E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Mark H Headinger

Edgar N Rudisill

David W Luckey

The invention relates a heat-treated poly(metaphenylene isophthalamide) polymer fiber having a crystalline structure as represented by a carbonyl stretch peak at a wavelength of 1,650 cm&#x2212;1 in a Raman spectra response which before coloration with a dye, shrinks linearly 0.4 percent or less when exposed to 285 degrees Centigrade for 30 minutes; and which after contact with an aqueous red dye solution for 1 hour at 120 degrees Centigrade, has an 'L' value coloration of at least 40 units lower than the 'L' value of the fiber before coloration.

Low shrinkage, dyeable MPD-I yarn

The invention relates to a continuous dry spinning process for preparing a fiber from a polymer solution having concentrations of polymer, salt, solvent and water. After the fiber is extruded and quenched, the fiber is placed in contact with a conditioning solution comprising concentrations of solvent, salt, and water. The conditioning solution acts upon the fiber to plasticize the fiber prior to being drawn. The conditioning solution has concentrations of solvent, salt, and water so that the fiber is plasticized to the extent necessary for drawing but does not plasticize the fiber to such an extent as to re-dissolve the fiber into a polymeric solution. A heat-treated fiber manufactured from this process has improved shrinkage and can be colored to darker shades.

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Midlothian, VA, United States of America

Mark H Headinger