Crosslinking of Electrospun Polybenzimidazole Fibers and Mats

29 Pages Posted: 10 Sep 2024

See all articles by Yongfang Chen

Yongfang Chen

Technical University of Denmark

Wenjing (Angela) Zhang

Harbin Institute of Technology

David Aili

Technical University of Denmark

Lars N. Cleemann

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Qingfeng Li

Technical University of Denmark

Abstract

Polybenzimidazole nanofibers and mats are prepared by electrospinning. The process parameters are optimized including the polymer concentration, additives, spinning voltage, and collector substrates. The prepared fibers have a diameter of less than 200 nm and are in form of porous mats of thicknesses from 10 to 30 µm with an apparent density of 0.2-0.3 g cm-3, corresponding to a porosity of 75-84%. The polymer fibers are crosslinked by thermal curing at temperatures of 390-450 °C under an inert atmosphere. Attempts are also made to introduce crosslinkers in the precursor solution before electrospinning and to activate the covalent crosslinking by heat treatment at 280 °C of the electrospun fibers. Thus obtained fibers exhibit limited solubility (<5%) in hot (80 °C) dimethylacetamide, a typical solvent of the polymer. In hot phosphoric acid (85% at 80 oC) the nanofiber mat exhibits excellent structure stability and swelling resistance, which are essential for reinforcement of the composite membranes for e.g. polymer fuel cell and other applications.

Keywords: Polybenzimidazole fibers, electrospinning, crosslinking

Suggested Citation

Chen, Yongfang and Zhang, Wenjing (Angela) and Aili, David and Cleemann, Lars N. and Li, Qingfeng, Crosslinking of Electrospun Polybenzimidazole Fibers and Mats. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4951587 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4951587

Yongfang Chen

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

Wenjing (Angela) Zhang

Harbin Institute of Technology ( email )

David Aili

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

Lars N. Cleemann

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

No Address Available

Qingfeng Li (Contact Author)

Technical University of Denmark ( email )

Anker Engelunds Vej 1
Building 101A
Lyngby, 2800
Denmark

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