Structural Hierarchy of single Aramid filaments probed using Small/Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering Tensor Tomography

Aramid yarns are high-performance polymer fibers employed in various applications where a combination of high strength and low weight is needed. The yarns consist of filaments and can be produced with a wide range of mechanical properties. We will investigate four different types of yarns. The mechanical properties of the filaments are directly linked to their hierarchical structure which includes a crystalline structure with strong hydrogen bonding between the polymer chains, which pack into tape-like microfibrils forming a microfibrillar structure. The filaments show radial variation (skin-core structure) and a pore system. Thus, for the different applications, it is crucial to establish structure-property relations spanning multiple length scales. The aim of this proposal is to acquire small/wide-angle X-ray scattering tensor tomography (SWASTT) of single aramid (low, middle, and high modulus, ballistic) to relate their 3D spatially resolved hierarchical structure and orientations.