Akzo Nobel N.v.

Akzo N.v.

Bert J Lommerts

Andrzej M Piotrowski

Harm Van Der Werff

Peter Jeroen Cloos

Hendrik Ter Maat

Elliot I Band

Paul K Hanna

Gerrit Hoentjen

Jan Smook

Steven R Leijenaar

Bastiaan Krins

The invention relates to polyketone yarns of which the maximum tangential modulus at an elongation of more than 0.2% is at least 10 N/tex which display both high strength and, if so desired, a high elongation at break. The quality number, which is measured on a single filament out of a bundle of at least about 30 filaments spun simultaneously through one spinneret and given as .sigma., .epsilon., is higher than 85 mN/tex, preferably higher than 100 mN/tex. The quality number of a yarn spun through one spinneret of one or more holes is higher than 110 mN/tex, preferably higher than 120 mN/tex. The yarns are manufactured by extruding a solution of a linear polymer of alternating ethylene and carbon monoxide units in a resorcinol-containing solvent, after which the solvent is removed with the aid of methanol as coagulant.

Process of making polyketon yarn

Copolymers comprising carbon monoxide and ethylene contain at least one type of ketal structure and possess enhanced thermal stability so as to be useful in the melt processing of fibers. These novel copolymers, as well as known polyketones with ketal structures, can be formed by treating a copolymer of carbon monoxide and at least one olefin with a mixture of acid, such as a sulfonic acid, which acts as a catalyst or catalyst/reagent, and alcohol, such as a lower alkanol.

Copolymer of carbon monoxide and ethylene containing ketal structures

Polyketone yarn and a method of manufacturing same

Fibers of an alternating carbon monoxide-ethylene polymer having a molecular weight of at least 100,000 g/mole and a birefringence of at least 650.times.10.sup.-4 can be formed by first extruding a solution of the polymer in a mixed solvent system comprising an aromatic alcohol which is free of alkyl substituents on the aromatic nucleus and another solvent which is a liquid and is other than an aromatic alcohol. The extrusion into the solvent is at an extrusion rate of at least 1 m/min and forms a solvent-containing article which is then cooled or coagulated in a non-solvent for the polymer. The solvent is removed by extraction with a non-solvent for the polymer which is soluble in the mixture of solvents and the resulting article is drawn at a temperature of at least 180.degree. C.

Process for making polyketone fibers

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Dieren, Netherlands

Bert J Lommerts