Bi-component fiber for the production of spunbond fabric

Abstract

A bi-component fiber ( 1 ), in particular for the production of spunbond fabrics ( 4 ), has a first component ( 2 ) and a second component ( 3 ), whereby the first component ( 2 ) has a first polymer as an integral part and the second component has a second polymer as an integral part. It is provided that the difference between the melting points of the first component ( 2 ) and the second component ( 3 ) is less than or equal to 8° C.

1 . Bicomponent fiber for the production of spunbond fabrics, with a first component and a second component, whereby the first component has a first polymer as an integral part and the second component has a second polymer as an integral part,
 characterized in that   the first component and the second component have melting points that differ from each other by an amount that is less than or equal to 8° C.   
     
     
         2 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the difference between the melting points of the first component and the second component is between 1° C. to 8° C. 
     
     
         3 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the difference between the melting points of the first component and the second component is in a range from 1° C. to 6° C. 
     
     
         4 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first component and the second component have melt-flow indices that differ by an amount that is less than or equal to 25 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         5 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the melt-flow indices of the first component and the second component in each case are less than or equal to 50 g/10 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the component that forms an outer surface of the bicomponent fiber viewed in the cross-section of the fiber has a lower melt-flow indice than the other component. 
     
     
         7 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 6  characterized in that the component with the lower melting point surrounds the component with the higher melting point. 
     
     
         8 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the polymer of one of the two components has been polymerized with a metallocene catalyst and in that the polymer of the other component has been polymerized with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst and has been subjected to a subsequent visbreaking treatment. 
     
     
         9 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first component has an additive, whereby the proportion by weight of the additive in the second component is less than in the first component. 
     
     
         10 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the proportion by weight of the additive in the second component is at most 50% of the proportion by weight of the additive in the first component. 
     
     
         11 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the proportion by weight of the additive in the second component is at most 33% of the proportion by weight of the additive in the first component. 
     
     
         12 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the additive is selected from the group of a primary antioxidant, a secondary antioxidant, a UV absorber, a UV stabilizer, a flame retardant, an antistatic agent, a lubricating agent, a metal deactivator, a hydrophilizing agent, a hydrophobizing agent, an anti-fogging additive, a biocide, and mixtures of the above-mentioned agents. 
     
     
         13 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the additive is selected from the group of:
 sterically inhibited phenols, aromatic secondary or tertiary amines, aminophenols, aromatic nitro compounds or nitroso compounds, organic phosphites or phosphonates, thioethers, thioalcohols, thioesters, sulfides and sulfur-containing organic acids, dithiocarbamates, thiodipropionates, aminopyrazoles, metal-containing chelates, mercaptobenzimidazoles, hydroxybenzophenones, cinnamates, oxalanilides, salicylates, resorcinol, monobenzoates, benzotriazoles, triazines, benzophenones, titanium dioxide, carbon black, metal-containing complexes of organic sulfur compounds or phosphorus compounds, sterically hindered amines (HALS), metal hydroxides, borates, organic bromine-containing compounds or chlorine-containing compounds, organic phosphorus compounds, antimony trioxide, melamine, melamine cyanurate, expanded graphite or other intumescence systems, quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl phosphates, dithiocarbamates, alkaline(-earth) metal carboxylates, polyethylene glycols, as well as their esters and ethers, ethoxylates, mono- and diglycerides, fatty alcohols, esters of fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, dicarboxylic acid esters, fatty acid amides, metal salts of fatty acids, polyolefin waxes, natural or synthetic paraffins, and their derivatives, fluoropolymers and fluoroligomers, anti-blocking agents such as silicic acids, silicones, silicates, calcium carbonate, amides of monocarboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids and their derivatives, cyclic amides, hydrazones, and bishydrazones, hydrazides, hydrazines, melamine and its derivatives, benzotriazoles, aminotriazoles, sterically inhibited phenols in connection with complexing metal compounds, benzyl phosphonates, pyridithiols, thiobisphenol esters, polyglycols, ethoxylates, fluoropolymers and fluoroligomers, montan waxes, in particular stearates, 10,10′-oxybisphenoxarsine (OBPA), N-(trihalo-methylthiol)phthalimide, tributyltin oxide, zinc dimethyl dithiocarbamate, diphenylantimony-2-ethyl hexanoate, copper-8-hydroxyquinoline, isothiazolones, silver and silver salts as biocides, and mixtures of the above-mentioned substances.   
     
     
         14 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first polymer is selected from the group of polyolefins, polyolefin-copolymers, ethylene polymers, ethylene-copolymers, propylene, butylene, hexene, octene, mixtures of the above-mentioned substances, and blends of the above-mentioned substances. 
     
     
         15 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second polymer is selected from the group of polyolefins, polyolefin-copolymers, ethylene polymers, ethylene-copolymers, propylene, butylene, hexene, octene, mixtures of the above-mentioned substances, and blends of the above-mentioned substances. 
     
     
         16 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the proportion by weight of the component with the lower melting point in the bi-component fiber is at most 50%. 
     
     
         17 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the proportion by weight of the component with the lower melting point in the bicomponent fiber is at most 25%. 
     
     
         18 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the proportion by weight of the component with the lower melting point in the bicomponent fiber is at most 10%. 
     
     
         19 . Bicomponent fiber according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the proportion by weight of the component with the lower melting point in the bicomponent fiber is at most 5%. 
     
     
         20 . Spunbond fabric with at least one bicomponent fiber said at least one bicomponent fiber being formed a first component and a second component, whereby the first component has a first polymer as an integral part and the second component has a second polymer as an integral part,
 wherein the first component and the second component have melting points that differ from each other by an amount that is less than or equal to 8° C.