Characteristic Changes in Vectran®Fibers Treated with Heat, HCl, and NaOH

In this study, research was conducted on $Vectran^{(R)}$ fibers (highly heat resistant, high strength, lightweight industrial fibers) to determine their suitability for use in the development of hybrid wires and cables. Vectran fibers were heat-treated to various temperatures and treated with HCl and NaOH solutions under various conditions. The effects of heat, HCl, and NaOH treatment on the creep behaviors, mechanical properties, and surface properties of Vectran fibers were examined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to investigate crystallinity changes; while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze chemical structure changes resulting from degradation. Analysis showed that the mechanical properties and crystallinity of Vectran fibers changed significantly by treatment at temperatures greater than $250^{\circ}C$. Although HCl treatments did not cause significant changes, NaOH treatments resulted in considerable changes in the surface and mechanical properties and crystallinity. FT-IR and XPS analyses indicated that the degradation resulted from the hydrolysis of ester bonds in the fibers.