PBI is a high performance fibre used in fire industry.

1. Greetings to All
Topic : PBI (Polybenzimidazole fiber)
Course Code : FME 534
Good Evening
By
2017-2-5-006
2017-2-5-008
Course Code : FME 534
Dept. - TEM

2. Giving you an idea about PBI!! It’s Introduction!!

3. History
 1961 PBI were developed by H. Vogel and C.S. Marvel with anticipation that the polymers would have
exceptional thermal and oxidative stability.
 1963 Subsequently, NASA and the Air Force Materials Lab sponsored considerable work with PBI for aerospace and
defense applications as a non-flammable and thermally stable textile fiber.
 1969 The United States Air Force selects PBI for its superior thermal protective performance after a fire aboard
an Apollo spacecraft killed three astronauts in 1967.
 1980′s PBI was introduced to the fire service.
 1983 A unique production plant goes on-line and PBI fibers become commercially available.
 1990′s Short cut PBI fibers are introduced for use in automotive braking systems. PBI staple fiber enters the aircraft
market for seat fire blocking layers.
 1992 Lightweight PBI fabrics are developed for flame resistant work wear for electric utility and petrochemical
applications.
 2001 After the terrorist attacks on 9/11 many of the 343 Fire Fighters killed were only identifiable by their PBI
Turnout Gear.
 2003 PBI Matrix® was commercialized and introduced as the next generation PBI for firefighter turnout gear.

4. Structure
The chemical formula of (PBI) is believed to be: ([NH-C=CH-C=CH-CH=C-N=C-]2-[C=CH-C=CH-CH=CH-])n OR (C20N4H12)n.
Basic Principles of PBI Fiber Production — PBI is prepared from tetra-aminobiphenyl and diphenyl
isophthalate spun via a dry spinning process using dimethyl acetamide as the solvent.

5. Why PBI?

6. Tenacity (g/denier) 2.7
Elongation at break (%) 30
Shrinkage at 177°C (%) <1.0
Melting point (°F) Does not burn
In flame/After flame Non-flammable
Chemical resistance Good chemical resistance
Specific gravity (g/cc) 1.4
Moisture regain (%) 15
Physical Properties

8. Chemical properties
PBI is a thermoplastic polymer having excellent thermo-mechanical and chemical properties.
 In molded form, PBI has the highest compressive and tensile strength of any unfilled polymeric resin.
 It has the highest glass transition temperature (425°C) of any commercial available organic polymer.
 It exhibits high decomposition temperatures (500°C-600°C),
 Good oxidation resistance.
 It maintains excellent strength at cryogenic temperatures.
 It is dye able to dark shades with basic dyes following caustic pretreatment and resistant to most chemicals.
Electrical properties
PBI features low electrical conductivity and low static electricity buildup.
Mechanical properties
PBI shows good abrasion resistance.

9. FORMATION

10. Products/ Application/ End use

11. Cont…

12. Commercial PBI Fibre

13. Future
PBI’s chemical, thermal and physical properties demonstrate that it can be a promising material as a flue
gas filter fabric for coal-fired boilers, Asbestos replacement, Fuel cell electrolyte, Molded PBI resin, PBI
membranes.