| Abstract: | The development of an oriented noncrystalline phase in a semicrystalline polymer filament has been studied via X-ray scattering. These unique PET fibers contain a relatively high noncrystalline content and also have high tenacity, high modulus, and low breaking elongation. Fiber properties were found to be very responsive to the oriented amorphous phase content. This phase was utilized for interpreting noncrystalline orientation in PET fibers produced by a new extrusion technique. Here, the oriented noncrystalline regions in a series of PET fibers varies from 6% to 63%, depending strongly on the production conditions. In particular, samples produced with a newly developed threadline modification process possess a high content of oriented noncrystalline polymer. Measurements such as dynamic and static mechanical properties have been performed on various samples, and these properties are related to the oriented noncrystalline phase. The results provide direct evidence for the existence of highly oriented noncrystalline material in these unique PET fibers spun with a threadline modification process. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
