Morphology of high-speed spun poly(ethylene-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate) fiber and its structural changes by the treatment in supercritical carbon dioxide fluid

Abstract

An alkaline etching for high-speed spun poly(ethylene-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate) (PEN) fibers revealed that these fibers have a well-developed fibrillar structure. From a comparison between the morphologies for PEN and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers, the high-speed spinning technique is useful to develop the fibrillar structure in both fibers. Treatment with supercritical carbon dioxide fluid promoted local rotation of the molecular chains for PEN and caused the crystal transition from β- to α-form more markedly as compared with the pressurized hot water treatment.

Keywords:

• Poly(ethylene-2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylate)
• High-speed spinning
• Morphology
• Fibrillar structure
• Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid

Acknowledgments