APPLICATION OF VIBRATING ANNEALING METHOD TO POLYARYLATE FIBER

The vibrating annealing method (VA) was applied to polyarylate fiber t o improve its mechanical properties. The VA treatment was repeated twi ce under a frequency of 100 Hz and an amplitude of 5 mm for 10 minutes . The first and second VA treatments (VA1 and VA2) were carried out at 200-degrees-C under tensions of 76 MPa and 84 MPa, respectively. The polyarylate fiber used in this study was Vectran supplied by Kuraray C o., Ltd. The changes in mechanical properties and in thermal shrinkage with the processing were investigated. The dynamic modulus (E') incre ased stepwise with the processing. The E' value of the original fiber was 49 GPa at 25-degrees-C, and that of the VA2 fiber was 83 GPa at 25 -degrees-C. Although the original fiber shrank rapidly in the range of 50-degrees-C to 100-degrees-C, the VA fibers shrank gradually. The VA 2 fiber has an excellent dimensional stability: a shrinkage of 0.42% a t 190-degrees-C.