Cellulose acetate tow and method of making same

Abstract

A fiber finish, particularly for cellulose acetate tow, is an emulsion of 62.0 to 65.0 weight percent mineral oil, 27.0 to 28.0 weight percent emulsifiers, and the balance being water. The emulsifiers are a mixture of 50.0 to 520. weight percent sorbitan monolaurate and 48.0 to 50.0 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate. The finish has an add-on weight of 3 to 8 weight percent of the total weight of the tow.

1 . A fiber lubricant comprising an emulsion of 
 62.0 to 65.0 weight percent of mineral oil;    27.0 to 28.0 weight percent of emulsifiers, the emulsifiers being a mixture of 
 50.0 to 52.0 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate, and  
 48.0 to 50.0 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate; and  
   the balance being water.    
   
   
       2 . The fiber lubricant of  claim 1  wherein said water being de-mineralized water, de-ionized water, or otherwise appropriately filtered and treated water.  
   
   
       3 . The fiber lubricant of  claim 1  wherein said mineral oil having a viscosity of 80-95 SUS.  
   
   
       4 . The fiber lubricant of  claim 1  further comprising the emulsion of 
 63.5 to 64.0 weight percent of mineral oil;    27.5 to 28.0 weight percent of emulsifier; and    the balance being water.    
   
   
       5 . The fiber lubricant of  claim 4  further comprising the emulsion of 
 63.6 weight percent mineral oil;    28.0 weight percent emulsifier; and    the balance being water.    
   
   
       6 . The fiber lubricant of  claim 1  further comprising the emulsifier being a mixture of 
 50.0 to 51.5 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate; and    48.5 to 49.5 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate.    
   
   
       7 . The fiber lubricant of  claim 6  further comprising the emulsifier being a mixture of 
 50.9 to 51.4 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate, and    49.6 to 49.1 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate.    
   
   
       8 . the fiber lubricant of  claim 1  being mixed with to form a 3-15% by weight lubricant in water emulsion.  
   
   
       9 . A fiber tow comprising: 
 a tow of cellulose acetate filaments having a finish thereon, said finish comprising an emulsion of: 62.0 to 65.0 weight percent of mineral oil; 27.0 to 28.0 weight percent of emulsifiers, the emulsifiers being a mixture of 50.0 to 52.0 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate, and 48.0 to 50.0 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate; and the balance being water.    
   
   
       10 . The fiber tow of  claim 9  wherein said water being de-mineralized water, de-ionized water, or otherwise appropriately filtered and treated water.  
   
   
       11 . The fiber tow of  claim 9  wherein said mineral oil having a viscosity of 80-95 SUS.  
   
   
       12 . The fiber tow of  claim 9  wherein said finish further comprises the emulsion of 63.5 to 64.0 weight percent of mineral oil; 27.5 to 28.0 weight percent of emulsifier; and the balance being water.  
   
   
       13 . The fiber tow of  claim 9  wherein said finish further comprises the emulsion of 63.6 weight percent mineral oil; 28.0 weight percent emulsifier; and the balance being water.  
   
   
       14 . The fiber tow of  claim 9  wherein the emulsifier further comprising a mixture of 50.0 to 51.5 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate; and 48.5 to 49.5 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate.  
   
   
       15 . The fiber tow of  claim 14  wherein the emulsifier further comprising a mixture of 50.9 to 51.4 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate, and 49.6 to 49.1 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate.  
   
   
       16 . The fiber tow of  claim 9  wherein said finish being 0.7 to 1.8% FOY.  
   
   
       17 . The fiber tow of  claim 16  wherein said finish being 1.0% FOY.  
   
   
       18 . A process for making a cellulose acetate tow comprising the steps of: 
 spinning a dope comprising a solution of cellulose acetate and solvent,    taking-up the as-spun cellulose acetate filaments,    lubricating the cellulose acetate filaments with a fiber lubricant comprising a 3-15% by weight emulsion lubricant in water, where the lubricant comprises 62.0 to 65.0 weight percent of mineral oil; 27.0 to 28.0 weight percent of emulsifiers, the emulsifiers being a mixture of 50.0 to 52.0 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate, and 48.0 to 50.0 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate; and    the balance being water,    forming a tow form the cellulose acetate filaments,    crimping the tow,    drying the crimped tow, and    baling the dried crimped tow.    
   
   
       19 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the finish further comprises the water being de-mineralized water, de-ionized water, or otherwise appropriately filtered and treated water.  
   
   
       20 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the finish further comprises the mineral oil having a viscosity of 80-95 SUS.  
   
   
       21 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the finish further comprises the emulsion of 63.5 to 64.0 weight percent of mineral oil; 27.5 to 28.0 weight percent of emulsifier; and the balance being water.  
   
   
       22 . The process according to  claim 21  wherein the finish further comprises the emulsion of 63.6 weight percent mineral oil; 28.0 weight percent emulsifier; and the balance being water.  
   
   
       23 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the emulsifier further comprises a mixture of 50.0 to 51.5 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate; and 48.5 to 49.5 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate.  
   
   
       24 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the emulsifier further comprises a mixture of 50.9 to 51.4 weight percent sorbitan monolaurate, and 49.6 to 49.1 weight percent POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate.  
   
   
       25 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the finish being 0.7-1.8% FOY.  
   
   
       26 . The process according to  claim 18  wherein the finish being 1.0% FOY.