Thermal Decomposition Behavior of a Heterocyclic Aramid Fiber

Abstract

Heterocyclic aramid fibers are one of the high-performance fibers with excellent mechanical and thermal properties. In this article, the thermal decomposition behaviors of a type of the fibers were studied in nitrogen and air by pyrolysis/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py/GC-MS), thermal gravimetric analysis–differential thermal analysis/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-DTA/FTIR), and thermal gravimetric analysis–differential thermal analysis/mass spectrometry (TGA-DTA/MS). The results showed that under nitrogen atmosphere, the thermal decomposition mainly happened between 520°C and 580°C, the temperature of the maximum weight loss rate was 550°C, and the weight remaining at 800°C was 58%. HCN, NH3, NO2, NO, CO2, CO, H2O, and some other compounds containing benzene rings were detected by the TGA-DTA/FTIR. Among these released chemicals, the intensity of the absorption peak assigned to CO2 was the strongest. These chemicals were also identified by the TGA-DTA/MS. The Py-GC/MS analysis revealed that the number of chromatographic peaks increased with the increase of temperature. Most of the pyrolysis products were produced between 550°C and 600°C, which represented the major pyrolysis process. Moreover, the detection of benzene ring containing compound fragments reflected the process of the molecular chain scission. In air atmosphere, the thermal decomposition mainly happened between 500°C and 680°C. The maximum weight loss rate was observed at 600°C, and almost 100% weight was lost at 900°C. NH3, NO2, CO2, and H2O were detected by the TGA-DTA/MS, and the ion current intensity of CO2 was again the strongest with a strong oxidation reaction at around 670°C. It was speculated that the thermal decomposition began with the breaking of the bonds between PPTA (poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide) blocks and heterocyclic blocks at high temperature. Then, with the increase of temperature, the chemical bonds inside the PPTA blocks and heterocyclic blocks were broken. In this process, free radicals that led to restructuring and new breakages to produce micromolecular products were introduced.