Abstract
The morphology of dry-jet wet-spun fibers of rigid rod polymers is currently understood on the basis of extensive microscopic studies, but the structure formation mechanism is not understood equally well. An approach is outlined here according to which the elementary microfibrils and microvoids result from a clustering mode that is related to spinodal decomposition, and proceeds through a concentrational and orientational rearrangement of the macromolecular rods within a transient network. Simple relations connecting the rigid rod content of the spinning dope and the characteristic dimensions of the microfibrils and the microvoids are proposed. In the case of composite fibers of rigid rod polymers with the phthalocyanine (Pc) compounds NiPc (crystalline) or (SiPcO)n (short rigid rod polymer), the rigid rod matrix hosts the Pc phase.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 71-89 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| Journal | Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part B |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1990 |
Funding
Observations on composites were made on samples from fibers spun by J. Redman, K. G. Beltsios, J. Giessler, and Dr. X. Zhou, in collaboration with Prof. T. J. Marks of the Chemistry and Materials Science Departments of Northwestern University. Finanical support of the NSF-MRL Program (DMR 8821571) through the North- western University Materials Research Center is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Professors T. J. Marks and P. W. Voorhees for helpful discussions and Ms. M. C. Bedard for many insightful comments.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Polymers and Plastics
- Materials Chemistry