Fabrics of mixed-polyester-ratio bi-component fibers

Abstract

Yarns of mixed ratios of bi-component fibers are disclosed, in which some filaments of a yarn produced during the spinning process are of different polymer ratios than other filaments in the same yarn. The yarns are preferably spun with the desired mixture of polymer ratios and the difference in polymer ratios are preferably at least about 10% absolute. The net overall ratio of the yarn is between about a 55/45 and a 75/25 mixture of PET/PTT by weight. Knit and woven fabrics can be prepared that include these mixed ratio yarns.

1 . A yarn comprising at least two bi-component fibers, the fibers having different characteristic crimp frequencies.  
     
     
         2 . The yarn of  claim 1 , comprising bi-component fibers of mixed component ratios.  
     
     
         3 . The yarn of  claim 1 , wherein the components of the bi-component fibers are polyesters.  
     
     
         4 . The yarn of  claim 3 , wherein each component of the bi-component fibers comprises a different one of polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         5 . The yarn of  claim 4 , wherein the bi-component fibers are polyethylene terephthalate/polytrimethylene terephthalate bi-component filaments wherein the components of each of the fibers are of mixed ratios having from about 30% by weight polyethylene terephthalate to about 70% by weight polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         6 . The yarn of  claim 5  wherein the average weight ratio of the polyethylene terephthalate to polytrimethylene terephthalate in the yarn is in the range of between about 55/45 to 75/25 percent by weight.  
     
     
         7 . The yarn of  claim 1  wherein the bi-component fibers are of varying denier per filament.  
     
     
         8 . Fabric formed from the yarn of any one of the preceding claims.