Degradation of semi-crystalline PPS bag-filter materials by NO and O2 at high temperature

In incineration plants, nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O₂) are the two major gaseous components, which degrade the mechanical properties of bag-filter media. Based on the experimental results of mass, dimension, morphology, crystallinity, fiber diameter, fiber orientation and fabric strength, changes in mechanical properties of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) needled fabrics are related to two phenomena, i.e. the crystallization and the degradation of amorphous regions and some parts of crystalline regions. Both processes affect the fabric strength, competing with each other. The relation between strength and crystallinity is divided into two phases: (1) strength is dominated by crystallinity, and (2) strength is dependent on the defects in amorphous regions and some parts of crystalline regions. An increase in NO concentration has a potential to increase the deterioration rates of amorphous and crystalline phases but the crystallization process is unaffected. An increase in O₂ concentration leads to enhancement of both crystallization and deterioration.