Fiber Spinning: Materials & Techniques

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber spinning is one of the most complicated processes in the polymer processing area. First of all, it is connected with the preparation of very thin and weak filaments, their collection to threads (yarns), and the final processing to textile or technical fibers and fabrics. Fiber spinning from melts is easier than from polymer solutions, because when planning the subsequent processes, we need to overcome numerous issues connected with the choice of solvent, properties of solutions, and selection of spinning method (wet, dry–wet jet, and dry), including the spinneret geometry, nature of coagulant, washing, orientation, drying procedures, and so on. Using solution spinning liquids of different chemical compositions requires a detailed consideration of their regeneration and recuperation methods. The development of composite fibers is usually stipulated with combining one fiber in two or more polymers, coating the main fiber using a protective jacket, and introducing reinforcing or functional additives, such as disperse particles, fire retardants, biological additives, and others. Self-absorbable threads from polylactide, polyglycolide, and their copolymers, for use as surgical materials are also treated with a special coating that reduces the "sawing" effect when the material passes through the tissues, and also reduces the capillarity and fibrillation. In some cases, the solution method seems more attractive for preparing composite fibers because of the possibility of mixing two or more polymers in one fiber, to distribute uniformly solid or liquid additives at ambient conditions, to prepare reasonable precursors for carbon fibers. The most popular matter for precursors are cellulose or polyacrylonitrile fibers spun via solutions, as well as dopes that almost always contain additives. That is why preparing composite fibers requires knowledge of physical and colloid chemistry, thermodynamics, rheology, chemical technology, mechanics, and other branches of science.

All of these are the driving forces of the Special Issue of Materials.

Prof. Valery Kulichikhin
Guest Editor

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