Polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber

Catalog	ACMA00031604
Description	PBI (Polybenzimidazole fiber) is a manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming substance is a long chain aromatic polymer having recurrent imadazole groups as an intricate part of the polymer chain.
Melting Point	Does not burn
Application	PBI has high moisture regain, low modulus, and comfort properties similar to cotton. These properties and those below make PBI, and blends of PBI, very useful in safety and protective applications.
Elongation	0.27
Feature	High chemical resistant Will not burn in air No melting point and will not drip Maintain properties when exposed to extreme heat
Material	Polybenzimidazole
Moisture Regain	0.15
Specific Gravity	1.4 g/cc
Stability	In flame: Non-flammable After flame: Non-flammable Chemical resistance: Good chemical resistance
Tenacity	2.7 g/denier
Type	PBI Fiber

Case Study

Polybenzimidazole Fiber Reinforced High-Density Polyethylene Composites

Faiz, Shan, et al. Polymer Composites, 2016, 37(1), 5-13.

The process of preparing composites of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polybenzimidazole fiber (PBI) involved melt blending in a twin-screw extruder. The thermomechanical properties of PBI fiber reinforced HDPE composite samples (1%, 4%, and 8%) with fiber lengths of 3 mm and 6 mm were studied. Studies have shown that with the increase of fiber content, the crystallinity of HDPE-PBI composites decreases, and the thermal stability and complex viscosity increase. Reinforcing the HDPE matrix with PBI fibers is an effective method to comprehensively improve the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites.
Preparation procedure of HDPE-PBI composites
The process of creating HDPE-PBI composite samples began with the manual blending of different weight percentages of masterbatch containing both materials. Subsequently, the samples were melted and compounded in a corotating twin screw extruder (TSE) with a screw length of 26 mm and a length to diameter ratio of 35. After extrusion, the material was cooled in a water bath, pelletized, and air dried for more than 24 hours. Standard samples for testing purposes, such as tensile and flexural tests, were then prepared using a screw injection molding machine.

Biocompatibility Evaluation and Application of Polybenzimidazole Nanofibers

Garrudo, Fábio FF, et al. Materials Today Chemistry, 2019, 14, 100185.

Polybenzimidazole (PBI) is a fully aromatic heterocyclic conductive polymer that can be electrospun into nanofibers. This work evaluated the biocompatibility of polybenzimidazole (PBI) as electrospun fibers and after doping with different acids to explore its potential for neural cell engineering applications.
Evaluation methods and results
· Different dopants were used to modify the properties of the polymer, including hydrophilicity and conductivity. Afterwards, the obtained fibers were characterized. The biocompatibility of this material was evaluated using NSCs through proliferation and differentiation assays.
· The study found that doping PBI with strong acids led to an increase in the diameter of the fibers, while the effects on electroconductivity and contact angle varied depending on the type of acid used. Both pristine and doped PBI fibers supported the proliferation of ReN-VM cells, with the cells maintaining their normal spindle/stellar morphology. When induced, ReN-VM cells were able to differentiate into neural cells on PBI-CSA fibers, displaying a neuronal-like morphology and expressing neural cell markers.
· These findings highlight the biocompatibility of PBI as an electroconductive polymer and suggest potential applications in designing neural cell-friendly platforms. These applications could include DBS electrodes, man-machine interface devices, electroconductive scaffolds for tissue engineering, and platforms for drug screening.