Polybenzimidazole commercial solutions

Aromatic polybenzimidazoles were synthesized by H. Vogel and C. S. Marvel in 1951 with anticipation, later justified, that the polymers would have exceptional thermal and oxidative stability. Subsequently, NASA and the Air Force Materials Laboratory (AFML) sponsored considerable work with polybenzimidazoles for aerospace and defense applications as a non-flammable and thermally stable textile fiber and as high temperature matrix resins, adhesives and foams. The route to fiber used solutions of high molecular weight polymer. Structural applications used low temperature melting pre-polymers that were cured (polymerized) in place. Applications of polybenzimidazoles were not implemented in the 60 s and 70 s since the polymers tetraamine precursors were not commercially available. 

Polybenzimidazoles are synthesized from condensation polymerization of aromatic bis-( -diamines and dicarboxylates (acids, esters, amides) in the molten state or in solution. Among these, commercially available poly[2,2 -(m-phenylene)-5,5 -... 

More recently, polybenzimidazole fibre has become available commercially. The fibre is obtained by spinning from a solution of the polymer in dimethylacetamide. Suggested applications include protective clothing and dust filters for hot flue gases. 

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