PROCESS FOR WET-SPINNING FIBERS DERIVED FROM ACRYLIC POLYMERS

A process is provided for producing "as-spun" acrylic fibers which have a void free, microporous well collapsed structure, great uniformity along the fiber axis, and a low degree of orientation. A process is also provided for producing acrylic fibers which can be converted to carbon and graphite fibers of high strength and modulus. The process involves the incorporation of certain additives in solutions of the polymer prior to spinning. Fibers obtained by this process may be stretched and hot drawn on further processing to develop maximum orientation with resultant excellent physical properties or they may be converted into high strength high modulus graphite fibers, by heating in an inert atmosphere at appropriate temperatures.