Fibers of ionic thermoplastic polymers

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved process for forming fibers for fabrics from neutralized sulfonated thermoplastic polymers, and novel ionic polymer fiber compositions derived therefrom, wherein the neutralized sulfonated thermoplastic polymer is dissolved in a solvent, preferably a mixed solvent, consisting of a backbone solvent and a polar cosolvent and spun into fibers. The neutralized sulfonated thermoplastic polymer has about 10 to about 100 meq. SO.sub.3 H per 100 grams of sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, of which at least 95% is neutralized with a cation being selected from the group consisting essentially of antimony, iron, lead, aluminum, or Groups I-A, II-A, I-B or II-B of the Periodic Table of Elements and mixture thereof. The solution of the neutralized sulfonated thermoplastic polymer having a Brookfield viscosity at room temperature at about 6 rpm of about 1,000 to about 200,000 cps is fabricated into fibers by wet or dry spinning through a spinner having a plurality of orifices therein. The resultant fibers exhibit improved dimensional stability and resistance to solvents and temperature when fabricated into a fabric.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.