The bottom-up synthesis for aramid nanofibers: The influence of copolymerization

Aramid based on poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) is widely concerned as high-performance materials. Herein, copolymerized aramid nanofibers (CANFs) were prepared for the first time by a direct bottom-up polymerization method without additives. Three kinds of third monomers ofm-phenylenediamine, 4,4 '-diaminodiphenyl ether, and 2,5-dichloro-1,4-phenylenediamine were separately copolymerized in PPTA and transformed into nanofiber dispersions in water medium. The characterization results revealed the relationship between the morphology of products and the structure as well as dosages of the different kinds of monomers, which was explained by the influence on conjugate regularities of the PPTA molecules. Furthermore, CANFs were used to build aramid paper blended in pure PPTA nanofibers, and the mechanical and insulation properties of composite paper were improved significantly, which would be of potential use as the new building block for aramid composite materials.