Chapter 3: High-performance fibers based on flexible polar polymer molecules

Polyethylene (PE) fibers based on ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, UHMW-PE, have been developed successfully with outstanding specific values for strength and stiffness, at least at ambient temperature, as discussed in the previous chapters. But this relatively new class of high-performance PE fibers also possesses some limitations notably a relatively low melting temperature, appr. 150 °C, and relatively poor long-term properties viz. pronounced creep. The questions to be asked is whether other flexible polymer molecules as possible candidates for high-performance fibers are preferably available with stronger intermolecular interactions, i.e. hydrogen bonding or other polar interactions, than the weak Van der Waals interactions prevailing in between the polyethylene chains. In this chapter this question will be addressed and potential polymer candidates will be discussed.