High performance wholly aromatic polyamide fibers

摘要

High performance wholly aromatic polyamide fibers are provided possessing a novel chemical structure. The fibers of the present invention have chain extending bonds from the aromatic nuclei thereof which are coaxial or parallel and oppositely directed, and have a sulfur content of about 0.5 to 10 percent by weight (e.g. 0.5 to 3 percent by weight) as sulfonic acid and/or sulfonate groups attached to the aromatic nuclei. Not only do the fibers exhibit highly satisfactory tenacity (at least 15 grams per denier), elongation (at least 1.5 percent), and initial modulus (at least 400 grams per denier), but they exhibit an increased resistance to burning when compared to conventional unsubstituted aromatic polyamides. The fibers also exhibit particularly good resistance to organic solvents.