Abstract
New highly porous p-aramid aerogel was produced from p-aramid/DMSO/TBAF solution. The solution was gelled to obtain shaped three-dimensional objects, and that p-aramid DMSO-gel was regenerated by solvent substitution followed by supercritical drying with CO2. To investigate the influences of hydrogen bonds on aerogel preparation, two kinds of p-aramid fiber, Kevlar® and Technora were employed. The effects of different procedure parameters, such as concentration of hydrogen accepter, TBAF, homogenization time and type of exchange solvent on the formation of p-aramid gels and aerogels after supercritical CO2 (scCO2) drying were discussed by measuring the homogenization time, compression modulus, volume shrinkage, and surface morphology of the gels and aerogels. Consequently, the Kevlar® aerogel with density of 0.018 g/cm3 was obtained under optimal conditions.
