Poly(arylene thioether-ketone) fibers and production process thereof

Claim 2

Poly(arylene thioether-ketone) fibers obtained by melt-spinning a thermoplastic material which comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of a melt-stable poly(arylene thioether-ketone) having predominant recurring units of the formula ##STR7## wherein the --CO-- and --S-- are in the para position to each other, and having the following physical properties (a)-(c): (a) melting point, Tm being 310°-380° C.; (b) residual melt crystallization enthalpy, ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 10 J/g, and melt crystallization temperature, Tmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 210° C., wherein ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) and Tmc (420° C./10 min) are determined by a differential scanning calorimeter at a cooling rate of 10° C./min, after the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is held at 50° C. for 5 minutes in an inert gas atmosphere, heated to 420° C. at a rate of 75° C./min and then held for 10 minutes at 420° C.; and (c) reduced viscosity being 0.3-2 dl/g as determined by viscosity measurement at 25° C. and a polymer concentration of 0.5 g/dl in 98 percent by weight sulfuric acid; and optionally, (B) up to 50 parts by weight of at least one of thermoplastic resins.

Claim 3

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) has a density of at least 1.34 g/cm 3 at 25° C. when annealed at 280° C. for 30 minutes.

Claim 4

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is an uncured polymer.

Claim 5

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is a polymer having a partially crosslinked and/or branched structure.

Claim 6

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is substantially free of the thermoplastic resin.

Claim 7

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic resin is a poly(arylene thioether) having predominant recurring units of the formula ##STR8##

Claim 8

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fibers are stretched to a draw ratio of from 1.2:1 to 8:1.

Claim 9

The fibers as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibers have the following physical properties: (a) density of portions of said poly(arylene thioether-ketone) being at least 1.34 g/cm 3 at 25° C.; (b) tensile strength being at least 10 kg/mm 2 at 23° C. or at least 3 kg/mm 2 at 250° C.; (c) tensile modulus being at least 100 kg/mm 2 at 23° C. or at least 30 kg/mm 2 at 250° C.; (d) tensile elongation being at least 5% at 23° C.; and (e) heat shrinkage (220° C./30 min) being at most 20%.

Claim 10

Poly(arylene thioether-ketone) fibers obtained by melt-spinning a thermoplastic material which comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of a melt-stable poly(arylene thioether-ketone) having predominant recurring units of the formula ##STR9## wherein the --CO-- and --S-- are in the para position to each other, and having the following physical properties (a)-(c): (a) melting point, Tm being 310°-380° C.; (b) residual melt crystallization enthalpy, Δ Hmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 10 J/g, and melt crystallization temperature, Tmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 210° C., wherein ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) and Tmc (420° C./10 min) are determined by a differential scanning calorimeter at a cooling rate of 10° C./min, after the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is held at 50° C. for 5 minutes in an inert gas atmosphere, heated to 420° C. at a rate of 75° C./min and then held for 10 minutes at 420° C.; and (c) reduced viscosity being 0.3-2 dl/g as determined by viscosity measurement at 25° C. and a polymer concentration of 0.5 g/dl in 98 percent by weight sulfuric acid; and optionally, (B) up to 50 parts by weight of at least one of thermoplastic resins, wherein said fibers are stretched to a draw ratio of from 1.2:1 to 8:1 and have the following physical properties: (a) density of portions of said poly(arylene thioether-ketone) being at least 1.34 g/cm 3 at 25° C.; (b) tensile strength being at least 10 kg/mm 2 at 23° C. or at least 3 kg/mm 2 at 250° C.; (c) tensile modulus being at least 100 kg/mm 2 at 23° C. or at least 30 kg/mm 2 at 250° C.; (d) tensile elongation being at least 5% at 23° C.; and (e) heat shrinkage (220° C./30 min) being at most 20%.

Claim 11

Poly(arylene thioether-ketone) fibers obtained by melt-spinning a thermoplastic material which comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of a melt-stable poly(arylene thioether-ketone) having predominant recurring units of the formula ##STR9## wherein the --CO-- and --S-- are in the para position to each other, and having the following physical properties (a)-(c): (a) melting point, Tm being 310°-380° C.; (b) residual melt crystallization enthalpy, Δ Hmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 10 J/g, and melt crystallization temperature, Tmc (420° C./10 min) being at least 210° C., wherein ΔHmc (420° C./10 min) and Tmc (420° C./10 min) are determined by a differential scanning calorimeter at a cooling rate of 10° C./min, after the poly(arylene thioether-ketone) is held at 50° C. for 5 minutes in an inert gas atmosphere, heated to 420° C. at a rate of 75° C./min and then held for 10 minutes at 420° C.; and (c) reduced viscosity being 0.3-2 dl/g as determined by viscosity measurement at 25° C. and a polymer concentration of 0.5 g/dl in 98 percent by weight sulfuric acid; and optionally, (B) up to 50 parts by weight of at least one of thermoplastic resins, wherein said fibers are stretched to a draw ratio of from 1.2:1 to 8:1 and have the following physical properties: (a) density of portions of said poly(arylene thioether-ketone) being at least 1.34 g/cm 3 at 25° C.; (b) tensile strength being at least 10 kg/mm 2 at 23° C. or at least 3 kg/mm 2 at 250° C.; (c) tensile modulus being at least 100 kg/mm 2 at 23° C. or at least 30 kg/mm 2 at 250° C.; (d) tensile elongation being at least 5% at 23° C.; and (e) heat shrinkage (220° C./30 min) being at most 20%.