Effect of dry/wet spinning on the photooxidative degradation of acrylic fibers

The photooxidative degradation of acrylic fibers was investigated with two different fiber‐spinning processes, that is, dry spinning and wet spinning. Several analytical methods were used in this study: viscometry, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical measurements, and mechanical testing. Viscometry was used to determine the molecular weight as a monitoring factor for degradation. X‐ray diagrams showed lower changes in the crystallinity of wet‐spun fibers during a weathering process by irradiation. The results from mechanical testing indicated that the tenacity of dry‐spun fibers had less deterioration than that of wet‐spun fibers. Degraded wet‐spun and dry‐spun fibers showed similar trends in optical and spectroscopy analysis. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009