PRESSURE SEALING PROCESS This invention relates to a process for transfer¬ ring a fiber two bundle from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone in a manner which maintains pressure values of the individual zones and minimizes fiber damage. More particularly, this invention relates to such a process wherein the fiber two bundle in conjunction with liquid water under pressure provide an effective pressure seal for such transfer.

In spinning fiber two bundles from fiber-forming polymer compositions it is often necessary to transfer the fiber tow bundle between two zones maintained at different pressures. Numerous procedures have been proposed for such transfer while sealing the individual zones against changes in pressure as a result of such transfer. Most of these processes attempt to contain the fiber between two metal surfaces either in the form of cylinders or spring-loaded devices such as vanes, wipers, or the like. Usually water floods these devices to contain the tow and remove debris. One such illustrative process employs an orifice seal which allows fluid to rush into the seal along with the tow. Use of such form of seal causes turbulence which disturbs the tow causing it to vibrate and abrade against the containing orifice. As a result, processing of the tow is difficult to conduct and damaged fiber results. Other methods employ gases to effect sealing and the high gas pressures required for sealing can also result in damaged fiber.

Recent developments have lead to a melt-spinning process for preparing acrylonitrile polymer fiber using as

the spinning composition a homogeneous single-phase mel the polymer and water. Such spinning composition is ex ded through a spinnerette at a temperature which is abo the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure and pressure which maintains water in liquid phase. A parti larly desirable method of carrying out such processing i to extrude the melt directly into a steam-pressurized so dification zone maintained under conditions which contro the rate of release of water from the nascent extrudate and enable the extrudate to be stretched for polymer ori entation, as described in U. S. Patent 4,163,770 issued August 9, 1979, to Porosoff. After the extrudate is pro cessed through the steam-pressurized solidification zone it is released to the atmosphere, thus transferring fro high pressure zone to a low pressure zone. Such process as well as numerous others, requires effective sealing d ing transfer of the extrudate, which is in the form of a fiber tow bundle, from the high pressure zone to the low pressure zone without fiber damage. Attempts to accompl such transfer following conventional procedure have not been satisfactory and have led to damaged fiber which in feres with subsequent processing and reduces productivit

What is needed, therefore, is a process for tr ferring a fiber tow bundle from a high pressure zone to low pressure zone which avoids deficiencies of the prior art processes. Such a provision would satisfy a long-fe need and constitute a significant advance in the art.

In accordance with the present invention, ther is provided a process for transferring a moving fiber to bundle from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone which comprises: a) passing said fiber tow bundle throug a passageway contained in a sealing zone which provides liquid water under pressure thereto, said sealing zone b ing located between said high pressure zone and said low pressure zone, said passageway being confined and elonga and having a continuous elongated surface adapted to rec a coating of liquid water under pressure thereon by di¬ ffusion therethrough of liquid water under pressure frojn OMP

said sealing zone, and said passing being conducted while said coating of liquid water is continuously diffused onto said pass geway surface so that said water coating and said fiber tow bundle cooperate to produce an effective pressure seal within the length and confines of said passageway and said water coating prevents contact of said fiber tow bundle with said passageway surface; and b) receiving said fiber tow bundle in said low pressure zone.

When processing is carried out in accordance with the present invention, changes in pressure are not observed in the high and low pressure zones, and substantially no damage fiber results. The process enables rapid production rates to be accomplished and involves relatively simple modifications to effect operation. In carrying out processing using the process of the present invention, it is necessary to interpose a seal¬ ing zone between the high pressure- zone and low pressure zone between which transfer of the fiber tow bundle is de¬ sired. A particularly suitable sealing zone for use in the process of the present invention is illustrated in the sole figure of drawing which represents a cut-out isomeric view thereof.

In the drawing 11 represents a sealing zone use¬ ful in the process of the present invention which is conn- ected to a high pressure zone 3. A tow bundle of fiber 1 enters the sealing zone through entrance 2 and passes through passageway 6_ which is contained in body member 4_ of the sealing zone which receives liquid water under pre¬ ssure through inlet 5_. The fluid under pressure diffuses to the surface of the passageway through porosity 1_ uni¬ formly distributed thereover. The liquid water diffuses toward the center of the passageway and contacts the fiber tow bundle and together the liquid water and fiber tow bundle is kept out of contact with the surface of the pas- sageway. The discharging tow 9_ emerges from exit 8_ into a low pressure zone 1_0_ where it is received along with the liquid, water.

In operation, the fiber tow bundle from the high

pressure zone is passed directly through the passageway the sealing zone while liquid water under pressure is co tinusouly diffused through the surface of the passageway The passageway should be of suitable dimensions to provi effective confinement of the fiber tow bundle and liquid water to provide an effective pressure seal within the l gth of the passageway. As is readily apparent, the exte of confinement and length of the passageway may vary wid and are not particularly critical so long as an effectiv pressure seal is developed while the liquid water and fi tow bundle pass therethrough.

The diffusion of water through the surface of passageway is occasioned by porosity thereof. This may readily accomplished by use of minute holes drilled by electro-etching techniques, by powder metallurgy such as sintered metal surfaces, or any siutable procedure invol ing metals or other materials of construction. The pass way surface should be sufficiently porous to provide a liquid water surface distributed over its expanse during processing.

The sealing zone will comprise the passageway described and a body member jacketing the passageway and diffusing water under pressure through the surface of th passageway during operation. Pressure exerted on the li water in the body member will control the rate of diffus of the liquid water. The rate of diffusion of water thr gh the surface of the passageway should be sufficient to prevent contact of the fiber tow bundle with the surface the passageway and provide an effective pressure seal in cooperation with the fiber tow bundle passing through th passageway.

The passageway, if desired, may be provided wi perforations which cause the lqiuid water to swirl as it diffuses onto the passageway surface. In this way, it i subjected to rotational forces by the swirling fluid bei impinged upon it. Other modifications of the passageway surface to provide similar or alternative effects are als possible.

The invention is more fully illustrated by the example which follows.

EXAMPLE Using a sealing zone as illustrated in the drawing acrylonitrile polymer fiber extruded into a steam-pressuri¬ zed solidification zone was released to the atmosphere therethrough. The pressurized zone 3_ was at 13 to 18 pounds per square inch gauge. The passageway 6 was 11 inches long, 0.25 inch outer diameter, 0.125 inch inner diameter, wall thickness 0.0625 inch, and porosity (air flow versus change in pressure) equivalent to 1000 standard cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure change of 25 pounds per square inch. The duct was made of sintered metal. The sealing zone 11 was 11 inches long and had an outside dia- meter of 3 inches. Water was used as sealing fluid at the rate of 0.2 gallons per minute.

A fusion melt was prepared of 86 weight percent polymer and 14 weight percent water at 160°C. and autogene- ous pressure. The polymer consisted of 84.9 weight percent of acrylonitrile, 12 weight percent methyl methacrylate, 3 weight percent polyvinyl alcohol, and 0.1 weight percent acr lamidomethylpropane sulfonic acid. The polymer had a kinematic molecular weight of 42,000.

Kinematic average molecular weight (M _fc ) is obtain- ed from the following relationship

=1_ M.

/< A is the average effluent time (t) in seconds for a solution of 1 gram of the polymer in 100 milliliters of 53 weight percent aqueous sodium thiocyanate solvent at 40°C. multiplied by the viscometer factor and A is the solu¬ tion factor derived from a polymer of known molecular weight and in the present case in equal to 3,500.

The melt was extruded through a spinnerett assem¬ bly having an orifice plate of 91 holes of diameter 150 mi¬ crons spaced 1.5 millimeters center to center to provide a density of 43 holes per square centimeter. Each hole had a counterbore of 1.2 millimeter diameter. The extrudate

entered directly into the steam-pressurized solidificati zone at 13 to 18 pounds per square inch gauge. The extr date was stretched in two stages. In a first stage the stretch ratio was 23.9 relative to the linear velocity o the fusion melt through the spinnerette and in the secon stage the stretch ratio was 2.5. The extrudate which wa in fiber form was collected at the exit 8_ of the passage way at the rate of 300 meters per minute. The resulting 2.4 denier fiber showed no evidence of breakage or stick during the run and pressure on the solidification zone r mained constant during processing.