Multifilament polyester fibres

Abstract

The present invention concerns a multifilament fibre comprising at least one polymer comprising a polyester, and at least one filler comprising calcium carbonate. The present invention further relates to a process of producing such a multifilament fibre as well as the use of calcium carbonate as filler in a multifilament fibre comprising at least one polymer comprising a polyester.

1 . A multifilament fibre comprising
 at least one polymer comprising a polyester, and   at least one filler comprising calcium carbonate, wherein the calcium carbonate is present in the multifilament fibre in an amount of at least 2 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the multifilament fibre.   
     
     
         2 . The multifilament fibre of  claim 1 , wherein the polyester is selected from the group consisting of a polyglycolic acid, a polycaprolactone, a polyethylene adipate, a polyhydroxyalkanoate, a polyhydroxybutyrate, a polyalkylene terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate, a polytrimethylene terephthalate, a polybutylene terephthalate, a polyethylene naphthalate, a polylactic acid, or a mixture thereof, or copolymers thereof, preferably the polyester is a polyethylene terephthalate and/or a polybutylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         3 . The multifilament fibre of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the calcium carbonate is ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, modified calcium carbonate, surface-treated calcium carbonate, or a mixture thereof, preferably surface-treated calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         4 . The multifilament fibre of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the calcium carbonate is a surface-treated calcium carbonate comprising on at least a part of its accessible surface area a treatment layer comprising a hydrophobising agent, preferably the hydrophobising agent is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic carboxylic acid having a total amount of carbon atoms from C 4  to C 28  and/or reaction products thereof, a mono-substituted succinic anhydride consisting of succinic anhydride mono-substituted with a group selected from a linear, branched, aliphatic and cyclic group having a total amount of carbon atoms from at least C 2  to C 30  in the substituent and/or reaction products thereof, a phosphoric acid ester blend of one or more phosphoric acid mono-ester and/or reaction products thereof and one or more phosphoric acid di-ester and/or reaction products thereof, and mixtures thereof, and more preferably the hydrophobising agent is a mono-substituted succinic anhydride consisting of succinic anhydride mono-substituted with a group selected from a linear, branched, aliphatic and cyclic group having a total amount of carbon atoms from at least C 2  to C 30  in the substituent and/or reaction products thereof and/or a phosphoric acid ester blend of one or more phosphoric acid mono-ester and/or reaction products thereof and one or more phosphoric acid di-ester and/or reaction products thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The multifilament fibre of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the calcium carbonate has a weight median particle size d 50  from 0.1 to 3 μm, preferably from 0.4 to 2.5 μm, more preferably from 1.0 to 2.3 μm, and most preferably from 1.2 to 2.0 μm. 
     
     
         6 . The multifilament fibre of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the calcium carbonate is present in the multifilament fibre in an amount from 2 to 50 wt.-%, preferably from 5 to 40 wt.-%, more preferably from 8 to 35 wt.-%, and most preferably from 10 wt.-% to 30 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the multifilament fibre. 
     
     
         7 . The multifilament fibre of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the multifilament fibre has a linear mass density from 0.5 to 4000 dtex, preferably from 1 to 3000 dtex, more preferably from 10 to 2000 dtex, and most preferably from 100 to 1500 dtex. 
     
     
         8 . A textile article comprising at least one multifilament fibre according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 . 
     
     
         9 . The textile article according to  claim 8 , wherein said article is selected from construction products, consumer apparel, industrial apparel, medical products, home furnishings, protective products, packaging materials, cosmetic products, hygiene products, filtration materials, hoses, power belts, ropes, nets, threads, tire cords, auto upholsteries, sails, floppy disk liners, or fibrefills. 
     
     
         10 . A process for producing a multifilament fibre comprising the steps of
 a) providing a mixture comprising at least one polymer comprising a polyester and at least one filler comprising calcium carbonate,   b) melting the mixture of step a) and passing the same through shaped orifices to form a multifilament fibre, and   c) quenching the multifilament fibre,   wherein the calcium carbonate is present in the multifilament fibre in an amount of at least 2 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the multifilament fibre.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the mixture of step a) is a mixture of a masterbatch and an additional polymer, wherein the masterbatch comprises at least one polymer comprising a polyester and at least one filler comprising calcium carbonate, preferably in the masterbatch the calcium carbonate is present in an amount from 10 to 85 wt.-%, preferably from 20 to 80 wt.-%, more preferably from 30 to 75 wt.-%, and most preferably from 40 wt.-% to 75 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the masterbatch. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10  or  11 , wherein the process further comprises a step d) of drawing the multifilament fibre. 
     
     
         13 . Use of calcium carbonate as filler in a multifilament fibre comprising at least one polymer comprising a polyester, wherein the calcium carbonate is present in the multifilament fibre in an amount of at least 2 wt.-%, based on the total weight of the multifilament fibre. 
     
     
         14 . Use of at least one multifilament fibre according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  for producing a textile article. 
     
     
         15 . Use of at least one multifilament fibre according to any one of  claims 1  to  7  and/or a textile article according to  claim 8  or  9  in construction products, waterproofing, thermal insulation, soundproofing, roofing, consumer apparel, upholstery and clothing industries, industrial apparel, medical products, home furnishings, protective products, packaging materials, cosmetic products, hygiene products, filtration materials, agritechnical applications, building application, geotechnical applications, industrial applications, medical applications, transporting, ecotechnical applications, packaging applications, personal protection, property protection, or sport applications.