Abstract
Substantial improvements in the physical strength properties of certain fibrous regenerated cellulose products, notably rayon tire cord, have been achieved during the past decade. These advances in tensile and fatigue properties of tire cord rayon are reviewed and the factors responsible for the improvements are discussed in such a manner as to point the way for similar quality gains in related products, such as staple fiber.
Improvement in properties is primarily attributed to the combined use of physical and chemical actions to accomplish controlled crystallite development and orientation in the spinning filament. Beneficial use has been made of various types of chemical re generation retarding agents to prolong the plastic-gel state, thereby facilitating heavy stretching along with dehydration of the coagulated filament to yield a highly consoli dated and uniaxially oriented structure prior to complete regeneration.
The relation of current spinning practices to mechanical properties attained in the final filament are outlined and interpreted in the light of filament cross-sectional struc ture, secondary swelling properties, and differential dyeing characteristics.
Potential strength aims for future cellulosics are discussed and some suggestions made as to the type of products for which the structural skeleton of the cellulose polymer appears to offer outstanding advantages, particularly when coupled with bonding or stabilizing resins in intimate molecular association.
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