Method and apparatus for forming a continuous oriented structure of a polymer

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for easily making a continuous oriented structure of a polymer are provided. In making a polymer assembly, single crystals are bonded to each other, an external force, such as an electrical field or a magnetic field, is applied to the single crystals, or a solution of the polymer is applied on a substrate such that the applied solution is linear in shape.

1 . A method for forming a continuous oriented structure of a polymer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 pulverizing a polycrystalline structure of the polymer to form single crystals;    applying an external force to the single crystals to form a single crystal group containing uniformly oriented single crystals;    dissolving or melting surface portions of the single crystals in the single crystal group; and    bonding the dissolved or melted surface portions of the single crystals to each other to form a continuous oriented structure.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the external force is a magnetic field or an electrical field.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the dissolving or melting step, the surface portions of the single crystals are dissolved with a solvent or melted by heating.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the step of bonding, the single crystal group is affixed on a substrate or in a resin to form the continuous oriented structure.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for forming a continuous oriented structure of a polymer, the apparatus comprising: 
 a unit configured to pulverize a polycrystalline structure of the polymer to form single crystals;    a unit configured to apply an external force to the single crystals to form a single crystal group containing uniformly oriented single crystals;    a unit configured to dissolve or melt surface portions of the single crystals in the single crystal group; and    a unit configured to bond the single crystals to each other to form a continuous oriented structure.    
   
   
       6 . A method for forming a continuous oriented structure of a polymer, the method comprising the steps of: 
 preparing oriented fibers of the polymer;    applying external force, which is selected from the group consisting of an electrical field, a magnetic field, and vibration, to the oriented fibers to form a uniaxially aligned fiber group containing oriented fibers aligned in a uniaxial direction; and    forming the uniaxially aligned fiber group into a continuous oriented structure.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the uniaxially aligned fiber group into the continuous oriented structure includes dissolving or melting only surface portions of the fibers of the uniaxially aligned fiber group.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the uniaxially aligned fiber group into the continuous oriented structure includes affixing the uniaxially aligned fiber group.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the polymer includes a plurality of polymers, and the continuous oriented structure contains the plurality of polymers.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for forming a continuous oriented structure of a polymer, the apparatus comprising: 
 a unit configured to form the polymer into oriented fibers;    a unit configured to place the oriented fibers onto a substrate or a liquid surface;    a unit configured to form the oriented fibers on the substrate or the liquid surface into a uniaxially aligned fiber group; and    a unit configured to form the uniformly aligned fiber group into a continuous oriented structure.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the unit configured to form the uniformly aligned fiber group into the continuous oriented structure includes a unit configured to apply an external force to the oriented fibers on the substrate of the liquid surface.  
   
   
       12 . A method for forming a continuous oriented structure composed of a helical substituted polyacetylene, the method comprising the steps of: 
 applying a solution of the helical substituted polyacetylene on a substrate such that the applied solution is linear, curved or undulated in shape; and    evaporating a solvent in the solution.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the linear, curved or undulated shape has a width of about 5 mm or less and an aspect ratio of a length to the width (length/width) of about 2 or more.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the linear, curved or undulated shape has a width of about 2 mm or less and an aspect ratio of a length to the width (length/width) of about 5 or more.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein, the solution of the helical substituted polyacetylene is applied by drawing, printing, or an ink jet.  
   
   
       16 . A method for making a device including a linearly arranged helical substituted polyacetylene having a long-period helical structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a substrate;    applying a solution of the helical substituted polyacetylene on the substrate such that the applied solution is linear, curved or undulated in shape; and    evaporating a solvent in the solution.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein, in the step of applying the solution, the substrate on which the solution of the helical substituted polyacetylene is applied is provided with a pair of electrodes.