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Effect of orientation and trace crosslinking on the properties of high wet‐modulus rayon
Author(s) -
Daul G. C.,
Muller T. E.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1968.070120309
Subject(s) - viscose , spinning , materials science , composite material , fiber , synthetic fiber , chemical resistance , formaldehyde , zinc , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
Technology is now available to produce superior quality rayon fibers with a wide range of tenacity, elongation, and modulus. In‐process modification results in rayon fibers suitable for a great variety of end uses as continuous filament yarn or staple, either in 100% construction or blended with synthetics. In addition to versatility, such modified rayons have unique dimensional stability and chemical resistance. The developments leading to a method for preparation and the characteristics of such a highly oriented rayon, modified through trace crosslinking, are described here. The discovery of a triple modifier system utilizing poly(ethylene glycol)–dimethylamine in the viscose and small amounts of formaldehyde in a low zinc sulfate‐containing acid spin bath, has made possible the production of rayon fibers with high strength (ca. 6 g./den.) and adequate elongation (ca. 10%) for good processability and which are highly resistant to caustic soda. Among the variables studied were spin bath composition, especially the relationship between formaldehyde and zinc sulfate concentration, and bath temperature. Optimum modifier concentrations are defined with regard to particular fiber properties desired. The effects on orientation and fiber physical properties of spinning modified viscose into formaldehyde‐free and formaldehyde‐containing spinning systems are described. High orientation coupled with trace crosslinking provides greatly improved resistance to caustic soda over that resulting from orientation alone.