Spandex polymers

Spandex polymers n. Segmented polyurethane structure (Dupont Inc., KY, USA) with rubber-like elasticity. 

To produce a spandex fiber by reaction spinning, a 1000—3500 molecular weight polyester or polyether glycol reacts with a diisocyanate at a molar ratio of about 1 2. The viscosity of this isocyanate-terrninated prepolymer may be adjusted by adding small amounts of an inert solvent, and then extmded into a coagulating bath that contains a diamine so that filament and polymer formation occur simultaneously. Reactions are completed as the filaments are cured and solvent evaporated on a belt dryer. After appHcation of a finish, the fibers are wound on tubes or bobbins and rewound if necessary to reduce interfiber cohesion. 

Dry Spinning. On a worldwide basis, about 90% of all spandex fibers are produced by various adaptations of dry spinning (15,16). The solution dry spinning process is illustrated in Figure 5. The polymer spinning solution is metered at a constant temperature by a precision gear pump... 

One partieular form of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers is the elastic fibre known as spandex fibre. Like the usual thermoplastic rubbers these materials consist of hard and soft segments but to qualify for the term spandex by the US Federal Trade Commission the polymer used should contain at least 85% of segmented polyurethane. The first commercial material of this type was introduced by Du Pont in 1958 (Lycra). Several other similar materials have since been introduced including Dorlastan (Bayer), Spanzelle (Courtaulds) and Vyrene (US Rubber). 

Polymers that contain two reactive end groups are referred to as telechelicpolymers. Joseph Shivers, a DuPont chemist, invented Spandex in 1959 after about a 10-year seareh. It was first named Fiber K, but DuPont ehose the more appealing, smooth-sounding trade name of Lyera. 

Spandex fibers - [COPOLYMERS] (Vol 7) - [AMINES - AMINES,AROMATIC - METHYT.RNF.DTANn.TNE] (Vol 2) - [URETHANE P OLYMERS] (Vol 24) -based on PTTffiG [POLYETHERS - TETRAHYDROFURAN AND OXETANE POLYMERS] (Vol 19)... 

In much the same way, natural polymeric fibers like wool, cotton, silk, etc., are often touted as superior to anything that is man-made or synthetic. But is this fair There is no doubt that natural fibers have a unique set of properties that have withstood the test of time (e.g., it is difficult, but not impossible, to match silk s feel or cotton s ability to breathe ). On the other hand, consider Lycra , a completely synthetic fiber produced by DuPont (Figure 1-12) that has a truly amazing set of properties and is the major component of Spandex (a material that keeps string bikinis on ). Or consider the wrinkle-free polyester fibers used in clothing and the stain proof nylon and polyacrylonitrile polymers used in carpets. The point here is that polymers, be they natural" or synthetic, are all macromolecules but with different chemical structures. The challenge is to design polymers that have specific properties that can benefit mankind. 

The synthesis of step-growth polymers—polytimides such as nylon and Kevlar, polyesters such as Dacron, polyurethanes such as spandex, and polycarbonates such as Lexan (Section 30.6)... 

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