Polysaccharide fibers and method for the production thereof
The present invention relates to a method for the production of polysaccharide fibers which, as a fiber-forming substance, comprise a mixture of cellulose and α(1→3)-glucan, as well as to the fibers made thereof and to their use.
1. A method for the production of a lyocell fiber comprising:
(a) preparing a spinning solution comprising an aqueous amine oxide and a fiber-forming substance, wherein said fiber forming substance is a mixture of cellulose and α(1→3)-glucan; and
(b) extruding the spinning solution into a spinning bath to obtain said lyocell fibers.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber-forming substance comprises between 1 and 99% by weight of α(1→3)-glucan.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amine oxide is N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the α(1→3)-glucan are hexose units and at least 50% of the hexose units are linked via α(1→3)-glycosidic bonds.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber is selected from the group consisting of a staple fiber and a continuous filament.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the fiber-forming substance comprises between 5 and 30% by weight of α(1→3)-glucan.