Abstract: Described are very high molecular weight (e.g., over 2 million, such as 3-20 million g/mol) starch-based materials, and formulations including such, which can be spun in spunbond, melt blown, yarn, or similar processes. Even with such very high molecular weights, the formulations can be processed at commercial line speeds, with spinneret shear viscosities of 1000 sec?1, without onset of melt flow instability. The starch-based material can be blended with one or more thermoplastic materials having higher melt flow index value(s), which serve as a diluent and plasticizer, allowing the very viscous starch-based component to be spun under such conditions. The particular melt flow index characteristics of the thermoplastic diluent material can be selected based on what type of process is being used (e.g., spunbond, melt blown, yarn, etc.). The starch-based material may exhibit high shear sensitivity, strain hardening behavior, and/or very high critical shear stress (e.g., at least 125 kPa).

Abstract: Described are very high molecular weight (e.g., over 2 million, such as 3-20 million g/mol) starch-based materials, and formulations including such, which can be spun in spunbond, melt blown, yarn, or similar processes. Even with such very high molecular weights, the formulations can be processed at commercial line speeds, with spinneret shear viscosities of 1000 sec?1, without onset of melt flow instability. The starch-based material can be blended with one or more thermoplastic materials having higher melt flow index value(s), which serve as a diluent and plasticizer, allowing the very viscous starch-based component to be spun under such conditions. The particular melt flow index characteristics of the thermoplastic diluent material can be selected based on what type of process is being used (e.g., spunbond, melt blown, yarn, etc.). The starch-based material may exhibit high shear sensitivity, strain hardening behavior, and/or very high critical shear stress (e.g., at least 125 kPa).

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: 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 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, 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 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: 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: The present invention concerns methods for producing a yarn comprising the steps of: (a) producing a plurality of dope filaments by spinning a polymer solution in sulfuric acid through a multi-hole spinneret, the polymer comprising imidazole groups; (b) coagulating the plurality of dope filaments into an as-spun yarn; (c) contacting the yarn with an aqueous base having a pKa less than or equal to 11; and (d) rinsing the yarn.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from a fiber comprising the steps of: a) contacting never-dried sulfur-containing fiber in a yarn with an aqueous base having a pKa less than or equal to 11 to release at least a portion of said sulfur, said sulfur comprising, at least in part, sulfate anions and said yarn comprising fiber derived from polymer comprising imidazole groups; and b) rinsing said yarn to remove at least a portion of released sulfur.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from a fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, said method comprising: a) contacting never-dried sulfate anion-containing polymeric-fiber with an halide-containing acid to displace at least a portion of the sulfate ions with halide anions; and b) rinsing the fiber to remove the displaced sulfate ions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from a fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, said method comprising: contacting never-dried sulfate anion-containing polymeric-fiber with an aqueous acid having a pKa of less than 5 to displace at least a portion of the sulfate anions; and b) rinsing the fiber to remove the displaced sulfate ions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns processes for producing a yarn comprising polymer comprising imidazole groups, the process having the following steps: (a) spinning a solution of polymer in sulfuric acid to give rise to a plurality of dope filaments; (b) coagulating the plurality of dope filaments into a multi-filament as-spun yarn; and (c) washing the as-spun multi-filament yarn with an aqueous acid comprising a halide or an aqueous salt comprising a halide or combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from a fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, said method comprising: a) contacting never-dried sulfate anion containing polymeric-fiber with an aqueous salt solution comprising halide anions to displace at least a portion of the sulfate anions with halide anions; and b) rinsing the fiber to remove displaced sulfate anions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from a fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, said method comprising: a) contacting never-dried sulfate anion containing polymeric-fiber with aqueous salt having monovalent anions to displace at least a portion of the sulfate anions; and b) rinsing the fiber to remove displaced sulfate anions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns methods for removing sulfur from a fiber made from a polymer comprising imidazole groups, said method comprising: a) contacting never-dried sulfate anion containing polymeric-fiber with aqueous salt having monovalent anions to displace at least a portion of the sulfate anions; and b) rinsing the fiber to remove displaced sulfate anions.