N-substituted poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

N-substituted poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)s (PPTA), such as N-alkylated, N-aralkylated, and N-carboxymethylated poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide), were synthesized from PPTA and the corresponding halides by the polymer reaction via the metalation reaction in a solution of sodium methylsulfinylcarbanion in dimethyl sulfoxide at low temperature. The introduction of various substitutional groups into the amide groups of PPTA increased their solubilities, but decreased their thermal stabilities compared with PPTA. The effects of various substitutional groups on the thermal properties and the solubilities are discussed. Liquid crystal formation was noticed for PPTA substituted with bulky groups such as 9-anthrylmethyl group.     

Ionic poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide)s: Solubility and thermal stability

Ionic sulfonate groups were incorporated onto molecules of the rigid‐rod polymer poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) in two different positions. In one type, S‐PPTA, ionic sulfonate groups were attached to the phenylene ring of the backbone chain. S‐PPTA solubility was achieved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) when 50% of the repeat units contained an ionic group. In the second type, PPTA‐PS, where ionic propanesulfonate groups served as side chains, solubility was achieved in DMSO when 30% of the repeat units contained the ionic group. For both of the partially sulfonated ionic polymers, the thermal stability was enhanced in comparison with the stability of the acid‐form polymers, but it was less than that of PPTA. The effect was more dramatic when the ionic groups were located at the end of side chains. The nature of the counterion also played a role, with doubly ionized calcium giving the best results. Polarized light micrographs of the ionic PPTA polymers displaced birefringent patterns and indicated that greater rigidity was present when the ionic groups were directly attached to the backbone, rather than at the end of a short side chain. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2888–2897, 2001     

A novel scalable synthesis process of PPTA by coupling n-pentane evaporation for polymerization heat removal

In this study,we compared the effect of n-pentane and ice-water bath on removing the thermal effect in the poly（p-phenylene terephthalamide）（PPTA） polymerization process.The results indicate that the n-pentane can help to transfer the reaction heat faster and better.Adding suitable amount of n-pentanes into the PPTA preparation process not only improve the heat transfer,but also reduce the motor power in the polymerization process.Moreover,the introduction of n-pentane properly does not result in decrease of the inherent viscosity(η_inh) of polymer.Instead,it leads to increased viscosity of polymer during the PPTA preparation process.The results indicate that n-pentane can effectively transfer the reaction heat and avoid overheating during the polymerization of PPTA.     

Axial X-ray scattering on high-performance polymeric fibers

High-temperature polymers were spum from liquid-crystalline solutions into fibers of superior thermal stability and mechanical properties. Fibers of two extended-chain polymers poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide), PPTA, and poly-2,5-benzoxazole, ABPBO, as well as a rod-like polymer poly(p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole), PBO, were examined by axial x-ray scattering. Both wide-angle scattering and small-angle scattering were performed with CuKα radiation aiming along the fiber axis (c-axis) for structural information on the a-b lattice plane. In addition to previously reported lattice structure, the PPTA fibers (Kevlar® 29, 49, and 149) showed strong [004] and a [022] reflections suggesting that segments of the PPTA molecules were transverse to the fiber axis. This unique fiber structure is more prominent and the void content is less for the PPTA fibers with higher tensile modulus, (i.e., Kevlar® 149 > Kevlar® 49 > Kevlar® 29). Similar measurements on thermally annealed ABPBO and PBO fibers showed no [00l], [h0l], or [0kl] reflection indicative of a truly uniaxial molecular orientation. Evidence of microfibrillar order was discovered for the Kevlar® fibers and the ABPBO fiber. Results of conventional x-ray scattering on these fibers were compared and reconciled. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Oligomer-immobilizing ability of an electrodeposited aramid resin film in the electrooxidation of aniline derivatives and the functions of the resulting films

An aramid resin, poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA), was electrodeposited on an indium-tin oxide electrode as a mechanically stable film from a dimethyl sulfoxide solution. Two aniline derivatives, o-phenylenediamine and o-aminophenol, were electrooxidized from H₂SO₄ aqueous solutions using the PPTA film-coated electrode. The PPTA film was permeable to the aniline derivatives, and the derivatives were electrooxidized on the electrode surface. When the derivatives were electrooxidized, the film immobilized the corresponding oligomer species as well as the polymers plain (o-phenylenediamine) (PoPD) and poly(o-aminophenol) (PoAP), and the deposited amount of the polymers was increased by the PPTA film. The immobilized amount of PoAP was greater than that of PoPD because of the 1,4-substituted structure of PoAP. In the PPTA film, both PoPD and PoAP were electronically stabilized, and they became durable against oxidative degradation.     

Effect of a novel charring agent on thermal degradation and flame retardancy of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene

A novel charring agent poly(p-propane terephthalamide) (PPTA) was synthesized by using terephthaloyl chloride and 1,3-propanediamine through solution polycondensation and it was used together with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to prepare a novel intumescent flame retardant (IFR) for ABS. The thermal degradation behaviour and flame retardancy were investigated, the results showed that PPTA could be effective as a charring agent, the flame retardancy of ABS and the mass of residues improved greatly with the addition of IFR. When the content of APP was 22.5 mass% and PPTA was 7.5 mass%, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of IFR-ABS system was found to be 32.4, and class V-0 of UL-94 test was passed. Moreover, the synergistic effects of two different adjuvants AlPi and MnO₂ in IFR-ABS system have been studied.     

Synthesis of soluble,liquid crystalline aramids via transition metal π-Complexation

An organo-soluble, liquid crystalline organometallic polymer, (p-phenyleneterephthalamide)Cr(CO)₃ [(PPTA)Cr(CO)₃], is prepared by polycondensation of (p-phenylenediamine)Cr(CO)₃ with terephthaloyl chloride. Polarizing optical microscopy of this high molecular weight metallo-aramid shows a nematic liquid crystalline texture in N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), demonstrating that metal π-complexation maintains the lyotropic, rigid-rod character of PPTA. A PPTA copolymer with 50% of the diamine rings Cr(CO)₃ π-complexed is also soluble and lyotropic in DMAc. Tensile properties of films of the 100% Cr(CO)₃ complexed aramid are isotropic in the plane of the film, while those of the 50% complexed analog are highly anisotropic. The organometallic substituent is a site for polymer functionalization: exchange of a carbonyl for a trimethylphosphine ligand, and subsequent polymerization affords the phosphine-functionalized (PPTA)Cr(CO)₂P(CH₃)₃, which has a much higher critical concentration for liquid crystal formation. Oxidative decomplexation of the Cr(CO)₃ group yields the parent PPTA, demonstrating the reversibility of the organometallic modification approach.     

Molecular composites made of ionic poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Relaxation behavior

Molecular composites were prepared from several types of ionically modified, poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) dispersed in a poly(4‐vinylpyridine) matrix. Optical clarity tests indicated that the component polymers of the composite were miscible, at least at low concentrations of the rodlike reinforcement. In composites containing ionic PPTA, where ionic sulfonate groups were attached as side groups either to PPTA chains or to PPTA anion chains, the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) was increased by l0 °C or more, at 5 wt % reinforcement. At concentrations of 10–15 wt % of the ionic polymer, T_g values leveled off or decreased slightly. This suggested that some aggregation of the rigid‐rod molecules occurred. In composites containing ionic PPTA, where the ionic sulfonate groups were directly attached to the phenylene rings of PPTA chains, not only was T_g shifted significantly to higher temperatures, but the rubbery plateau modulus retained high values up to temperatures of 250 °C or above. Observed effects were considered to be the result of strong ionic interactions between the ionic reinforcement polymer and the polar matrix polymer. The possible effects of the counterion on T_g and the storage modulus are discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1110–1117, 2002     

STUDIES ON THE REGULAR COPOLYMERS OF POLY (1, 4-PHENYLENETEREPHTHALAMIDE)

Two types of the regular copolymer of poly (1, 4-phenyleneterephthalamide) were synthesized by the low temperature solution polycondensation in NMP-CaCl_2 solvent system, using the piperazine or 2,5-dimethylpiperazine as the third components introduced in the main chain of poly (1, 4-phenyleneterephthalamide). The properties of copolymers were characterized by IR, SEM, X-RAY diffraction, polarizing microscopy, TGA and solubilities.Experimental results showed that the copolymers had good solubility and thermal stability, the concentrated sulfuric acid (～98% ) solution of regular PPTA copolymers had liquid crystalline proper-     

Quaternization of poly(tertiary aminostyrene)s and characterization of the quaternized polymers

The Menschutkin reaction of three poly(tertiary aminostyrene)s: poly(N,N-dimethyl-4-vinylphenylamine) (PPA), poly(N,N-dimethyl-4-vinylbenzylamine) (PBA), and poly(N,N-dimethyl-4-vinylphenethylamine) (PPTA) was investigated. These three polymers having narrow molecular weight distributions were prepared via anionic living polymerization. PPA reacted homogeneously with n-butyl bromide in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). PBA and PPTA also reacted homogeneously with n-butyl bromide in a mixture of DMF/methanol (75/25 v/v %). GPC measurement of the quaternized polymers was carried out using a mixture of water/acetonitrile (80/20 v/v %) containing 0.5M acetic acid and 0.3M sodium sulfate (pH = 2.9) as an eluant in order to suppress adsorption of the quaternized water soluble polymers on GPC gel. Results of GPC measurement indicate that the polymer chains of the three poly(tertiary aminostyrene)s are neither severed nor crosslinked in the process of quaternization. Temperature dependence and reaction time dependence on the degree of quaternization (DQ) were studied for PPT, PBA, and PPTA. By altering reaction time and temperature, the DQ values of the three poly(tertiary aminostyrene)s could be controlled in the range from 0% to nearly 100%. Quaternization reactivity of the amino groups in the three polymers was found to decrease in the order, PPTA, PBA, and PPA. The differences in reactivity are thought to be attributable to the electron density on the nitrogen atom of the N,N-dimethylamino group, and steric hindrance in the vicinity of the nitrogen atom. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1219–1226, 1997     

Porosity development in chars from thermal decomposition of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)

The main objective of this work was to investigate the development of porosity in solid residues from the thermal decomposition of the polymer, poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA). PPTA chars were prepared at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction and physical adsorption of CO₂ at 0 °C. The carbonization temperatures were selected on the basis of thermogravimetric analysis results. The effect of introducing an isothermal treatment at 500 °C on the characteristics of the resulting chars was also studied. It was found that this pre-treatment lowers the decomposition temperature of PPTA and yields a somewhat less ordered material than in the case of pyrolysis under a constant heating rate. The micropore volume increases with increasing heat treatment temperature for both series of samples. The mean micropore size decreases for the two series of chars until the 700-800 °C interval; above these temperatures, this evolution is reversed. The micropore volume of the samples submitted to the isothermal treatment is higher than when PPTA is treated under a constant heating rate. Likewise, the pore size distribution is more heterogeneous when the intermediate isothermal treatment at 500 °C is introduced during PPTA pyrolysis. Some differences between porosity development in chars from PPTA and other high thermal stability polymers were explained on the basis of different mechanistic features in polymer pyrolysis.     

Melt‐processable blends of ionic poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Relaxation behavior

Melt‐processable blends were prepared from rigid molecules of an ionically modified poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) and flexible‐coil molecules of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PVP). Dynamic mechanical analyses of blends with 50% or more of the ionic PPTA component revealed the presence of two distinct phases. The glass‐transition temperature of the more stable, ionic PPTA‐rich phase increased linearly with the ionic PPTA content. The second phase present in these blends was an ionic PPTA‐poor, or a PVP‐rich, phase. For this phase, a reasonably good fit of the data, showing the glass‐transition temperature as a function of the ionic PPTA content, was achieved between the results of this study and the reported results of previous investigation of molecular composites of the same two components with ionic PPTA contents of 15 wt % or less. The possible influence of annealing on the blend structure of a 90/10 blend of ionic PPTA and PVP was examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1468–1475, 2003     

Syntheses and X-Ray Structures for Model Compounds of a Pyrimidinediyl-Based Rigid-Rod Aromatic Polyamide

A variety of model compounds for the pyrimidinediyl-based rigid-rod polyamide poly[imino-(pyrimidine-2,5-diyl)-imino-tetraphthaloyl] (PPYMT) was prepared, in order to compare their conformations to several model compounds of the related, fully aromatic polymer poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) (PPTA). In particular, the structures of N-(2-pyrimidyl)benzamide (PYMB) and its complexed form bis[(N-pyrimidin-2-yl)benzamide]nickel(II) dichloride (NiPYMB) were determined by X-ray diffraction. The molecular packing in these crystals provides us with a model for the possible ‘cross-linking’ of PPYMT fibers. The structures of the trimer model compounds N,N′ -bis(2-pyrimidyl)terephthalamide (PYTA) and N,N′ -bis(benzoyl)-2,5-diaminopyrimidine (BDAP) yield information about the conformation of PPYMT chains and are compared to analogous model compounds of PPTA.     

Synthesis and mechanical properties of para‐aramid nanofibers

Scalable, bottom‐up chemical synthesis and electrospinning of novel Cl‐substituted poly(para‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) nanofibers are herein reported. To achieve Cl‐PPTA nanofibers, the chemical reaction between the monomers was precisely controlled, and dissolution of the polymer into solvent was tailored to enable anisotropic solution formation and sufficient entanglement molecular weight. Electrospinning processing parameters were studied to understand their effects on fiber formation and mat morphology and then optimized to yield consistently high quality fibers. Importantly, the control of relative humidity during the fiber formation process was found to be critical, likely because water promotes hydrogen bond formation between the PPTA chains. The fiber and mat morphologies resulting from different combinations of chemistry and spinning conditions were observed using scanning electron microscopy, and observations were used as inputs to the optimization process. Tensile properties of single Cl‐PPTA nanofibers were characterized for the first time using a nanomanipulator mounted inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and fiber moduli measuring up to 70 GPa, and strengths exceeding 1 GPa were achieved. Given the excellent mechanical properties measured for the nanofibers, this chemical synthesis procedure and electrospinning protocol appear to be a promising route for producing a new class of nanofibers with ultrahigh strength and stiffness. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 563–573     

Effect of Gamma Radiation-grafted Aramid Chopped Fibers as the Reinforcing Filler in Styrene–Butadiene Rubber Mixtures

Poly(p-phenylene-terephthalamide) PPTA chopped fibers, known as Kevlar 49 and related to aramid fibers, were subjected to graft copolymerization with styrene under the effect of gamma radiation. The effects of different parameters including irradiation dose, type of solvent and monomer concentration on the graft yield were studied. The surface-modified chopped fibers were introduced in styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) mixtures. The properties of rubber mixtures and their corresponding vulcanizates were markedly affected depending on the fiber concentration. Grafting of styrene on to chopped PPTA fibers improves the mechanical properties of SBR–PPTA composites, especially in the presence of additional crosslining systems based on benzoyl peroxide EDMA (ethylene dimethacrylate) system. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adsorption properties for metal ions of waste poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) fiber after chemical modification

Waste poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) fibers (PPTA) were chemically modified through nitration and nitro‐reduction reactions to obtain nitro‐ and amino‐containing fibers and used as adsorbents for metal ions. The structures of the modified fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Metal ions, such as Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Hg²⁺, were used to determine the adsorption capacities of the PPTA fibers before and after modification in aqueous solutions. The results showed that the modification improved the adsorption capability of fibers and extraction ratio of metal ions significantly. The adsorption mechanism of modified PPTA fibers for metal ions was proposed. The adsorption processes of Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Cu²⁺ followed well a pseudosecond‐order model onto PPTA‐NH₂. The Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed to fit the isothermal adsorption. The results revealed that the linear Langmuir isotherm model is better‐fit model to predict the experimental data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and properties of a new aromatic polyamide with an ethoxycarbonyl pendant group: Poly(4,4′‐diamino‐2′‐ethoxycarbonyl‐benzanilide terephthalamide)

A new aromatic polyamide containing a pendant ethoxycarbonyl group was successfully synthesized from the reaction between 4,4′‐diamino‐2′‐ethoxycarbonylbenzanilide and terephthaloyl chloride. The new polymer was soluble in organic solvents such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and dimethylacetamide, and a tough and transparent film was cast from the polymer solution with viscosities ranging from 2.6 to 5.6 dL/g. When the polymer film was heat‐treated at a temperature greater than 300 °C, a cyclization reaction occurred between the ethoxycarbonyl group and the adjacent amide bond to form a benzoxazinone unit in the polymer backbone. The thermal decomposition onset temperature of the cyclized film was about 523 °C, which was somewhat lower than that of poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA; 566 °C); however, the decomposition rate was slower than that of PPTA to yield a higher char residue. The dispersion temperature of the uncyclized poly(4,4′‐diamino‐2′‐ethoxycarbonylbenzanilide terephthalamide) (PDEBTA) was about 340 °C, whereas that of the cyclized PDEBTA was not clear. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 936–942, 2000     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble polyimides derived from [1,1′;4′,1″]terphenyl‐2′,5′‐diol and biphenyl‐2,5‐diol

Two series of polyimides based on laterally attached p‐terphenyl and biphenyl groups were synthesized. The solubility and thermal properties were studied using DSC, thermogravimetric analysis, and the solubility test. These polymers exhibited good thermal stability and excellent solubility. The high solubility for both polymer series was attributed to the non‐coplanarity of diamine monomers and the use of fluorinated dianhydride, whereas the slightly better solubility for polymers based on p‐terphenyl was attributed to further weakening of interchain interaction of the polymers. Both polymer series exhibited glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) in the range of 244–272 °C. The T_g's of polymers containing laterally attached p‐terphenyls were higher than those of their counterparts containing biphenyls by 5–17 °C. This was attributed to the formation of an interdigitated structure that hinders the segmental movement of polymer chains. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2998–3007, 2001     

Surface modification of aromatic polyamide film by oxygen plasma

The surface of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) films was modified by oxygen plasma, and the modified film surface was analyzed by an advancing contact meter and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The advancing contact measurement showed that the oxygen plasma treatment made the surface of the PPTA film hydrophilic. The XPS analyses also showed the increase in the O/C and N/C atom ratio, especially the O/C atom ratio, at the PPTA film surface by the oxygen plasma treatment. A main oxygen functionality formed by the oxygen plasma treatment is a carboxylic acid group, and a main nitrogen functionality formed is a protonated amino group. The formation of the oxygen and nitrogen functionalities formed by the oxygen plasma treatment is not restricted to the surface of the PPTA film, but penetrates at least 35 Å deep from the film surface. The formation of these carboxylic acid and protonated amino groups is a result of the bond scission of the amide linkages in the PPTA film. Interactions of photons in the oxygen plasma rather than interactions of electrons and activated oxygen atoms contribute greatly to the bond scission. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of ethylene/vinyl ester copolymers with pendent linear branches via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of fatty acid‐derived cyclooctenes

Fatty acid‐derived cyclooctenes, including n‐hexanoic acid ( M1 ), n‐octanoic acid ( M2 ), lauric acid ( M3 ), and palmitic acid ( M4 ), were prepared as monomers and polymerized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using Grubbs second‐generation catalyst ( G2 ). In all the cases, the regio‐irregular unsaturated polymers with pendent linear branches were obtained, which could be saturated by chemical hydrogenation with TSH/TPA in high conversion, yielding ethylene/vinyl ester copolymers with pendent linear branches on precisely every eighth backbone carbon. Both unsaturated and saturated polymers were amorphous, and their structures were characterized by FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, and elemental analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to study their thermal properties. The chain length of branches greatly affected the thermal properties of polymers. After hydrogenation, the thermal degradation stability of polymers was relatively improved. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2211–2220