FLEXIBLE THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF POLYMERIC FIBERS

A new microcomputer-controlled instrument has been developed for makin g measurements of thermomechanical behavior of polymeric fibers and ya ms under conditions relevant to high-speed industrial fiber processing . The instrument can apply extension and/or twist, and rapid heating o r cooling in the temperature range 20-300-degrees-C, while tension and torque are measured. Particular novel features are: a temperature con trol device providing heating or cooling at rates Up to 10(3) K/s; a n ew form of high-sensitivity torque transducer with resolution of 10(-9 ) Nm; and computer integration of extension, twist, and temperature. T he instrument provides an unprecedented degree of flexibility in the d esign of thermomechanical tests. It is suitable not only as a versatil e research tool for material property measurements relevant to process es such as spinning, heat setting, and thermobonding of fibers, but al so as a convenient tester for use in quality control on fibers and yar ns.