Synthetic chemical fiber

In 1994, the proportion of PET fibers in the world production of synthetic fibers was 62.9% and of chemical fibers was 55.3%, while in the total volume of all kinds of fibers it was 27.4%. Out of PET fibers presently produced, 38% are staple fibers and 52.5% are filament yarns, with a marked tendency toward an increase in the latter. A 55% proportion is anticipated in the year 2000, At present, about 75% of PET fibers are used for textile purposes and 25% for nontextile purposes. 

Petrochemicals in general are compounds and polymers derived directly or indirectly from petroleum and used in the chemical market. Among the major petrochemical products are plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic ruhher, detergents, and nitrogen fertilizers. Many other important chemical industries such as paints, adhesives, aerosols, insecticides, and pharmaceuticals may involve one or more petrochemical products within their manufacturing steps. 

The entire spectrum of inorganic fibers can be divided into two classes, based on differences in the crystallinity of the solids (Ray, 1978). Synthetic fibers have been known as man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) and manmade vitreous fibers (MMVF). But fibrous materials can be approached or divided in other ways. For example, in the Concise Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (1985) the entry for chemical fibers includes both manmade and natural polymers, with the discussion centering on carbon-based compounds such as acetates, acrylics, and cellulose. Fibers of other inorganic compounds were not mentioned in the encyclopedia under this entry, but silica glass fibers were described under the heading Optical Fibers. ... 

Many textile products combine the advantageous physical and chemical properties of two or more fibers (synthetic or natural). Careful preblending iterations arc usually required... 

The Japanese solution to chemical fiber overcapacities naturally involved MITI which pushed through a 17% cut in existing polyester, Nylon filament, and acrylic fiber capacities between 1978 and 1982. These were linear cuts, however, and did not restrict the range of synthetic fibers developed by each producer, contrary to the specializations that marked the second stage of Europe s approach. 

The vast growth of petrochemicals connected with the expansion of the industries producing plastics, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubbers, detergents and many other organic chemicals, steadily requires greater amounts of hydrocarbon raw materials each year. 

Chemically modified cellulose in the form of cellulose nitrate or nitrocellulose was made and tested for commercial applications in Britain in the 1855-1860 period without much success. The discovery by Hyatt, in 1863, that cellulose nitrate could be plasticized with camphor to give moldability to the blend, made this material much more useful. By 1870, celluloid (plasticized cellulose nitrate) was being produced into a variety of commercial products such as billiard balls, decorative boxes, and combs. Nitrocellulose was also soluble in organic solvents, unlike cellulose, and so could be applied to surfaces in solution to form a coating, as in airplane dopes and automobile lacquers. It could also be solution spun into fibers (synthetic silk) and formed into photographic film, or used as a laminating layer in early auto safety glass. It was also used as an explosive. The hazard introduced to many of these uses of nitrocellulose by its extremely flammable nature resulted in an interest to discover other cellulose derivatives that could still be easily formed, like nitrocellulose, but without its extreme fire hazard. 

Electronic materials Electroplating compounds Explosives Hydraulic fluids Missile fuels Packaging films Paints, varnishes, lacquers Paper chemicals Petroleum additives Photographic chemicals Plastics Refrigerants Rubber chemicals Soaps, detergents Solvents Synthetic fibers Synthetic rubbers Textile chemicals Water purification agents... 

U.S. industry is the largest overall supporter of chemical R D. Between 1999 and 2003, about 20 billion a year was spent on basic chemicals, resin, synthetic rubber, fibers, and filaments, pharmaceuticals and medicines related R D.4 Individual companies often operate their own R D labs, and many provide funds for academic research in targeted areas related to their areas of interest. Industrial funding for research and development in academic science and engineering (S E) fields reached an all-time high of... 

The fibers obtained in a factory or a chemical laboratory are called chemical fibers. There are two types artificial fibers which are made from natural threads, but modified in order to improve their properties, and synthetic fibers which are synthesized from some simple chemical compounds. 

As shown in Table 3.3, the productivity of all synthetic fibers in 2002 was 34.906 MT at an annual growth rate of 4.2%, and that of other chemical fibers was 349 KT at a growth rate of 4.2%. This includes 240 KT polyurethane (PU), 40 KT polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 13 KT poly(p-phenylene benzohwthiazole) (PBT), 10 KT hydrophilic fibers, and 53 KT high-performance fibers, which includes 35 KT aramid fibers. 

Synthetic polymers are relatively recently introduced materials. The natural fiber wool has already been used since antiquity, but the first completely synthetic fibers have only been in use since 1940. Iron has been known as a working material for thousands of years, but the oldest thermoset, phenolic resin, has only been known since 1906, and the oldest completely synthetic thermoplast, poly(vinyl chloride-co-acetate), has only been commercially produced since 1928. Large-scale application of elastomers has only been known since the beginning of the 19th century, when natural rubber was used, but the first commercial synthesis of a completely synthetic elastomer, poly(2,3-dimethyl butadiene), was only made in 1916. Since this time, the commercial production of thermoplasts, thermosets, chemical fibers, and synthetic rubbers has increased strongly (Figure 33-2). 

Figure 33-2. Annual change in world production., Pr (tons/annum) for thermoplastics and thermosets (PL), natural fibers (NF), chemical fibers (CF), synthetic rubbers (SR), and natural rubber (NR) since the year 1940. (After H.-G. Elias.)...

Chemical or synthetic fibers are further classified into regenerated and synthetic fibers. Regenerated or semisynthetic fibers are produced from natural products by a chemical procedure or modification. These fibers can, for example, be rayon, acetate silk, and alginate fibers. In contrast, synthetic fibers are completely synthesized from other raw materials, and may, for example, consist of polyesters, polyamides, poly(acrylonitrile), polyolefins, or glass. 

In case of utilization by combustion, polymeric composites reinforced with natural plant fibers emit less CO2 than chemical fibers (Bledzki 1997). The composites based on natural fibers and synthetic polymers such as PE, PS, PP, etc. are called biocomposites, and being eco-friendly can contribute to solving numerous enviroimiental problems. 

This largest group of covalently bonded compounds makes up the central study of petroleum-based chemicals, plastics, synthetic fibers, and biological chemistry. Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is made up of organic compounds from the decomposed remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago. 

Blending of pol)uners is practiced also in the production of synthetic (chemical) fibers. Multicomponent fibers are usually prepared by mixing more than two polymers. In this case, the ordinary spinning equipment... 

Hard synthetic fiber cloth Hard, woven synthetic fiber cloth, nylon cloth (Fig. 20) Woven silk cloth (Fig. 21) Chemically resistant synthetic fiber cloth... 

Final polishing Colloidal Si02 or alumina and Murakami solution 0.05 Chemically resistant synthetic fiber cloth Water-based 15 120 30... 

Colloidal Si02 0.06 pm Short-napped chemically resistant synthetic fiber cloth Water-based 20 80 3... 

Colloidal SiOz 0.05 pm Chemically resistant synthetic fiber cloth Suspension 10 150 3... 

---