Dissociable multicomponent fibers containing a polyacrylonitrile polymer component
AssigneeFiber Innovation Technology, Inc.
InventorJeffrey S. Dugan
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Abstract
Disclosed are melt processable multicomponent fibers in which at least one component includes a polyacrylonitrile polymer and at least one component includes a fugitive polymer. The melt processable multicomponent fibers of the present invention may be separated into microfilaments formed entirely of polyacrylonitrile, suitable for the production of carbon and graphite fibers. The fibers of the present invention may be used in a variety of applications, including composites and filtration media.
Claims58
A carbon microfilament comprising at least about 70% elemental carbon, and having an average size less than 0.2 denier, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
A stabilized microfilament comprising oxidized polyacrylonitrile, said microfilament having an average size less than 0.2 denier, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
A yarn comprising a plurality of residual microfilaments having an average size less than 0.2 denier selected from the group consisting of oxidized polyacrylonitrile microfilaments and carbon microfilaments, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
A fiber bundle comprising a plurality of microfilaments having an average size less than 0.2 denier selected from the group consisting of stabilized polyacrylonitrile microfilaments and carbon microfilaments, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal and rectangular.
A fabric comprising microfilaments having an average size less than 0.2 denier selected from the group consisting of oxidized polyacrylonitrile microfilaments and carbon microfilaments, wherein said microfilaments have a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
A pre-preg tape comprising microfilaments selected from the group consisting of oxidized polyacrylonitrile microfilaments and carbon microfilaments, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
A composite article comprising microfilaments selected from the group consisting of oxidized polyacrylonitrile microfilaments and carbon microfilaments, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
Filtration media comprising microfilaments selected from the group consisting of oxidized polyacrylonitrile microfilaments and carbon microfilaments, wherein said microfilament has a cross sectional shape selected from the group consisting of wedge, multi-lobal, hexagonal, and rectangular.
A multicomponent fiber having dissociable polymer components, comprising:
- at least one polymer component comprising a melt processable polyacrylonitrile polymer;
- and
- at least one fugitive polymer component which is dissociable from said melt processable polyacrylonitrile polymer component.
A multicomponent fiber having dissociable polymer components, comprising:
- a melt processable polyacrylonitrile polymer component;
- and
- a water soluble fugitive polymer component;
- wherein the weight ratio of said polyacrylonitrile polymer component to said fugitive polymer component ranges from about 80/20 to about 20/80.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.