A simple, environmentally friendly method was developed to produce thermoset fibers. The process is based on simultaneous extrusion and photopolymerization of acrylate and other monomers and oligomers.
The photopolymerization process is performed at room temperature, making it highly energy efficient. Fibers were prepared directly from monomers, without the use of solvents or water. Fibers having many different chemical and mechanical properties were produced. Using this method polymer monofilaments or chopped fibers could be prepared. Only commercial raw materials were used (more than 400 commercial monomers and oligomers are available commercially), making this production process extremely attractive for the industrial manufacturing of thermoset fibers. Due to the thermoset nature of the fibers, no melting point was observed and thermal stability of the fibers is above 350 0C.
