Abstract: A wet and dry jet wet spinning process produce one or a plurality of siliceous-containing fibers. At least a partial hydrolyzate is formed from silicon alkoxides and/or colloidal dispersions of hydrolyzable metal oxides through acid catalyzed hydrolysis in the presence of a solvent. The ratio of amounts of the water to silicon alkoxide or hydrous oxide is around 1.5 to 1 up to less than around 4 to 1. Both the hydrolysis and polymerization reactions produce an ungelled hydrolyzate with a viscosity in the range of 70 to greater than 1000 poise. This hydrolyzate is extruded through a spinnerette into a gaseous environment for dry jet wet spinning followed by contacting with a nonsolvent liquid or directly into a nonsolvent liquid for wet spinning. The contacting with the nonsolvent liquid is for effective coagulation to produce cohesive fiber that may have some stickiness. The fiber is removed from the nonsolvent liquid where the fiber's length is continuous from the spinnerette to removal.

Abstract: A sol gel reaction process for forming glassy articles involves the hydrolysis of silicon alkoxides with or without additional dispersions of hydrated silicon oxides, and polymerization including crosslinking. The present process involves forming glassy articles by the sol gel reaction route utilizes coagulation promoters having fatty acid hydrophobic moieties and hydrophilic moieties of primary, secondary, tertiary amines or quaternary ammonium compounds. The coagulation promoter catalyzes either and/or both of the hydrolysis and polymerization reactions. The coagulation promoter can be the only catalyst in forming the sol or can be used in addition to acid or basic catalyst. Additionally or alternatively, the coagulation promoter is added to a coagulation fluid to which shaped hydrolyzate is added.

Abstract: An apparatus for melt spinning of polymers into synthetic yarns having greater bundle uniformity has a spinning assembly for extruding molten polymers through orifices in a spinning plate to form filaments and a blow box for directing cooling gas transversely across and through the filaments that extend vertically downwardly from the spinning plates. The spinning plate is provided with at least two groups of orifices and the groups are arranged to provide one or more open lanes or channels that extend across the plate in a direction parallel to the direction of flow of the cooling gas. This lane has a width greater than the distance between adjacent orifices.

Abstract: An apparatus for melt spinning of polymers into synthetic yarns having greater bundle uniformity has a spinning assembly for extruding molten polymers through orifices in a spinning plate to form filaments and a blow box for directing cooling gas transversely across and through the filaments that extend vertically downwardly from the spinning plates. The spinning plate is provided with at least two groups of orifices and the groups are arranged to provide one or more open lanes or channels that extend across the plate in a direction parallel to the direction of flow of the cooling gas. This lane has a width greater than the distance between adjacent orifices.