ADSORPTION OF NITROGEN AND WATER-VAPOR BY ACTIVATED KEVLAR(R) CHARS

Fibrous activated carbons were prepared from Kevlar(R) (i.e. poly (p-p henylene terephthalamide), in the form of a commercially available wov en textile. The cloth was carbonised in nitrogen and activated in eith er steam or carbon dioxide to varying burn-offs at 1123 K. The resulta nt activated chars were characterised by nitrogen adsorption, water so rption, and elemental analysis. It was found that significant differen ces existed between the chars activated in steam and carbon dioxide. K evlar(R) chars were found to have a greater affinity for water vapour than comparable rayon chars. The pore volume developed in Kevlar(R) ch ars tended towards a maximum value as the burn-off increased.