FIBERS FROM SOYBEAN PROTEIN AND POLY(VINYL ALCOHOL)

Bicomponent fibers were wet-spun from soybean protein and poly(vinyl a lcohol). The protein core of the spun bicomponent fiber was brittle an d showed a high frequency of core breakage upon drawing. Our effort wa s then to study the soybean protein solution, with the aim of trying t o understand the cause for fiber brittleness and to determine the opti mum solution conditions for fiber spinning. The effects of alkali, ure a, and sodium sulfite on the viscosity of the soybean protein solution were examined. The hydrolytic stability of the soybean protein soluti on was examined at various pH values at two temperatures (room tempera ture and 60 degrees C). Both the viscosity and gel electrophoresis wer e used for this purpose. The degradation of the soybean protein and th e existing microgels in the protein spinning solution were thought to be the causes for the poor fiber drawability. Extent of protein denatu ration will also effect the fiber drawability. (C) 1999 John Wiley & S ons, Inc.