Melt spinning of high‐strength fiber from low‐molecular‐weight polypropylene |
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| Authors: | Qianchao Mao Tom P Wyatt An‐Ting Chien Jinnan Chen Donggang Yao |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Chemical Engineering and Environment, Beijing Institute of Technology, People's Republic of China;2. School of Materials Science & Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia |
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| Abstract: | Polypropylene (PP) with high melt flow index (MFI) or low molecular weight, although desired in melt spinning for enhanced productivity, is difficult to be spun into high‐strength fiber using the standard process where extensive jet stretching is applied. In this work, a processing route involving minimal jet stretch has been explored. A two‐stage hot drawing procedure in the solid state was found to be suitable for producing high‐strength fiber from low‐molecular‐weight PP with an ultrahigh MFI of 115 g/10 min. Fibers produced achieve a maximum tensile strength and Young's modulus of approximately 600 MPa and 12 GPa, respectively. The melt temperature of the fiber reached 170.8°C, approximately 5°C higher than that of the original resin. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) study shows that the stable α‐monoclinic crystalline structure is developed during the drawing process. A well‐oriented crystalline structure along the fiber axis is generated, having a crystalline orientation factor as high as 0.84. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:233–239, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers |
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