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Structure–property relationships of aramid fibers via X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy

  • Polymers
  • Published:
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Abstract

Real-space methods of characterizing high-performance fibers’ inherent morphologies will greatly enhance our understanding of the key structural features within fibers and their impacts on mechanical performance. Here, we report on structure–property correlations of two new classes of commercial DuPont Kevlar fibers, termed “K29 sample test” and “K49 sample test,” as well as conventional K29 and K49 fibers.* Through multifrequency atomic force microscope scans of internal fiber surfaces prepared by a focused ion beam notch technique, we directly capture nano- and microstructural features that define the inherent structures of these fibers. Integrating these findings with X-ray scattering experiments, we relate crystallographic and real-space measurements to each other, highlighting how multiscale structural motifs manifest within fibers. By carrying out tensile tests on single fibers drawn from the same tows, we also glean new insights into the structure–property relationships that dictate the mechanical behavior of these fibers.

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Acknowledgements

Research was sponsored by the Army Research Laboratory and was accomplished under Cooperative Agreement Numbers W911NF-16-2-0008, W911NF-18-2-0273 and W911QX-16-D-0014. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the Army Research Laboratory or the US Government. The US Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Government purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation herein. The authors would also like to acknowledge Eric Wetzel, Emil Sandoz-Rosado, and Paul Moy (US Army Research Laboratory) for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 6300 Rodman Road, Bldg 4600, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21005, USA

    Michael R. Roenbeck, Julia Cline, Vincent Wu & Kenneth E. Strawhecker

  2. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, DuPont Safety and Construction, Richmond, VA, USA

    Mehdi Afshari, Steve Kellner, Patrick Martin & David Reichert

  3. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, DuPont Science and Innovation, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Juan David Londono & Laura E. Clinger

  4. Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Steven R. Lustig

Authors
  1. Michael R. Roenbeck
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  2. Julia Cline
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  3. Vincent Wu
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  4. Mehdi Afshari
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  6. Patrick Martin
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  7. Juan David Londono
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  8. Laura E. Clinger
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  11. Kenneth E. Strawhecker
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Correspondence to Kenneth E. Strawhecker.

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*DuPont™, and all products denoted with ® or ™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

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Roenbeck, M.R., Cline, J., Wu, V. et al. Structure–property relationships of aramid fibers via X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. J Mater Sci 54, 6668–6683 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-018-03282-x

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