Potassium hexatitanate fibers, and composite material containing said fibers

摘要

Potassium hexatitanate fibers having a tunnel struc­ture and a free potassium content of 5 ppm or less can be produced by mixing together a titanium containing compound and a potassium containing compound in a ratio represented by the formula K₂O·nTiO₂ (wherein n = from 2 to 4); firing the mixture at 900 to 1,200°C to produce mass of potassium titanate fibers; dipping the mass of product in either cold or hot water to disintegrate the mass of potassium titanate fibers into individual single fibers; adding an acid to the slurry to adjust the pH value to 9.3 - 9.7, thereby changing the composition of the potassium titanate fibers so that the molar ratio of TiO₂/K₂O is in the range of from 5.95 to 6.00; heating the fibers at 950 to 1,150°C for 1 hour or more; and washing the fibers with an acid. The potassium hexatitanate fibers, which have a minimal free potassium content, i.e., 5 ppm or less, can be suitably used as a reinforcing material for polyester thermoplastic resins, polyphenylene sulfide resins, liquid crystal polymers, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys and so forth, all of which are easily affected by free potassium.