High strength and modulus polyvinyl alcohol fibers and method of their preparation.

摘要

Polyvinyl alcohol of molecular weight over 500 000 (i.e. 1 500 000 to 2 500 000) is spun as a dilute solution (2-15%) in a relatively non-volatile solvent such as glycerin. The resultant gel fiber is extracted with a volatile solvent such as methanol and dried. Upon stretching at one or more stages during the process, fibers of tenacity above 10 g/denier and modulus above 200 g/denier (e.g. 18 and 450, respectively) are produced.