pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S07 - (General Session 7) Films and Fibers
Oral Presentation
 
 

Effect of Process Parameters on Structure Development in HDPE/PA6 Bicomponent Fibers and Films

Chen Yiwen (1)*

(1) Tokyo Institute of Technology - Tokyo - Japan

The difference and common characteristics in the bicomponent processing of fibers and films in terms of structure development, characteristics of interface and generation of functionalities were studied through the preparation of the sheath/core bicomponent fibers consisting of HDPE as the sheath and PA6 as the core components and also the multi-layered films consisting of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the outer layers and polyamide 6 (PA6) as the core layer. Bicomponent fibers were prepared by ordinary melt spinning process at various take-up velocities, while multi-layered films were prepared by the film blowing process with various nip-roll speeds. For comparison single component fibers and films of HDPE and PA6 were also prepared. In this study, processing behaviors as well as structure and properties of resultant films and fibers were investigated. The structure development of the individual component in HDPE/PA6 bicomponent fibers and multi-layered films were evaluated through the analysis of overall molecular orientation represented by birefringence. There were significant orientation reduction of HDPE component in comparison with the respective single component products in both bicomponent spinning and multi-layered film blowing processes. As for the PA6 component, wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurement revealed that crystalline orientation increased with an increase in the take-up velocity in single component fibers, while bicomponent spinning did not affect the crystalline orientation behavior of PA6 because of its higher viscosity in comparison with the HDPE used in this study. On the other hands, no significant crystalline orientation was detected for PA6 both in single component and multi-layered films irrespective of the nip-roll speed.