Regenerated cellulose fiber

Abstract

The invention relates to a regenerated cellulose fiber ( 1″ ) the cross-section of which comprises an oblong, essentially flat section ( 3 ). The fiber according to the invention is characterized in that at least one limb ( 4, 5, 6, 7 ) branches off from the oblong section, wherein the length of said limb is at most 40% of the length of the oblong section ( 3 ).

1 . A regenerated cellulose fiber having a cross-section which comprises an oblong, essentially flat section having a length, wherein at least one limb branches off from the oblong section, and wherein said limb has a length that is at most 40% of the length of the oblong section. 
     
     
         2 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one limb is arranged essentially at a right angle with respect to the oblong section. 
     
     
         3 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , comprising more than one branch-off limbs. 
     
     
         4 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 3 , wherein the limbs branch off from the oblong section in more than one direction. 
     
     
         5 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 3 , wherein the total length of the branch-off limbs does not exceed the length of the oblong section. 
     
     
         6 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1  or  3 , wherein at least one of the limbs has a ratio of length to width of from 2:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         7 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1  or  3 , wherein at least one of the limbs has a width which is smaller than the width of the flat section. 
     
     
         8 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the entire curvature of the flat section has at most 120°. 
     
     
         9 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has a titer that ranges from 1.3 dtex to 10 dtex. 
     
     
         10 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose fiber is in the form of a fiber selected from the group consisting of a staple fiber, a short-cut fiber or a filament tow. 
     
     
         11 . A fiber bundle containing a plurality of regenerated multi-limbed cellulose fibers, wherein at least 10% of the multi-limbed cellulose fibers comprise a cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The fiber bundle according to  claim 11 , wherein the multi-limbed cellulose fibers have cross-sections that are essentially equal. 
     
     
         13 . A process for the production of a regenerated cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of
 providing a viscose spinning mass   spinning the viscose spinning mass through at least one opening of a spinneret into a spinning bath, whereby filaments are formed,   wherein the opening of the spinneret comprises a slot-shaped section from which the at least one limb branches, wherein the slot-shaped section has a length, and wherein the length of the at least one limb is at most 40% of the length of the slot-shaped section.   
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13  or  20 , wherein the spinneret comprises several openings, with all the openings having essentially the same shape. 
     
     
         15 . A product comprising the regenerated cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of absorbent products, sanitary products, filling materials, packings for foodstuff, flock, clothing and wound dressings. 
     
     
         16 . The cellulose fiber according to claim or  6 , wherein all of the limbs have a ratio of length to width of from 2:1 to 10:1. 
     
     
         17 . The cellulose fiber according to  claim 7 , wherein all the limbs have a width which is smaller than the width of the flat section. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber bundle according to  claim 11 , wherein at least 20% of the multi-limbed cellulose fibers comprise a cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The fiber bundle according to  claim 18 , wherein at least 50% of the multi-limbed cellulose fibers comprise a cellulose fiber according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A process for the production of a fiber bundle according to  claim 11 , comprising the steps of
 providing a viscose spinning mass   spinning the viscose spinning mass through at least one opening of a spinneret into a spinning bath, whereby filaments are formed,   
       wherein the opening of the spinneret comprises a slot-shaped section from which the at least one limb branches, wherein the slot-shaped section has a length and wherein the length of the at least one limb is at most 40% of the length of the slot-shaped section. 
     
     
         21 . A product comprising the fiber bundle according to  claim 11 , wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of absorbent products, sanitary products, filling materials, packings for foodstuff, papers, flock, clothing, and wound dressings. 
     
     
         22 . The product according to  claims 15  and  21 , wherein the sanitary products is selected from the group consisting of tampons, incontinence products, sanitary pads and sanitary liners. 
     
     
         23 . The product according to  claims 15  and  21 , wherein the filling materials are filling materials for blankets, cushions and sleeping bags. 
     
     
         24 . The product according to  claims 15  and  21 , wherein the packings are meat packings. 
     
     
         25 . The product according to  claims 15  and  21 , wherein the papers are filter papers. 
     
     
         26 . The product according to  claims 15  and  21 , wherein the clothing is inlay fleece.