Thermal Analysis of Acrylic Fibers

It is usually possible to get more information about the structure and properties of a material when it is undergoing changes of states rather than a single state. Thermal analysis is one such method for studying the polymer structure, including that of fibers. The major methods employed here for the thermal analysis of acrylic fibers as reported in this article are TMA and DSC, aided sometimes by other methods like thermomicroscopy, thermal X-ray diffraction and IR analysis. The medium in which the acrylic fibers are immersed may be air, inert gas or a suitable solvent. Acrylic fibers are chosen as the object of study since they possess predominantly an amorphous structure which is quite glassy below its glass transition temperature and has a moderate degree of paracrystallinity. Such a structure is rather sensitive to heat and shows a wide distribution of order. However, the methods developed in this study of acrylic fibers may be adapted to other fibers as well. 15 ref.--AA