Photopolymerizable compositions for solventless fiber spinning

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of fiber spinning and polymer fibers that utilize multifunctional thiol and enes compounds. Also, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to uses of polymer fibers and articles prepared from such fibers.

1 . A method for forming a polymer fiber, comprising:
 a. providing a photopolymerizable composition comprising multifunctional ene compounds and from 0 to negligible amounts of thiol compounds;   b. forming a fiber from the photopolymerizable composition; and   c. irradiating the photopolymerizable composition with radiation during or after fiber formation to polymerize the photopolymerizable composition into a polymer, wherein the fiber consists essentially of the polymer.   
     
     
         2 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ene compounds is a penta-, hexa-, or higher functionalized ene compound. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable composition further comprises a photoinitiator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the photoinitiator is bonded to either the ene compound. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable composition further comprises surfactants, pigments, dyes, plasticizers, fillers, thermally stable inorganic materials. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable composition is substantially free of solvent. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable composition has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 100 Pa-s. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the radiation is UV-light, visible light, infrared radiation, X-rays, gamma rays, microwaves, or electron beam radiation. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is formed by electrospinning. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is formed by rotary jet spinning or by melt blowing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is formed in the absence of applied heat. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is formed at ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has an average diameter of less than about 1 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has an average diameter of from is diameters if from about 10 nm to 100 nm. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ene compound is chosen from allyl triazines, allyl isocyanurates, vinyl-containing ceramic precursors, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, and (meth)acrylated epoxidized soybean oil.