Characterization of structural changes in thermally enhanced Kevlar-29® Fiber

<p>The purpose of this exploratory investigation was to elucidate the structural mechanism accounting for the enhanced compressive properties of heat-treated Kevlar-29® fibers. A novel theory was set forth that hydrogen bond disruption and concurrent misorientation of crystallites may account for the observed augmentation of compressive properties. To examine the said theory, virgin Kevlar-29® fibers were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in an effort to determine if crosslinking and/or hydrogen bond disruption was responsible for the improved behavior in compression. Additionally, Kevlar-29® fibers that had been exposed to treatment temperatures of 400, 440, and 470 °C were profiled by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) to determine if crosslinking and/or hydrogen bond obfuscation had been promoted. The results indicate that both mechanistic changes are occurring within the Kevlar-29®, albeit in different regions of the rigid-rod polymer. In particular, heat-treatment of poly-<em>p</em>-phenylene terephthalamide results in crosslinking of its skin region and hydrogen bond disruption within the core realm.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S. in Chemical Engineering

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2002

Author dc:creator

• Downing, James W., Jr.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Newell, James

• Fibrous composites; Polyamide fibers; Polyphenyleneterephthalamide
• Chemical Engineering

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/1429

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-2429