GEL SPUN FIBERS AND METHOD OF MAKING

This invention relates to eco-friendly solutions and gels for making high strength ultra-high molecular weight polyolefin (UHMWPO) fibers, films, filters, membranes by solution and gel spinning techniques. This invention also makes soft, strong, oriented, and elastic fibers from styrenic block copolymers. The polymers are first dissolved or dispersed in a cyclic terpene. In some embodiments, the fibers are extruded or drawn from the solution or gel, and cooled to form a gel filament. In some embodiments, the fibers and films are soft and elastic by making the spinnable solution or gel from polyolefin and styrenic block copolymers or other elastomeric polymers in cyclic terpene. In some embodiments the fibers and films produced can be oriented by stretching or drawing in the gel state before and/or during and/or after removal of cyclic terpene.