Effect of distributor geometry on crimp contraction of PET side-by-side bicomponent fibers

The effect of distributor geometry on crimp contraction in the melt spinning and drawing of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) side-by-side bicomponent fibers was studied. Three different distributors located on top of the spinneret were designed to change curvature ratio of a side-by-side cross-section of bicomponent fibers. Regular and modified PET were selected to make latent crimp yams. Spinning and drawing conditions were changed to choose the effective variables heat set temperature and draw ratio. Crimp contraction increased with increasing draw ratio and decreasing heat set temperature. Die geometry had a significant effect on crimp contraction by changing the curvature ratio of the cross-section. Under the same spinning and drawing conditions, the crimp contraction with higher curvature ratio was larger.