METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGH STRENGTH POLYETHYLENE FIBER AND HIGH STRENGTH POLYETHYLENE FIBER

摘要

The present invention provides a method for producing a high strength polyethylene fiber superior in stretchability and having a higher strength, a higher elastic modulus and high productivity, and a high strength polyethylene fiber produced by the method. The method includes (1) dispersing a chemically surface modified carbon nanofiber in a solvent for an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, (2) preparing a mixed dope comprising the polyethylene, the modified carbon nanofiber and the solvent by mixing the polyethylene with the suspension obtained in (1), wherein the concentration of the polyethylene is not less than 0.5 wt% and less than 50 wt%, and (3) extruding the dope obtained in step (2) through a spinneret, cooling the dope, and then stretching the dope into a filament yarn at a deformation rate of not less than 0.005 s-1 and not more than 0.5 s-1.