A method of producing a sulfonated polymer. The method includes providing a source for a quantity of a polymer containing polymer fibers. The quantity of the polymer is heated while immersed in sulfuric acid to 100-200° C. for a period time in a closed reactor containing an atmosphere and capable of holding pressure generated by a reaction between the quantity of the polymer and the sulfuric acid resulting in a sulfonated polymer, wherein substantially all the quantity of the polymer from the source is converted into sulfonated polymer. The sulfonated polymer is then removed from the reactor and dried. An electrode suitable for use as an electrode in an electrochemical energy storage cell is disclosed. The electrode contains amorphous porous carbon fibers made from a sulfonated polymer with a morphology wherein the amorphous porous carbon fibers have the morphology of the sulfonated polymer from which they are made.

A method of producing a microtube is provided. The method comprising co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries to thereby produce the microtube, wherein a first polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of the shell, the first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than the second polymeric solution and a solvent of the second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving the first polymeric solution. Also provided are electrospun microtubes.

A method of producing a microtube is provided. The method comprising co-electrospinning two polymeric solutions through co-axial capillaries to thereby produce the microtube, wherein a first polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a shell of the microtube and a second polymeric solution of the two polymeric solutions is for forming a coat over an internal surface of the shell, the first polymeric solution is selected solidifying faster than the second polymeric solution and a solvent of the second polymeric solution is selected incapable of dissolving the first polymeric solution. Also provided are electrospun microtubes.

An emulsion composition, a polystyrene nano-fiber, a polystyrene nano-fiber product and a preparation method and use thereof, wherein the emulsion composition comprises a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, the dispersed phase contains a soluble salt and a first solvent, the continuous phase contains polystyrene, a second solvent and sulfonated polystyrene being syndiotactic polystyrene and/or isotatic polystyrene; the preparation of the emulsion composition: under heating and stirring, dropwise adding the dispersed phase into the continuous phase; the preparation of the polystyrene nano-fiber or polystyrene nano-fiber product: crystallize the above emulsion composition; the polystyrene nano-fiber prepared by the above emulsion composition has a pore structure, and the prepared product has a stable and controllable three-dimensional structure and multi-level and/or intercommunicated pore structure, and also has a high preparation efficiency, therefore the above polystyrene nano-fiber or product has excellent application prospects in absorption, adsorption, oil-water separation, and construction of special wettability surfaces.

The present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting reduction of change in their physical properties in a wide range of temperatures for processing for products and in a wide range of temperatures for usage as products, thereby enabling improvement of dimensional stability. In addition, the present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting a high degree of dye exhaustion to be obtained in a simple dyeing operation, and excellent color fastness. The highly functional polyethylene fiber of the present invention is characterized in that an intrinsic viscosity [η] is higher than or equal to 0.8 dL/g, and not higher than 4.9 dL/g, ethylene is substantially contained as a repeating unit thereof, and a maximum thermal shrinkage stress is less than or equal to 0.4 cN/dtex in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis), and a thermal shrinking percentage at 100° C. is less than or equal to 2.5%.

The present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting reduction of change in their physical properties in a wide range of temperatures for processing for products and in a wide range of temperatures for usage as products, thereby enabling improvement of dimensional stability. In addition, the present invention provides a highly functional polyethylene fiber exhibiting a high degree of dye exhaustion to be obtained in a simple dyeing operation, and excellent color fastness. The highly functional polyethylene fiber of the present invention is characterized in that an intrinsic viscosity [η] is higher than or equal to 0.8 dL/g, and not higher than 4.9 dL/g, ethylene is substantially contained as a repeating unit thereof, and a maximum thermal shrinkage stress is less than or equal to 0.4 cN/dtex in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis), and a thermal shrinking percentage at 100° C. is less than or equal to 2.5%.

A polyolefin material that is formed by solid state drawing of a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

A polyolefin material that is formed by solid state drawing of a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase that includes a polyolefin matrix polymer and nanoinclusion additive is provided. The nanoinclusion additive is dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. When drawn, the nano-scale phase domains are able to interact with the matrix in a unique manner to create a network of nanopores.

A method for forming porous fibers is provided. The fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase, which includes a matrix polymer, and a nanoinclusion additive that is at least partially incompatible with the matrix polymer so that it becomes dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. The method generally includes traversing a bundle of the fibers over one or more draw bars that are in contact with a fluidic medium (e.g., water). In certain embodiments, for example, the draw bar(s) are submerged in the fluidic medium. The fluidic medium is lower than the melting temperature of the matrix polymer.

A method for forming porous fibers is provided. The fibers are formed from a thermoplastic composition containing a continuous phase, which includes a matrix polymer, and a nanoinclusion additive that is at least partially incompatible with the matrix polymer so that it becomes dispersed within the continuous phase as discrete nano-scale phase domains. The method generally includes traversing a bundle of the fibers over one or more draw bars that are in contact with a fluidic medium (e.g., water). In certain embodiments, for example, the draw bar(s) are submerged in the fluidic medium. The fluidic medium is lower than the melting temperature of the matrix polymer.