Biodegradable fibre and its process of manufacture

Abstract

The present invention concerns a biodegradable fibre comprising composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate, and a process for making such a fibre comprising providing a solution dope comprising a blend of cellulose and cellulose acetate in an ionic liquid or in N-methylmorphilone-N-oxide (NMMO), and spinning casting the blend into a protic solvent to generate fibres. The invention also concerns materials made from such a fibre, and garments or soft furnishings made from such a material.

1 . A biodegradable fibre comprising composite filaments of cellulose and cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         2 . The fibre according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more further thermoplastic materials. 
     
     
         3 . The fibre according to  claim 2 , wherein the further thermoplastic material is selected from one or more of PHB, PHVB, polyacrylonitrile (PAN), poly-2-hydroxyethylmethylacrylate (PHEMA), polyvinylalcohol (PVA), polyaniline and polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         4 . The fibre according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of cellulose to cellulose acetate is from 10:90 to 90:10. 
     
     
         5 . The fibre according to  claim 4 , wherein the ratio of cellulose to cellulose acetate is from 20:80 to 80:20. 
     
     
         6 . The fibre according to  claim 5 , wherein the ratio of cellulose to cellulose acetate is from 30:70 to 70:30. 
     
     
         7 . The fibre according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more plasticisers. 
     
     
         8 . The fibre according to  claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst promoting oxidative degradation of the fibre. 
     
     
         9 . The fibre according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lubricants to reduce electrostatic charge on the fibre. 
     
     
         10 . A material woven produced from the fibre according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A garment or soft furnishing at least partly made from the material according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . A process for manufacturing the fibre according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 providing a solution dope comprising a blend of cellulose and cellulose acetate in an ionic liquid or in N-methylmorphilone-N-oxide (NMMO); and   spinning or casting the blend into a protic solvent to generate fibres.   
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12 , wherein the dope further comprises an aprotic solvent to aid dissolution of the cellulose and/or cellulose acetate. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the aprotic solvent comprises one or more of DMSO, DMF, THF or dioxane.