Processing of a High Temperature Imide Copolymer into Hollow Fibers

• Published in: Materials and manufacturing processes 2000-07, Vol.15 (4), p.533-545
• Main Authors: Bhat, Gajanan S., Wapner, Phillip G., Hoffman, Wesley P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1042-6914; 1532-2475
• DOI: 10.1080/10426910008913004

Hollow fibers spun from synuietic fiber forming polymers have been of interest, especially for producing high-bulk, low-density fabrics. Such fibers produced from a high temperature resistant polymer provide a number of advantages in certain applications. Ultem, a polyetherimide resin marketed by General Electric company, is a copolymer with ether molecules between imide groups and is thermoplastic. Being an amorphous thermoplastic polyimide, the Ultem resin combines the high performance associated with exotic specialty polymers and the good processability of typical engineering plastics. Equipment was built at the Air Force Research Laboratory of Edwards AFB, CA to spin hollow fibers. The spinneret designed has a hollow tube supported in the center of the orifice, and an inert gas is injected through the needle to maintain the tubular shape until the solidification of the fiber. Using that set-up, fibers were spun from Ultem under several different conditions. Effect of some of the processing conditions on the evolution of structure and properties during hollow fiber formation is discussed.