Effect of winding speed on the structure and properties of as‐spun poly(trimethylene 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylate) fibers as compared to poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

We present a comparative study of melt spinning of poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (PTN) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers with respect to the effect of winding speed (2000–6000 m/min): Structural changes were followed by X-ray analysis, calorimetry, and measurements of density, boiling water shrinkage, and birefringence. As-spun PTN fibers exhibited a low degree of crystallinity at relatively low speeds (< 2000 m/min). An increase in winding speed up to 6000 m/min only resulted in a minor enhancement of crystallinity and orientation. The small change of structural parameters accounted for the fact that tenacity and modulus did not rise significantly with increasing winding speed, contrary to the PET fibers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2489–2497, 2002