case requires. Such
additives are not particularly limited, and known additives may be
incorporated depending upon the particular purpose. They may, for
example, be a lubricant, a heat stabilizer, a processing auxiliary,
a reinforcing agent, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, an
antistatic agent, a filler, a flame retardant, a pigment, an
initial coloration-improving agent, a conductivity-imparting agent,
a surface treating agent, a light stabilizer and a perfume.
[0029] Now, the process for producing the vinyl chloride resin
fiber of the present invention will be described.
[0030] The resin composition comprising the vinyl chloride and the
polyester resin, and additives as the case requires, to be used for
producing the fiber of the present invention, may be used in the
form of a powder compound obtained by mixing by using a
conventional mixing machine, for example, a Henschel mixer, a super
mixer or a ribbon blender, or in the form of a pellet compound
obtained by melting and mixing the powder compound.
[0031] The powder compound can be usually produced under
conventional conditions. Further, the pellet compound can be
prepared in the same manner as the preparation of a usual vinyl
chloride type pellet compound. For example, the pellet compound may
be prepared by using a kneader such as a single screw extruder, a
counter-rotating twin screw extruder, a conical twin screw
extruder, a co-rotating twin screw extruder, a co-kneader, a
planetary gear extruder or a roll kneader.
[0032] In the present invention, the above resin composition is
formed into a non-stretched fiber by a conventional spinning
method. The spinning method is not particularly limited, but a melt
spinning method is preferred. A conventional extruder can be used
when melt-spinning is carried out. For example, it is possible to
use a single screw extruder, a counter-rotating twin screw
extruder, a conical twin screw extruder, etc., but it is
particularly preferred to use a single screw extruder having an
aperture of approximately from 35 to 200 mm or a conical twin screw
extruder having an aperture of approximately from 35 to 150 mm.
[0033] In the present invention, it is possible to carry out the
melt-spinning by using conventional nozzles. For example, it is
preferred to carry out melt-spinning by providing nozzles having a
sectional area per nozzle hole, of at most 3 mm.sup.2, more
preferably at most 1 mm.sup.2, particularly preferably at most 0.5
mm.sup.2, at the forward end of a die (spinneret). If the sectional
area per nozzle hole exceeds 3 mm.sup.2, it will be required to
exert an excessive tension to form a fine non-stretched fiber or
stretched fiber, whereby the fiber sometimes breaks. The shape of a
sectional area of a nozzle hole is preferably a circular
hollow-shape, a spectacled-shape, a Y-shape or a C-shape.
[0034] In the present invention, it is preferred to produce
non-stretched fibers preferably having a fineness of monofilament
of at most 300 decitex by extruding strands from multi-type nozzles
having a plurality of nozzle holes having a sectional area of at
most 3 mm.sup.2 per nozzle hole, arranged in a die (the number of
nozzle holes is preferably from 50 to 500, the number of rows of
nozzles is preferably from 1 to 5 rows).
[0035] Specifically, it is possible to obtain a non-stretched
fiber, for example, by melt-spinning the resin composition such as
a pellet compound at a resin temperature of preferably from 150 to
200.degree. C., more preferably from 155 to 195.degree. C., by
using a single screw extruder.
[0036] By subjecting the non-stretched fiber obtained by the above
melt-spinning to stretch treatment or thermal treatment by a
conventional method, it is possible to obtain a fine fiber
(stretched fiber) of preferably at most 600 decitex. With respect
to the stretching conditions, the stretching is carried out
preferably in an atmosphere of air held at a stretch treating
temperature of preferably from 30 to 150.degree. C. at a stretching
ratio of preferably from 2 to 20 times as much. Particularly, the
stretching is carried out in an atmosphere of air at a stretch
treating temperature of preferably from 80 to 140.degree. C. at a
stretching ratio of preferably from 2 to 10 times as much.
[0037] Further, it is possible to decrease the degree of thermal
shrinkage, by subjecting the stretched fiber to thermal relaxing
treatment in an atmosphere of air held at a temperature of from 80
to 200.degree. C. until the entire length of the fiber becomes
preferably from 99.8 to 50%, more preferably from 99.8 to 70%, of
the length before the treatment. The thermal relaxing treatment can
be carried out in combination with or independently from the
stretching treatment.
[0038] Further, in the present invention, it is possible to apply
conventional techniques of melt spinning e.g. a technique relating
to sectional shapes of various nozzles, a technique relating to a
heating tube and a technique relating to thermal treatment, in
optional combination.
[0039] With respect to the fiber obtained by subjecting a
non-stretched fiber to stretching treatment and thermal treatment,
the fineness of its monofilament is preferably from 1 to 200
decitex, more preferably from 5 to 150 decitex, particularly
preferably from 10 to 100 decitex. Here, if the fiber is thin or
thick, it is isolated from a natural product, and its natural
appearance is deteriorated.
[0040] Decitex is a value wherein weights of 20 fibers each having
a length of 100 cm were measured, and an average weight per fiber
is multiplied by 10,000.
[0041] In the present invention, although it is not so limited, the
fineness of monofilament of the above fiber is not necessarily
uniform, and as the case requires, it is possible to use multiple
fibers different in fineness of monofilament, as blended, in a step
of spinning or after spinning.
EXAMPLES
[0042] Now, the present invention will be described in further
detail with reference to Examples, but it should be understood that
the present invention is by no means restricted by such
Examples.
Example 1
[0043] (a) A fiber having a fineness of monofilament of 65 decitex
was obtained by sequentially carrying out (a) a step of obtaining a
resin composition by stirring and heating up to 100.degree. C. by a
Henschel mixer, a resin composition comprising 100 parts by mass of
a vinyl chloride copolymer resin (manufactured by Taiyo Vinyl
Corp., TH-1000; viscosity average polymerization degree: 1,000), 50
parts by mass of a polylactic acid type resin (manufactured by
UNITIKA. LTD., Terramac TE-4000, melting point: 170.degree. C.), 1
part by mass of a hydrotalcite type composite thermal stabilizer
(manufactured by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., CP-410A) and
0.75 part by mass of an ester lubricant (RIKEN VITAMIN Co., LTD.,
EW-100), (b) a step of obtaining non-stretched fibers having an
average fineness of 150 decitex by melt-spinning the above resin
composition at a spinneret temperature of 190.degree. C. at an
extrusion rate of 15 kg/hr by using a 40 mm single screw extruder
controlled at 175 to 185.degree. C., and by using a spinneret
having circular nozzles, a sectional area per nozzle of 0.05
mm.sup.2 and 180 nozzle holes, (c) a step of stretching the above
melt-spun fibers 300% in an atmosphere of air at 105.degree. C.,
and (d) a step of applying thermal relaxing treatment in an
atmosphere of air at 140.degree. C. until the entire length of
fibers shrunk to a length of 75% of the length before the
treatment.
Examples 2 to 10
[0044] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 by
using the vinyl chloride resin and the polyester resin in blending
amounts as shown in Table 1.
Example 11
[0045] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the vinyl chloride resin was changed to a vinyl
chloride resin having a low polymerization degree (manufactured by
Taiyo Vinyl Corp., TH-700, viscosity average polymerization degree:
700).
Example 12
[0046] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the vinyl chloride resin was changed to a vinyl
chloride resin having a high polymerization degree (manufactured by
Taiyo Vinyl Corp., TH-2000, viscosity average polymerization
degree: 2,000).
Example 13
[0047] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the vinyl chloride resin was changed to a vinyl
chloride/ethylene copolymer resin (manufactured by Taiyo Vinyl
Corp., TE-1050, content of vinyl chloride: 98 mass %, viscosity
average polymerization degree: 1,050).
Example 14
[0048] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the vinyl chloride resin was changed to a vinyl
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer resin (manufactured by Taiyo Vinyl
Corp., TV-800, content of vinyl chloride: 93 mass %, viscosity
average polymerization degree: 780).
Example 15
[0049] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the polylactic acid type resin was changed to a
polyester resin having crystallinity (manufactured by TOYOBO Co.,
LTD., VYLON GM-925, melting point: 166.degree. C.)
Example 16
[0050] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the polylactic acid resin was changed to a polyester
resin having crystallinity (manufactured by TOYOBO Co., LTD., VYLON
GA-5410, melting point: 117.degree. C.)
Comparative Example 1
[0051] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1,
except that the polylactic acid type resin was not contained.
Comparative Examples 2 and 3
[0052] The fiber was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 by
using a chlorinated vinyl chloride resin (manufactured by SEKISUI
CHEMICAL Co., LTD., HA-24K) in a blending amount shown in Table 2,
instead of the polylactic acid type resin.
[0053] The results of the above Examples 1 to 16 and Comparative
Examples 1 to 3 are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Examples 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Blend Vinyl TH-1000
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 chloride (Parts) resin TH-700 -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- (Parts) TH-2000 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (Parts)
TE-1050 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (Parts) TV-800 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- (Parts) Poly- TE-4000 50 100 10 200 5 270 1 2 ester (Parts)
GM-925 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (Parts) GA-5410 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- (Parts) Characteristics Fineness of 65 63 66 61 67 60 61 60
monofilament Spinning property 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 (number of times)
Thermal shrinkage (%) 3 2 5 1 7 1 10 8 Gloss Good Good Excellent
Fair Excellent Fair Fair Good Examples 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Blend
Vinyl TH-1000 100 100 -- -- -- -- 100 100 chloride (Parts) resin
TH-700 -- -- 100 -- -- -- -- -- (Parts) TH-2000 -- -- -- 100 -- --
-- -- (Parts) TE-1050 -- -- -- -- 100 -- -- -- (Parts) TV-800 -- --
-- -- -- 100 -- -- (Parts) Poly- TE-4000 150 300 50 50 50 50 -- --
ester (Parts) GM-925 -- -- -- -- -- -- 50 -- (Parts) GA-5410 -- --
-- -- -- -- -- 50 (Parts) Characteristics Fineness of 62 64 65 68
63 63 66 62 monofilament Spinning property 2 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 (number
of times) Thermal shrinkage (%) 2 1 4 3 6 6 2 7 Gloss Good Fair
Good Good Excellent Good Good Good
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Comparative Examples 1 2 3 Blend TH-1000 100
100 100 (Parts) HA-24K -- 10 50 (Parts) Characteristics Fineness of
68 68 70 monofilament Spinning 0 2 At least property 10 (number of
times) Thermal At least At least At least shrinkage (%) 50 50 50
Gloss Excellent Good No good
[0054] In Table 1, "Spinning property" shows processability of a
resin composition when it is subjected to melt spinning. In the
test for the spinning property, a number of breaking of the fibers
(a phenomenon such that some fibers break during melt extrusion,
measuring time: 30 minutes and number of measurements: 3 times) was
counted when 120 fibers were simultaneously extruded from a
spinneret.
[0055] In Table 1, "Thermal shrinkage (%)" shows a ratio of thermal
shrinkage when a specimen was thermally treated. Specifically, it
is obtained in such a manner that 12 specimens of fibers each
adjusted to a length of 100 mm, were left in a gear oven at
130.degree. C. for 15 minutes, and a ratio in length of each
specimen before and after being left, was calculated by ((length
before being left-length after being left)/length before being
left).times.100. Further, a numerical value is an average value of
10 specimens after eliminating the maximum and the minimun among 12
of them.
[0056] In Table 1, "Gloss" is evaluated by visual determination of
24,000 bundled fibers inside a room which receives direct sunlight
and under fluorescent light. The evaluation standards are the
following.
Excellent: The fibers having smoothness and a little gloss Good:
The fibers having a little smoothness and a little gloss Fair: The
fibers having roughness and a little gloss, or having smoothness
and a little gloss No good: The fibers having large roughness or
too much gloss
[0057] From Tables 1 and 2, it is apparent that according to the
present invention, it is possible to easily obtain a fiber which is
excellent in the property of thermal shrinkage, has a little gloss
and breaks less during melt-spinning.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0058] The fiber obtained by using the resin composition of the
present invention is useful for clothing fiber products such as
underwears or socks, or household fiber products such as rugs,
curtains or towels, particularly fibers for hair decorations or
artificial hair.
[0059] The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.
2006-051859 filed on Feb. 28, 2006 including specification, claims
and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
* * * * *