PPS ultrafine fiber enhanced aramid fiber filter with superior thermal stability and excellent chemical resistance for efficient PM2.5 removal

Abstract

Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) fiber is widely used in high-temperature soot filters owing to its high-temperature and chemical stability. However, PPS fiber undergoes a thermal cross-linking reaction in high-temperature environments, leading to a decline in its mechanical properties, and eventually leading to filter material damage and failure. In this work, short para-aramid (PPTA) fiber was introduced into homemade PPS ultrafine fiber by wet dissociation and dry thermal consolidation technologies. The prepared PPS/PPTA ultrafine fiber felt exhibited high filtration accuracy and long-term thermal stability. The filtration efficiency of PPS/PPTA ultrafine fiber felt for PM0.3, PM0.5, PM1.0, PM2.5, PM5.0, and PM10 reached 89.02, 97.34, 99.85, 99.99, 100.00, and 100.00%, respectively, and remained above 98% after 20 cycles. These results were largely consistent with the theoretical values from the filtration model analysis. The PM2.5 filtration efficiency of PPS/PPTA ultrafine fiber felt remained above 99.73% after being placed at 230 °C for 48 h or being soaked in strong acid and alkali solutions for 48 h, indicating its excellent thermal and chemical stability. PPS/PPTA ultrafine fiber felt also possessed structural stability, with a tensile strength and tear index of 32.93 N/cm and 22.77 mN·m2/g, respectively. Due to its excellent comprehensive performance, we believe this PPS/PPTA ultrafine fiber felt provides a new strategy for the refined governance of industrial high-temperature soot.