Effect of Moisture on Copolymer Fibers based on 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)-benzimidazole.

Published

September 6, 2010

Author(s)

Guillaume Messin, Amanda L. Forster, Kirk D. Rice, Michael A. Riley, Stephanie S. Watson

Abstract

In recent years, there has been some concern in the soft body armor community that copolymer fibers based on 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)-benzimidazole can release hydrochloric acid, which could potentially be detrimental to other fibers that might come in contact with these materials. In an effort to investigate this issue, a study was designed to evaluate the generation of acid in different environments from these fibers. During the first phase of the study, fibers were exposed to water and pH decreases were observed. While submerged into deionized water, two of the fiber samples studied released a sufficient amount of acid to reduce the pH of the solution from approximately pH 6.0 to approximately pH 3.0 in less than ten days. Further ion-selective electrode studies of chloride ion released from these fibers indicated that hydrochloric acid may not be the species responsible for this pH reduction. In a second phase of the investigation, fibers were exposed to water vapor in an elevated temperature environment. While the pH reduction generated by the water vapor exposure was substantially lower than observed in the submersion phase of the study, a reduction in the yarns tensile strength of some of the fibers was observed during this phase of the study. In a third phase, fibers were exposed to an elevated temperature and low relative humidity. Almost no pH reduction or strength reduction were observed. Molecular spectroscopy was also performed to better understand the effect of elevated temperature and moisture environments on these fibers.

Conference Dates

September 13-17, 2010

Conference Location

Quebec

Conference Title

Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS) 2010

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Body armor, copolymer fibers, moisture, degradation, 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)-benzimidazole, hydrochloric acid

Citation

Messin, G. , Forster, A. , Rice, K. , Riley, M. and Watson, S. (2010), Effect of Moisture on Copolymer Fibers based on 5-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)-benzimidazole., Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS) 2010, Quebec, -1 (Accessed October 7, 2025)