Preparation of micron-sized aromatic polyamide particles using ultrasonic irradiation

Aromatic polyamide particles were prepared by reacting p-phthalyl chloride and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether in an acetone solution with a high water content, using a precipitation polymerization method with ultrasonic irradiation. The average particle diameter was ca. 712 nm, and the particles were porous and spherical with a narrow size distribution. They showed a high degree of crystallinity and excellent thermal stability. The morphology and the thermal decomposition temperature of the submicron particles were found to depend strongly on the volume of water added to the reaction system. In this polymerization method, the addition of water was essential for the formation of spherical particles. The simultaneous mixing process resulted in the formation of particles with a narrow size distribution, and the use of ultrasonic irradiation was effective in reducing particle size.