Chemically Resistant Fibers

Introduction
 Chemically Resistant Fibers are used in environments where resistance
to hostile chemical is required.
 Chemical inertness is the key requirement of these fibers.
 Because chemical reactions have rates that increase with temperature,
the main application areas will be those where the combined effects of
heat and reactive chemical agencies operate, such as in wet and dry
filtration.
 Longer term durability to less corrosive environments is demanded in
the geotextile and geomembrane sectors, where ambient conditions
prevail.
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Introduction
 The chemical resistance is obtained by one or more of following
characteristics:
 Strong chemical bonds
 Absence of aliphatic chain replaceable hydrogen atoms ( PE and PP
not stable to oxidizing agents at T > 50 °C
 Absence of reactive side groups
 Backbone free of hydrolysable groups

 These polymers are based on chemically stable structures formed by:

 Halogenated polymers
 Polymers containing aromatic structures
Chemically Resistant Fibers
These are used in certain applications where chemical
resistance at high temperature is a requirement such as:
 Hot gas and liquid filtration fabrics
 Braiding materials in chemical plants
 Gaskets
 Protective textiles
 Conveyer belts
 High performance sewing threads
 Wet and dry filtration
 Geotextile and geomembrane sectors
 Protective clothing requiring specific chemical resistance
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Chlorinated Fibres: PVDC
 The chemical structure (–CH2.CCl2–) of the polymeric repeat unit in poly
(vinylidene chloride) creates a polymer with a high degree of chemical
resistance and a high degree of order.
 The greater degree of order also limits its processibility in commercially
useful forms.
 Therefore, copolymers with other vinyl and acrylic comonomers, such as
vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate (usually present at <15%
w/w), are utilised.
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Saran
 Dow Chemical Company developed the Saran fibre based on a copolymer
of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride.
 The polymer melts over the range 160–170 °C and is melt spun at about 180
°C by conventional melt-spinning methods to yield both multi- and
monofilaments.
 It softens over the range 115–160 °C, depending upon its copolymeric
character and this limits its service temperature limit.
 The tenacity of fibers is up to 0.25 N/tex, with breaking strains of 15–30%.
 Resistance to chemicals such as salts, acids, most alkalis, aliphatic
hydrocarbons and alcohols is excellent at temperatures up to 100°C.
 However, resistance to aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, ketones,
ethers and esters is less, with temperature playing an important part.
 Coupled with its chemical resistance is an inherently low flammability and
a limiting oxygen index value of 60%.
 Main end-uses are those which demand a high level of chemical, and
sometimes soil resistance and so car-seat covers, outside furniture, public
vehicle upholstery and wet filtration are typical.
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Fluorinated Fibers: PTFE, PVF, PVDF and FEP
 The fluoropolymeric fibers are generally very expensive, but due to their
extreme chemical inertness and thermal resistance these are required.
 Among all fluoro polymers, poly (tetrafluoroethylene) or PTFE is the most
notable generic example.
 PVDF, PVF and FEP fibres have lower melting points and so lend
themselves to melt extrusion with all the advantages of being able to
produce monofilaments in addition to the more conventional continuous
filament and staple forms.
 Due to high melting point and insolubility, PTFE fibers cannot be produced
by conventional methods
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Fluorinated Fibers: PTFE, PVF, PVDF and FEP
Fiber formation

Dupont Process Lenzing Process

Preparation of fibrillar Mixing of lubricant with

suspension in cellulose PTFE powder and
dope preforming

Extrusion into Extrusion into Calendering

fibers fibers or Films and spliting

Sintering Sintering
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Fluorinated Fibers: PTFE, PVF, PVDF and FEP
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Fluorinated Fibers: PTFE, PVF, PVDF and FEP

Tenacity Breaking Max usage temp

Genus Tm (˚C) Tg (˚C) LOI (%)
(N/tex) strain(%) (˚C)

PVDC 0.20 15-30 171 - 115 60

PTFE 0.14 20 347 177 290 98

PVF 0.19-0.39 15-30 170 100 150 --

PVDF 0.43 25 156 100 149 44

FEP 0.3 25 241 149 180 48

Chemically Resistant Fibers
Halogenated Polymers
 Fluorinated Fibers: PTFE, PVF, PVDF and FEP
 All PTFE fibres and yarns show excellent thermal properties in terms of
shrinkage, and maximum service exposure temperatures result from their
wholly fluorinated (–CF2.CF2–) and extremely ordered polymer chains
 C-F is very inert and highly polar which ensure strong intermolecular
forces.
 Resistance to the combined effects of temperature and chemical action is a
combination of the inherent stability and inert nature of the polymer
chain, coupled with the efficiency of intermolecular forces and chain order.
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Chemically Resistant Fibers based on aromatic ring
containing polymers
 The presence of aromatic groups within the polymeric chains bonded
together by relatively inert groups is another category resulting in good
chemical resistance.
 Some examples are: Poly (etheretherketones) (PEEK), poly (phenylene
oxide) (PPO) and poly (phenylene sulphide) (PPS).
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Chemically Resistant Fibers based on aromatic ring
containing polymers
 PEEK
 Chemically, PEEK has a polymer repeat unit of one ketone and two ether
groups. This provides a linear, fully aromatic, highly stable structure
containing only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Chemically Resistant Fibers based on aromatic
ring containing polymers
PEEK fiber-performance factors
 Temperature performance
 In the temperature range of -60°C to 260°C.

 Chemical inertness
 Stable to high-temperature steam and most fluids and chemical reagents. Dissolves in
concentrated sulphuric acid (>50%) and degrades by strong oxidizing agents such as
nitric acid.
 Dimensional stability
 low creep and low shrinkage.

 Flammability
 self-extinguishing with an LOI of 35% and lowest levels of smoke and toxic gases
emission.
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Poly(phenylene sulphide), PPS
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Chemically Resistant Fibers based on aromatic ring
containing polymers
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Chemically Resistant Fibers based on aromatic
ring containing polymers
PEEK fiber properties
Chemically Resistant Fibers
Poly(ether imide), PEI

 Although its temperature resistance is slightly inferior to that of PEEK,

PEI is a cheaper material.