Lyocell fiber tow, its manufacture and use

Abstract

This invention relates to a crimped lyocell tow for use in stretch breaking, worsted or semi worsted spinning, its manufacture and use.

1 . A lyocell tow for use in stretch breaking, worsted or semi worsted spinning, wherein each individual filament is crimped and has a filament titer in the range of between 0.8 and 1.4 dtex, and wherein the lyocell tow has a tow titer of between 60 and 160 ktex and a length of between 1,000 and 10,000 m. 
     
     
         2 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 1 , wherein the lyocell tow comprises a finish suitable for stretch break and onward worsted and semi worsted processing. 
     
     
         3 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 1 , wherein fibers in the lyocell tow have a crosslinked surface. 
     
     
         4 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 1 , wherein a coagulated, washed, and dried lyocell full tow band is
 split into (m+1) primary sub tows by m primary guides, wherein   the primary sub tows are jointly passed through a crimper when the primary sub tows can be jointly crimped, and wherein   at least m primary sub tows are cut to lengths of between 1,000 and 10,000 m and subsequently plaited into one or more containers.   
     
     
         5 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 4 , wherein
 m is  1 , wherein   the primary sub-tows are plaited into one container, and wherein   a residual tow is further cut into short staple fibers having a length of between 20 and 60 mm.   
     
     
         6 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 5 , wherein the primary sub tows have a tow titer of between 60 and 160 ktex and the residual tow has a tow titer of more than 300 ktex. 
     
     
         7 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 4 , wherein
 m is greater than  1 , wherein   between step a. and step b., all primary sub tows are split into (n+1) secondary sub tows by n secondary guides, and wherein   the secondary sub-tows are plaited into containers.   
     
     
         8 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the primary sub-tows is divided into 3 or more secondary sub tows. 
     
     
         9 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 7 , wherein all secondary sub tows originating from one of the primary sub tows are jointly plaited into one container. 
     
     
         10 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 9 , wherein all secondary sub tows originating from one primary sub tow are jointly pulled out of the one container and are separated and collected in individual containers. 
     
     
         11 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the primary sub tows have a tow titer of between 180 and 600 ktex, and wherein   the secondary sub tows have a tow titer of between 60 and 160 ktex.   
     
     
         12 . A blended yarn comprising the lyocell tow according to  claim 1 , wherein the lyocell tow is blended with one or more fiber types comprising wool, animal hairs other than wool, silk, linen, acrylic, polyester, nylon, or polypropylene. 
     
     
         13 . A circular and flatbed knitted fabrics comprising the blended yarn according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A worsted yarn comprising a lyocell fibers having a fiber titer of between 0.8 and 1.4 dtex and a mean staple length of more than 70 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the primary sub tows is divided into up to 6 secondary sub tows. 
     
     
         16 . The lyocell tow according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the primary sub tows is divided into 4 secondary sub tows.