Tencel in Courtaulds Annual Reports (1981-90)

The Courtaulds Annual Reports contain concise statements of the progress of the Tencel development year-by-year.  These statements have been pasted into a series of 10 posts which can be read in sequence by scrolling down from here:

1981-82 - under "Research"

Technology is being developed in the use of novel solvents for the conversion of woodpulp to regenerated cellulose products, leading to lower effluent levels and reduced energy consumption in the manufacturing process.

1982-83 - under "Courtaulds Research"

 A pilot plant incorporating a process which directly dissolves cellulose ran successfully towards the end of the year.  First indications are that the process may provide a low cost route to novel types of fibres and films.

1983-84  - under "Courtaulds Research"

Development of the new process for directly dissolving and regenerating cellulose continued.  Samples of fibres, of fabrics made from them and of transparent films have been produced, all with interesting properties.

1984-85 - Under "Research"

The research progamme into the production of new fibres and films by direct dissolution and regeneration of woodpulp continued successfully.

1985-86 - under "Research"

The development of a direct solvent spinning system for cellulosic fibres and films continued successfully.  An expanded pilot plant will be available by the end of 1986.
1986-87 -  under "Fibres"
Research expenditure was again at a high level for all fibres, but especially in the development of the new solvent-spun cellulose fibre.  Its pilot-plant came on stream and good progress has been made on the next stage of production which will make commercial quantities available.
               - under "Research"
The programme to develop a new range of cellulosic fibres using a new direct solvent spinning system continued with the successful commissioning of an expanded pilot-plant and with engineering developments for further expansion.  The process gives significant improvements over existing fibre properties and environmentally.
1988-89 - under "Fibres"
The first commercial scale Tencel plant was commissioned during the year. Its capacity is modest and design work on larger units is now well underway.
                - under "Research"
Substantial work was undertaken to transfer expertise learned on the pilot plant...to the scaled up plant commissioned...at Grimsby.
1989-90 - under "Fibres and Films"
The new solvent spun fibre Tencel continued to progress well.

N.B.  (1) Tencel is not mentioned in the "Research and Technology" section in 89-90.
        (2) The Textiles business had been demerged and was no longer part of the Courtaulds Group.
        (3) Saiccor Pulp (the best pulp for making Tencel) had been sold in 1988 to fund acquisitions of US sealants and adhesives.
        (4) Bonded Fibre Fabric, the nonwoven business which had been modernised at the end of the eighties, was sold at the end of March.  (Tencel was showing great promise in nonwovens)
        (5) Prior to 1989-90, "Fibres" came immediately after the "Chairman's Statement" at the front of the Annual Report.   Here "Fibres" comes last after Coatings, Performance Materials, Packaging and Chemicals.  Furthermore it has been merged with the "Films" used in packaging - cellophane, polypropylene and polyethylene.  Maybe the continued development of Tencel clashed with the emerging strategy of getting out of Fibres and Textiles and was therefore downplayed.

Thanks to Ted Richards who provided the full set of Courtaulds Annual Reports from 1970 to 98

NEWER CELLULOSE SOLVENT SYSTEMS (1983)

Three recently-suggested non-derivatising solvent systems for the spinning of quality rayon fibres are reviewed and compared. They comprise amine oxide, liquid ammonia/ammonium salt, and lithium chloride/DMAc systems. It is concluded that both amine oxide and LiCI/DMAc systems produce good quality rayon fibres, and appear to be competitive with a new viscose plant from the initial investment and operating economic viewpoints. Areas in which future research efforts should be concentrated are identified.

Turbak A F., Presented at TAPPI '1983 International Dissolving and Speciality Pulps Conf.', held 5-8 April 1983 in Boston, M.A., pp 105-110 

POSSIBLE ROUTES TO HIGH PERFORMANCE CELLULOSE (1983)

Possible routes to high performance cellulose are described, and discussed in a qualitative way. Recent findings and developments in the field of high modulus fibres are considered in terms of their applicability to cellulose. In particular, reference is made to production methods for high strength-high modulus polyethylene fibres and films, and liquid crystal-based processes. Experimental and theoretical results obtained with the system cellulose/amine oxide are presented to illustrate the potential and limitations of these fibre production methods.

Chanzy H., Presented at TAPPI '1983 International Dissolving and Speciality Pulps Conf.', held 5-8 April 1983 in Boston, M.A., pp 127-132

Pete Laity's patent (1983)

This is the first patent from a search with Courtaulds as the assignee name and "amine oxide" in the text.  The GB Patent had a priority date of June 1982 and the PCT was published in 1983.  The next patent with the same search terms came 10 years later. (I'm using USP's because they're easiest to cut and paste)

United States Patent	4,581,072
Laity	April 8, 1986

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Polymer solutions



Abstract Shaped articles, such as fibres and films, are obtained from a polymer solution comprising cellulose, a solvent for the cellulose comprising a cyclic tertiary amine N-oxide and water, and a stabilizer for the solution selected from the group consisting of sodium hexametaphosphate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, hydroxy-ethylidene diphosphonic acid, aminoethyl diphosphonic acid, and complexes of such compounds with occluded metal ions present in the polymer solution. The stabilizer is present in an amount sufficient to stabilize the solution against thermal degradation which causes loss of solvent and discoloration of solvent and dissolved cellulose.

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Inventors:	Laity; Peter R. (Keresley, GB2)
Assignee:	Courtaulds PLC (London, GB2)
Appl. No.:	06/579,886
Filed:	February 8, 1984
PCT Filed:	June 07, 1983
PCT No.:	PCT/GB83/00151
371 Date:	February 08, 1984
102(e) Date:	February 08, 1984
PCT Pub. No.:	WO83/04415
PCT Pub. Date:	December 22, 1983

The full patent is at 

4,581,072