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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Properties and characteristics of polypropylene fibers spun by the phase-separation technique

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

A spinning apparatus was built for the investigation of the phase-separation technique as applied to the production of polypropylene fibers from naphthalene solutions. The solutions were spun through a single 2.00 millimeter spinneret at compositions of 15 and 22 per cent polymer and at temperatures of 145 and 160°C. Linear velocities in the spinneret and draw ratios ranged from 0.125 to 0.277 meters per minute and from 759 to 2198, respectively. It was found that naphthalene could be extracted from the fibers by diethyl ether in less than one minute; however, this extraction was not necessary prior to properties testing because all of the naphthalene in the fibers exposed to air was lost by sublimation. Deniers of 14 selected fiber samples varied inversely with draw ratio and directly with solution composition in a range from 2.5 to 8.0. After the samples were cold-drawn 3:1, tests with a Scott Tensilgraph showed that tenacities, per cent elongations at break, and secant moduli varied directly with draw ratio in ranges from 0.9 to 1.6 grams per denier, from 50 to 150 per cent, and from 17 to 30 grams per denier, respectively. Per cent elongations at break also varied directly with solution composition. The fibers, in general, exhibited good hand, bulk, tangling, and self-crimping characteristics. Photographs of four of the fiber samples were made to show the tangling and crimp qualities.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Chemical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Chemical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Year dc:date.issued
1971

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Williams, Matthew Carl

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en_US

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74096
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/74096

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Williams, Matthew Carl. Properties and characteristics of polypropylene fibers spun by the phase-separation technique. masters thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1971. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/74096