Dong Zhang

US Patent:

6479595, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Feb 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/511184

Inventors:

Dong Zhang - Knoxville TN
Paul D. Spence - Greenville SC
Qin Sun - Knoxville TN
Larry C. Wadsworth - Knoxville TN

Assignee:

The University of Tennessee Research Corporation - Knoxville TN

International Classification:

D02G 300

US Classification:

525344, 204165, 427535, 428373

Abstract:

Hydrophobic polymer materials having improved dyeability with water-based dyes are prepared by treating a hydrophobic polymer with aglow discharge plasma generated from working gases selected from SO , O , N , He, H , CO , CF , NO, N O, 2-Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate (HPMA), air or combinations thereof, in which a treated material comprises a hydrophobic inner core and a hydrophilic outer sheath having polar functional groups. A method of treating hydrophobic polymer materials using a glow discharge plasma, preferably at high pressure (e. g. , about 50 Torr or greater), thereby modifying the active surface characteristics of the polymer to contain polar functional groups is also presented.

US Patent:

20020127939, Sep 12, 2002

Filed:

Oct 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/000671

Inventors:

Charles Hwo - Sugar Land TX, US
Houston Brown - Houston TX, US
Dong Zhang - Knoxville TN, US
Christine Sun - Knoxville TN, US

International Classification:

D04H001/00
D04H003/00
D04H005/00
D04H013/00

US Classification:

442/347000, 442/327000, 442/340000, 442/362000, 428/374000

Abstract:

This invention is a bicomponent meltblown microfiber nonwoven material wherein at least two different polymers have been extruded and spun together in either a side by side or core/sheath configuration and wherein at least one of the polymers is polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) and at least one of the polymers is one of but not limited to the following thermoplastics: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (PA), and polylactide (PLA). The ratio of PTT to the other component ranges from 1:99 to 99:1, based on the weight of the polymers. The preferred weight ratio range of PTT:PP is 25:75 to 75:25 and the most preferred range is 25:75 to 50:50. The present invention also provides a process for making such a bicomponent fiber. The present invention also provides a process for making such a meltblown microfiber nonwoven material.

US Patent:

20030124941, Jul 3, 2003

Filed:

Nov 1, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/285832

Inventors:

Charles Hwo - Sugar Land TX, US
Dong Zhang - Knoxville TN, US
Christine Sun - Knoxville TN, US
Ian Carson - Dion-le-Val, BE

International Classification:

D04H001/00
D04H003/00
D04H005/00

US Classification:

442/401000, 442/361000, 442/364000, 442/362000

Abstract:

This invention is a spunbonded nonwoven material which is formed of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT). This material may be a microfiber material which is 1 dpf or less in fiber diameter. This nonwoven material is unique in that it has a hydrostatic head of no more than 10 cm, preferably no more than 5 cm.