Abstract:
Sulfurized acrylic fibers having a tensile strength of at least 3.5 g/d, a toughness of 10 or more in terms of the product (TE1/2) of tensile strength (T g/d) and square root of tensile elongation (E %), and a sulfur content of 0.5 wt % or more; a process for producing said fibers by heating acrylic fibers of at least 7 g/d in tensile strength in a sulfur-containing atmosphere; and a composite material reinforced by said fibers. The sulfurized acrylic fibers have high strength, high toughness, excellent heat resistance, excellent fire retardance, and excellent alkali resistance. Therefore, they are useful as a substitute for asbestos in the fields of heat- and flame-resistant textile products, reinforcement of autoclave-cured cement, abrasives, etc.