Abstract:
An improved process for winding an elastic fiber onto a core for forming a package and/or warp beam for use in knitting or weaving operations is disclosed. The improvement comprises forming the elastic fiber into a shape having a fiber cross section such that the width of the fiber is at least three times the thickness of the fiber prior to winding the fiber onto the supply package. Another aspect of the invention involves forming elastic fiber using a extrusion melt spinning process with a die having one or more openings which have two generally perpendicular axes, wherein one axis is at least about 1.5, preferably at least about 3 times longer than the other axis. The fiber of the present invention having the elongated cross section can be used to make improved supply packages for knitting or weaving fabric and also for making improved nonwoven structures and improved binder fibers.