Development of high-strength fibers from aliphatic polyketones by melt spinning and drawing

We have investigated the formation of high-strength, high-modulus fibers from four aliphatic polyketone resins. One resin was a perfectly alternating copolymer of ethylene and carbon monoxide, while the other three were terpolymers containing up to 6 mol % propylene. The mechanical properties were measured as a function of processing conditions, and the structures of the filaments were characterized using birefringence, WAXS, SAXS, SEM, and thermal analysis. Fibers formed from all resins develop very high molecular orientations and a microfibrillar structure. Fibers having room temperature tenacities as high as 10 gpd (similar to1.1 GPa) were obtained. Tensile moduli reached values as high as 120 gpd (similar to 13 GPa). The melting point of the fibers was primarily dependent on the composition of the resin, while the maximum strength and modulus were largely determined by the maximum draw ratio achieved. The maximum draw ratio achieved in the present experiments was greater for the terpolymers than for the copolymer. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.