Technical Fiber Based on Flax Cellulose as Tire Cord Precursor

Abstract

Eco-unfriendliness of viscose process − the main producer of tire cord from wood cellulose − does not meet the growing need for creation of “green” tires. Alongside viscose cord fiber, production of a new cord fiber, Lyocell, from wood cellulose by eco-clean NMMO process is developing. Technical fibers were obtained from high-molecular flax cellulose by the method of its solid-phase dissolution in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide. Comparative studies of the structure and mechanical and thermal properties of flax fibers and industrial cord fibers showed correspondence of their properties and that the stiffness of the flax fiber is almost 30 % higher than that of the cord fiber. Flax fibers are resistant to cyclic deformative actions and their deformation at high temperature is less than that of commercial samples. Water losses by the samples in the process of thermal studies at temperatures up to 170 °C have a reverse nature, which is confirmed by the stability of the mechanical properties of the samples under equilibrium conditions after thermal action. The obtained data set indicates sufficiently high fatigue strength of flax fibers and makes it possible to use them as cord fiber at par with cord fiber from wood cellulose.