Acrylic fibers asbestos replacement

Mitsubishi Rayon Co. has developed an acrylic asbestos replacement fiber with a tensile strength of almost 600 MPa (87,000 psi) (78,79). In addition, patents for acrylic asbestos replacement fibers have been obtained by Asahi (80), Wuestefeld (81), REDCO (82), and Hoechst (83). The Hoechst fiber, marketed under the trade name Dolanit (originally Dolan 10), is offered in two forms as shown in Table 4. 

Metalized and semiconducting fibers have also been discussed [585-587]. Another key industrial application for acrylic fibers is for asbestos replacement, especially for concrete reinforcement and friction surfaces. An example of a concrete and mortar reinforcement fiber is Dolanit acrylic from Faserwerk Kelheim GmbH [588]. The subject has been reviewed by a number of authors [589-591]. Other acrylic fiber modifications and reviews of acrylic fiber modifications, in general, have been published by several authors [592-596]. A comprehensive summary of specialized acrylic and modacrylic fibers is given in Table 12.35. The major types. 

There is an interesting industrial application in outdoor fabrics, based on the perfect UV stability of acrylics, which are used for awnings, tents, automobile upholstery, and outdoor furniture. These products are often pigment-dyed, for better lightfastness. A further step is when hot drawing is applied. Yarns with low comonomer levels can be drawn to ratios of 10 or more. Such yarns are used as precursors for carbon fiber production (see Section 17.7.3), but may also be applied as such, for asbestos replacement. 

---