Cross linked fibers and methods of making same using transition metal ions
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a method of forming fibers. First and second precursors, each possessing a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity, are mixed in a hopper. The mixed precursors are then extruded through an extrusion die to crosslink and produce a filament. Polymerization of the first and second precursors is catalyzed by transition metal ions.
1. A process comprising:
mixing first and second precursors each possessing a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity in a cycloaddition reaction in a hopper; and
extruding the first and second precursors through an extrusion die to produce a filament, wherein crosslinking by cycloaddition reaction of the first and second precursors is catalyzed by transition metal ions introduced during the extruding of the first and second precursors.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the functional group of the first precursor is an azide group and the functional group of the second precursor is an alkyne group.
3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the first precursor and optionally the second precursor comprises a polyol core.
4. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters, polyether-esters, polyalkanols, and combinations thereof.
5. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the polyol comprises a polyether selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polybutylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, polyhexamethylene glycol, cyclodextrin-polyethylene glycols, polyacetals, and combinations thereof.
6. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the polyol comprises a polyester selected from the group consisting of trimethylene carbonate, e-caprolactone, p-dioxanone, glycolide, lactide, 1,5-dioxepan-2-one, polybutylene adipate, polyethylene adipate, polyethylene terephthalate, and combinations thereof.
7. The process according to claim 3 , wherein the polyol comprises a poly(ether-ester) block.
8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ions are selected from the group consisting copper, zinc, iron, aluminum, magnesium, and alloys thereof.
9. The process according to claim 8 , wherein transition metal ions are copper ions selected from copper sulfate, copper iodide, and combinations thereof.
10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ions are leached from a metal surface.
11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ions are coated on a surface as a chelating resin.
12. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ions are present on mixing blades of the hopper.
13. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ions are present on the extrusion die.
14. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the transition metal ions are present in a cartridge coupled to the extrusion die.
15. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of quenching the filament in a quench bath after extrusion.
16. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the transition metal ions are present in the quench bath.
17. A filament obtained by: mixing first and second precursors each possessing a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity in a cycloaddition reaction in a hopper; and extruding the first and second precursors through an extrusion die to produce a filament, wherein crosslinking by cycloaddition reaction of the first and second precursors is catalyzed by transition metal ions introduced during the extruding of the first and second precursors.
18. A fiber comprising a filament according to claim 17 .