Vectra Polymer

Chemical Structure

The molecular structure of Vectra, a wholly aromatic polyester, is shown in Figure 2.

Regulatory Approvals

The Vectra resin used to make Vectran fiber is compliant with FDA regulations for food contact, and specifically Food Contact Substance Notification FCN #103.This same Vectra resin also meets United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) Class VI requirements.

Dimensional Stability

Vectra LCPs have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) close to that of glass. Other high-performance polymers typically fall in a range of 20 to 60 ppm/ °C.Vectra LCPs can perform from cryogenic temperatures to over 200°C with little dimensional change.

Radiation Resistance

Vectra LCPs are transparent to microwave energy and are virtually unaffected by exposure to 500 megarads of cobalt 60.

From Fiber To Polymer

With conventional polyesters, the molecular chains are random and flexible. Fibers spun from such materials must be further oriented, generally through a combination of extrusion speed and post-spin drawing, to obtain higher tensile properties.Vectran's highly oriented structure is locked in directly during the melt-spinning process, thanks to the molecular structure and liquid crystalline nature of the starting polymer.

Vectran / HS is different from other high-performance fibers such as aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (HMPE).Vectran fiber is thermotropic, it is melt-spun, and it flows at a high temperature under pressure. Aramid fiber is lyotropic, it is solvent-spun, and it does not melt at high temperature. HMPE fiber is gel-spun, and it melts at a low temperature.