Polypyrrole/poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) composite fibers: Morphology, mechanics, and electrical properties

Miscellaneous · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5470913

Rector, L P

Polypyrrole/poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) composite fibers were fabricated by the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole within the gel structure of never-dried, dry-jet, wet-spun PPTA fibers. The composites were formed by infiltration of the swollen PPTA fibers with the chemical oxidant FeCl{sub 3}, followed by exposure of the infiltrated fibers to pyrrole vapor at elevated temperatures (100C). The conductive phase volume fraction was controlled by variations in the FeCl{sub 3} infiltration concentration. The temperature dependencies of the composite fiber d.c. conductivities is reasonably well described by the predictions of the three-dimensional variable-range hoping (3DVRH) charge transport model. The composite morphology was examined with SEM results demonstrating the existence of micron-sized polypyrrole inclusions in the fiber interior, as well as a polypyrrole skin on the fiber surface. The tensile modulii of the composite fibers exhibited a rule-of-mixtures dependence upon PPTA content. The compressive properties of several composite-fiber compositions were evaluated by the elastica loop method. The compressive strengths were found to be 82-151% of the corresponding ultimate tensile strengths.

• Research Organization: Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5470913
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FABRICATION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MORPHOLOGY
PYRROLES
POLYMERIZATION
FIBERS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TENSILE PROPERTIES
ULTIMATE STRENGTH
AZOLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
360601* - Other Materials- Preparation & Manufacture
360602 - Other Materials- Structure & Phase Studies
360603 - Materials- Properties
360606 - Other Materials- Physical Properties- (1992-)