Direct fiber formation and fiber properties of aromatic polyoxadiazoles

A novel and simple fiber formation process has been developed to fabricate aromatic polyoxadiazoles. The aromatic copolyoxadiazole solution prepared from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and hydrazine sulfate in fuming sulfuric acid was utilized directly as spinning solution and was successfully wet-spun to form fiber into a coagulating bath containing sulfuric acid. In the wet-spinning process, selection of the coagulating bath was the most important factor, and the best results were obtained by the use of approximately 50 wt-% aqueous sulfuric acid. It was easy to prepare a polyoxadiazole fiber having a tenacity of more than 4 g/den. and an elongation of more than 10%. In addition, the fiber properties reached to a tenacity of 6 g/den. and an elongation of 12% under optimum spinning conditions. The wet-spun polyoxadiazole fiber showed an almost round cross section and a clear skin-core structure by microscopic observation. The fiber had a high level of thermal and dimensional stability and a high proportion of property retention at elevated temperatures, as well as all-round general fiber properties.