TY - JOUR T1 - Crystallite size evolution of aramid fibres aged in alkaline environments A1 - Derombise,Guillaume A1 - Van Schoors,L. Vouyovitch A1 - Klop,E. A. A1 - Schotman,A. H. M. A1 - Platret,G. A1 - Davies,Peter AD - CETE Est, Lab Reg Ponts & Chausse Nancy, Tomblaine, France. AD - IFSTTAR, Dept Mat, Paris, France. AD - Teijin Aramid BV, Arnhem, Netherlands. AD - IFREMER, Mat & Struct Grp, Plouzane, France. UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-011-6073-8 DO - 10.1007/s10853-011-6073-8 N2 - Aramid fibres are high-performance materials proposed in geotextiles for alkaline ground reinforcement. To study their durability in such environments, accelerated ageing has been carried out at pH 9 and at pH 11 for up to one and a half years. First, the lateral and longitudinal crystallite sizes have been determined before and after ageing under these conditions by Wide-Angle X-ray diffraction. Next, the tensile fracture surfaces have been observed after different ageing times by scanning electron microscopy. Finally, molecular weight changes have been evaluated by size exclusion chromatography. This study highlights the dependence of structural changes on the ageing conditions. A structural degradation scheme is proposed. Y1 - 2012/03 PB - Springer JF - Journal Of Materials Science SN - 0022-2461 VL - 47 IS - 5 SP - 2492 EP - 2500 ID - 17614 ER -