Elastomeric fibres structures

Elastomeric fibres based upon both polyester-urethane and polyether-urethane structures followed. The early work by Bayer led to the use of highly polar solvents such as dimethyl formamide. Formation of fibres by reactive spinning, where the isocyanate-ended polymer is extruded into an aqueous solution of a chain-coupling agent, was described in 1949 [75] and by dry-spinning a solution of the chain-coupled polymer in 1951 [76], However, Bayer did not immediately use their technology to produce commercial fibres [77],... 

The individual fibres of an elastomeric fabric must be completely covered with a thin film of an elastic material without any fibre-to-fibre bonding. The film causes a high degree of recovery from deformations owing to its particular structure of widely spaced crosslinks. 

There is increasing interest in hose forms of construction as a route to manufacturing reinforced thermoplastic pipes (RTP) on a continuous production basis. The most widely used high pressure hoses are composite structures intended to create a flexible, tubular connection within high-pressure fluid systems. The pressure containment is achieved by incorporating textile fibres or steel wires which can carry high stresses whilst the elastomeric or plastic components essentially protect the fibre or wire structures and act as a seal against fluid permeation. 

TE scaffolds made from polymers are available in different formats as already mentioned in Section 4.1. Polymeric scaffolds can be based on fibres, foams, membranes and 3D bulk materials, using simple linear polymers or crosslinking these, ending up with elastomeric or even thermoplastic structures. In general, the usage of polyphosphazenes should also allow the realisation of similar concepts. Nevertheless, in the literature only a relatively small number of examples are given for the fabrication of polyphosphazene-based scaffolds for TE [2-27]. 

Because of their hydrophilic nature the 2G.T-POE group of block copolymers are unsuitable for use as structural substances but this very property has indicated their application as electrostatic charge dispersants in synthetic fibres and as potentially useful biodegradable surgical materials. Most attention has been devoted to the thermoplastic elastomeric group of random block poly(ether ester)s, notably those based on 4G.T (or 4G.T-co-isophthalate) as the hard block components and POTM terephthalate as the soft segments which have emerged as important commercial products. These copolymers combine ready processability with excellent mechanical... 

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