N-2 and CO2 adsorption on activated carbon fibres prepared from Nomex chars

Activated carbon fibres were obtained by pyrolysis followed by CO2 activati on of Nomex [poly (m-phenylene isophtalamide)] polymeric fibres in their cr ystalline form. The materials obtained were characterised by N-2 adsorption (77 K), CO2 adsorption (273 K) and XRD. They show BET surface areas up to 1200 m(2) g(-1), and they are essentially microporous. The pore size distri bution is narrower than using Kevlar as precursor. This feature can be rela ted with the degree of crystallinity obtained with the corresponding chars. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.