Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~
HOECHST AXTIENG~SELLSCHAFT HOE 89/F 192 Dr. VA
Description
Artificial hair made of a flame-resistant polyester
monofilamen~
The invention rel2tes to artificial hair made of a flam0-
resistant monofilament formed frvm linear polyesters.
Since the provision of natural hair is becoming more and
more ~ifficult for hair substîtute manufacturers, artifi-
cial haîr is becoming increasin~ly more important. The
artifi~ial hair incorporated in wigs, toupees and hair
substitutes or prostheses, not o~ly for humans but also
for toys (dolIs etc.), these days consists in particular
of modacrylic or polyester monofilaments. These materi-
als are all flammable.
JA applications 73 06 616, 75010 413, 47 14 416 and
74 044 009 disclose artificial hair made of polyesters
which contain a halogen compound as fl~me retardant.
However, halogen compounds, when exposed to heat, can
lead to toxic compounds and therefore are unsafe for use
near humans. JA application 61 194 216 discloses animal
hair-like polyester fibers which contain a phosphorus
compound as flame retardant. These fibers are likewise
unsuitable for use near humans. ~E-A-2 118 551 finally
: likewise mentions the flameproofing of art~ficial hair
without however indicating a suitable way of doing so.
The present invention ha~ for its object to provide
artificial hair made of a monofilament formed from linear
polyesters which combines ease of manufacture with good
flame-resistant propertie~ ~ithout thereby creating the
risk of toxic side effects.
This object is achieved by the present invention for
artificial hair of the type indicated at the beginning
when the monofilament consi~ts of polyeæters which have
been formed from dicarboxylic acid and diol c~mponents
.
.
2~3~ ~
-- 2 --
and into which a flame retardant has been incorporated.
Preferably, the flame retardant is pra~ent in the poly-
ester chains as copolymerized chain members having the
structural units of the general formula
o
~ - O - P - R - C -
`~ Rl O
.
where R is saturated open-chain or cyclic alkylene,
arylene or aralkylene and Rl is alkyl of up to 6 carbon
atoms, aryl or aralkyl.
Such polyesters, where the property of flame resistance
is obtained through modification of the raw material, are
known from DE-C-2 346 787. However, the applications
mentioned therein include only fibers and filaments for
~extiles and industrial articles ~uch as tarpaulins~
fabrics, carpet~ and curtains.
. .
~ The present invention by contrast for the first time
`; 15 proposes the use of monofilaments formed from flame-
resistant polyestexs for artificial hair. This has made
it possible to render such artificial hair flame-
resistant in a simple manner without a need for costly
finishes which can have toxic side effec~s.
:.
To meet all the reguirements which artificial hair has to
meet in respect of luster~ various degrees of luster can
be obtained via varying level~ of addition of a
delusterant. A sparkle matching that of human hair can
be obtained through a specific cross-sectional shape of
the monofilament.
The artificial hair formed according to the present
invention combines fl~me-resistant properties with
excellent thermal light and moisture resistance. A
,~
2~ ~ 931~
-- 3 --
further advanta~e is that the ha.ir formed according to
the present invention, unlike human hair, is resistant to
microbes and thus is suitable for permanent attachment to
the head.
An illustrativ~ embodLment of the invention will now be
explained with reference to ths drawin~, where
Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an artificial
hair on an enlarged scale; and
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sec~ion of the artificial hair of
Fig. 1.
The artificial hair depicted in the drawing consists of
a single monofilament formed from linear polyesters which
has been rendered flame-resistant through a raw mate:rial
modification as described in DE-C-2 346 787.
A shown in Fig. 2, the artificial hair has a circular
cross-section. The diameter of the artificial hair i6
within the range from O.050 to 0.10 mm. The:dia~eter is
chiefly race determined. European hair is thinner than
Indian hair, Indian hair is in turn thinner than Asiatic
hair.
Instead of a circular cross-section the artificial
: hair may also have an elliptical, dumbbell- or bone-
shaped or some other non-round cross-section. This makes
it possible to match the sparkle of the hair to that of
human hair.
