Metal oxide fibers from acrylate salts

A process for the preparation of magnesium oxide fibers, which comprises:

• (a) preparing a composition comprising a solution of a polymerization initiator, a water-soluble organic polymer and a magnesium acrylate of the formula:
• ##STR2## wherein R, R' and R" are independently lower alkyl, inertly substituted lower alkyl, or H, the proportion by weight of the magnesium acrylate being greater than the proportion by weight of the organic polymer;
• (b) preparing a green fiber from the composition of (a) and polymerizing the acrylate moieties of the green fiber;
• and
• (c) treating the green fiber under conditions such that the organic matter is removed from the fiber and a magnesium oxide fiber is produced.