Abstract:

In order to develop applications of textile structure materials based on high-performance polyimide (PI) fibers, the microstructure and mechanical properties of five commercial PI fibers were analyzed. The weavability was studied by automatic rapier sample loom.  The microstructure and properties of PI fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,  X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, the tensile testing machine and the yarn hugging testing machine, respectively. The results show that the imide degree of the high-performance PI fiber with the highest strength and modulus is up to 97.26 %, crystallinity is 19.27 % and  orientation degree is 0.92, which determine the excellent mechanical properties of PI fiber. The strength is 2 239.24 MPa and the modulus is 56.62 GPa, but the elongation rate at break is only 4.03 %. Moreover, the PI fiber has the smooth surface, dense microstructure and obvious fibrillar feature, but its abrasion resistance is very poor, which difficult itsweavbility and surface morphology of textile fabrics.

Key words: polyimide fiber, microstructure, mechanical proprty, weavability