Abstract: Processes for forming a yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition; the regions being distinct and present in the bicomponent filaments in a sheath-core structure or a side-by-side structure; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer comprising 5 to 10 weight percent homogeneously dispersed discrete carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises aramid polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having at least one homogeneously dispersed masking pigment, the yarn having a total content of 0.5 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: The present invention concerns yarn comprising polymer, the polymer comprising imidazole groups, the yarn having a sulfur content of 0.01 to 3.0 percent by weight, based on weight of the yarn, the yarn having a tenacity of 30 cN/dtex (33.3 gpd) or higher.

Abstract: Processes for forming a yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition; the regions being distinct and present in the bicomponent filaments in a sheath-core structure or a side-by-side structure; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer comprising 5 to 10 weight percent homogeneously dispersed discrete carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises aramid polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having at least one homogeneously dispersed masking pigment, the yarn having a total content of 0.5 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition; the regions being distinct and present in the bicomponent filaments in a sheath-core structure or a side-by-side structure; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent homogeneously dispersed discrete carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises aramid polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having at least one homogeneously dispersed masking pigment, the yarn having a total content of 0.5 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, fiber further having: i) a halide anion, the halide anion being present in an amount of 0.05 to 20.1 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; and ii) sulfur, wherein the sulfur is present in the fiber in an amount of 0.05 to 3 weight percent; the fiber exhibiting hydrochloric acid evolution as identified by TGA-IR between 277.13° C. to 448.19° C.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, the polymer further having: i) halide anions being present in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 20.1 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; ii) sulfur, wherein the sulfur is present in the fiber in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 3 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; and iii) alkali metal ion, wherein the alkali metal ion is present in the fiber in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 2 weight percent, based on weight of fiber, the fiber exhibiting hydrochloric acid evolution as identified by TGA-IR between 277.13° C. to 448.19° C.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from yarn comprising the steps of: a) contacting never-dried polymeric yarn with an aqueous base, the polymer comprising imidazole groups and said polymer comprising sulfur atoms characterized as being in the form of sulfate anions; b) contacting the yarn with an aqueous acid comprising a halide; and c) rinsing the yarn.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, the polymer further having: i) halide anions being present in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 20.1 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; ii) sulfur, wherein the sulfur is present in the fiber in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 3 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; and iii) alkali metal ion, wherein the alkali metal ion is present in the fiber in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 2 weight percent, based on weight of fiber, the fiber exhibiting hydrochloric acid evolution as identified by TGA-IR between 277.13° C. to 448.19° C.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, fiber further having: i) a halide anion, the halide anion being present in an amount of 0.05 to 20.1 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; and ii) sulfur, wherein the sulfur is present in the fiber in an amount of 0.05 to 3 weight percent; the fiber exhibiting hydrochloric acid evolution as identified by TGA-IR between 277.13° C. to 448.19° C.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, the polymer further having: i) halide anions being present in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 20.1 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; ii) sulfur, wherein the sulfur is present in the fiber in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 3 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; and iii) alkali metal ion, wherein the alkali metal ion is present in the fiber in an amount in the range of 0.05 to 2 weight percent, based on weight of fiber.

Abstract: The present invention concerns fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, fiber further having: i) a halide anion, the halide anion being present in an amount of 0.05 to 20.1 weight percent, based on weight of fiber; and ii) sulfur, wherein the sulfur is present in the fiber in an amount of 0.05 to 3 weight percent.

Abstract: A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition, each of the first and second regions being distinct in the bicomponent filaments; each bicomponent filament comprising 5 to 60 weight percent of the first polymer composition and 95 to 40 weight percent of the second polymer composition; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises modacrylic polymer being free of discrete carbon particles; the yarn having a total content of 0.1 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: A yarn comprising a plurality of bicomponent filaments having a first region comprising a first polymer composition and a second region comprising a second polymer composition; the regions being distinct and present in the bicomponent filaments in a sheath-core structure or a side-by-side structure; wherein the first polymer composition comprises aramid polymer containing 0.5 to 20 weight percent homogeneously dispersed discrete carbon particles and the second polymer composition comprises aramid polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having at least one homogeneously dispersed masking pigment, the yarn having a total content of 0.5 to 5 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: The present invention concerns processes for reducing water in never-dried fiber comprising copolymer derived from the copolymerization of para-phenylenediamine, 5(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole; and terephthaloyl dichloride, the process having the following steps in a continuous process, (a) a step of drying a never-dried fiber at less than 100 C until the moisture content of the fiber is less than 60 weight percent; and (b) a step of further drying the fiber above 150° C. while the moisture content of the fiber is no more than 40 weight percent; and the fiber being further heated to at least 350° C. in either an additional continuous or separate step.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from yarn comprising the steps of: a) contacting never-dried polymeric yarn with an aqueous base, the polymer comprising imidazole groups and said polymer comprising sulfur atoms characterized as being in the form of sulfate anions; b) contacting the yarn with an aqueous acid solution of pH 5 or lower; and c) rinsing the yarn.

Abstract: An intimate blend of staple fibers, and a yarn, fabric, and article of clothing providing surprising arc performance and coloration capability, comprising a mixture of a first staple fiber made from a flame resistant polymer that retains at least 90 percent of its weight when heated to 425 degrees Celsius at a rate of 10 degrees per minute and comprises 0.5 to 20 weight percent discrete homogeneously dispersed carbon particles; and either (a) a second staple fiber from a flame resistant polymer being free of discrete carbon particles and having an L* lightness coordinate of 70 or greater and being capable of accepting a dye or coloration, or (b) a second staple fiber blend being free of discrete carbon particles and comprising at least one second staple fiber from a flame resistant polymer and having an L* lightness coordinate of 70 or greater and being capable of accepting a dye or coloration; the mixture having a total content of 0.5 to 3 weight percent discrete carbon particles.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for obtaining high-tenacity aramid yarn, wherein the yarn is made of a copolymer obtained from a mixture of monomers comprising 5-(6)-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole, an aromatic para-diamine, and an aromatic para-diacid; the method comprising: a) spinning said copolymer from an inorganic acid solvent to produce the aramid yarn; b) washing said yarn with a basic aqueous solution for at least 5 seconds; and c) heating said yarn; wherein the yarn is heated in at least two process steps, characterized in that (i) in a first step the yarn is heated at a temperature of 200 to 360° C. at a tension of at least 0.2 cN/dtex, followed by (ii) a second step wherein the yarn is heated at a temperature of 370 to 500° C. at a tension of less than 1 cN/dtex. In some embodiments, the yarn has an effective polymer cation to sulfur content molar ratio of at least 0.3. In some embodiments, the yarn has a hydrolytic strength retention of the yarn is greater than 60%.