Post-construction of weaving structure in aramid fiber towards improvements of its transverse properties

Abstract Weak transverse properties of organic high-performance fibers are considered as a difficult problem that restricts fiber reinforced composites' overall mechanical properties to a higher level, and this problem is always attributed by the poor transverse interactions between the fibrils inside the fibers and interfaces between skin and core. To achieve better transverse properties based on stronger transverse interaction, we designed a simple and facile post-treatment strategy to construct a polymethylmethacrylate/divinylbenzene (PMMA/DVB) crosslinked copolymer composed macromolecular weaving network to tie the fibrils inside aramid fiber and skin/core structure together. Topography of the weaving structure was firstly observed by atomic force microscope (AFM) under a clear scope, which proved our design could efficiently connect the fibrils together thus the transverse properties of the fiber could be enhanced. Therefore, as two representatives of fiber's transverse properties, axial compressive strength of the fiber increased by 51.4% at maximum and interfacial properties increased by. In addition, above mentioned weaving structure simultaneously enhanced connection between fiber's skin and core, and it's pleasant found that tear-resistance of fiber's skin was also significantly enhanced. These two effects improved fiber's interfacial properties together, thus we fabricated a novel “perfect” aramid fiber simultaneously with high tensile strength, high compressive strength and high interfacial shear strength. Therefore, it's believed that the post-treatment strategy as we designed has potential to be applied in industrial continuous modification of aramid fibers and other high performance fibers.