Drawing and Ultimate Tensile Properties of Modified Polyamide 6 Fibers

The drawing and ultimate tensile properties of the modified PA 6 (MPA) fiber specimens prepared at varying drawing temperature were systematically investigated, wherein the MPA resins were prepared by reactive extrusion of PA 6 with the compatibilizer precursor (CP). At any fixed drawing temperature, the achievable draw ratio (D-ra) values of MPA as-spun fiber specimens increase initially with increasing CP contents, and then approach a maximum value, as their CP contents are close to the 5 wt% optimum value. The maximum D-ra values obtained for MPA as-spun fiber specimens prepared at the optimum CP content reach another maximum as their drawing temperatures approach the optimum drawing temperature at 120 degrees C. The tensile and birefringence values of PA 6 and MPA fiber specimens improve consistently as their draw ratios increase. Similar to those found for their achievable drawing properties, the ultimate tensile and birefringence values of MPA fiber specimens approach a maximum value, as their CP contents and drawing temperatures approach the 5 wt% and 120 degrees C optimum values, respectively. Investigations including Fourier transform infrared, melt shear viscosity, gel content, thermal and wide angle X-ray diffraction experiments were performed on the MPA resin and/or fiber specimens to clarify the optimum CP content and possible deformation mechanisms accounting for the interesting drawing, birefringence, and ultimate tensile properties found for the MPA fiber specimens prepared in this study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 51:755-763, 2011. (C) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers