Composite polymer fibers

• Main Authors: THUNHORST KRISTIN L, WILSON BRUCE B, CHOU YEUN-JONG, STUMO ROGER J, OUDERKIRK ANDREW J, NORTH DIANE, BENSON, JR. OLESTER, BREISTER JAMES C, BROTT ROBERT L, FLEMING PATRICK R, KOPECKY WILLIAM J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.06.2010
• Subjects: APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONFILAMENTS; CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS,THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; MECHANICAL METHODS OR APPARATUS IN THE MANUFACTURE OFARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES ORRIBBONS; NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; SPINNING; TEXTILES

A composite polymer fiber comprises a polymer filler material and a plurality of polymer scattering fibers disposed within the filler material. At least one of the filler material and the scattering fibers is formed of a birefringent material. The refractive indices of the filler material and the scattering fibers can be substantially matched for light incident in a first polarization state on the composite polymer fiber and unmatched for light incident in an orthogonal polarization state. The scattering fibers may be arranged to form a photonic crystal within the composite fiber. The composite fibers may be extruded and may be formed into a yarn, a weave or the like. If the filler material is soluble, it may be washed out of the yarn or weave, and the scattering fibers may then be infiltrated with a resin that is subsequently cured.