Fabrication of benzbisazole polymers into monolithic articles

摘要

A method for fabricating a monolithic polybenzbisazole article including the steps of: (a) dissolving at least one benzbisazole polymer in a strong acid at an elevated temperature; (b) transferring the resulting solution to a mold; (c) cooling the solution in the mold to a temperature below the gelation temperature of the acid-polymer mixture, thus providing a polymer-acid gel; (d) ageing the gel for about 0.25 to 10 days; (e) replacing the acid in the gel with water; (f) replacing the water in the gel with a lower aliphatic alcohol; and (g) densifying the gel.