Catalytic graphitization of polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fibers coated with Prussian blue

• Published in: Journal of Central South University of Technology. Science & technology of mining and metallurgy Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 683 - 687
• Main Authors: Peng, Qi-ling, Zhou, Hai-hui, Huang, Zhen-hua, Chen, Jin-hua, Kuang, Ya-fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Central South University 01.08.2010
• Subjects: Engineering; Metallic Materials; carbon fibers; Prussian blue; coating; heat treatment; catalyst; extent of graphitization
• ISSN: 1005-9784; 1993-0666
• DOI: 10.1007/s11771-010-0540-2

Prussian blue (PB) was used as catalyst to improve the extent of graphitization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibers. PB was deposited on carbon fibers by anodic electrodeposition and the thickness of PB coating (PB content) was controlled by adjusting the electrodeposition time. PAN-based carbon fibers with PB coating were heat-treated and the extent of graphitization was measured by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the extent of graphitization of PAN-based carbon fibers is enhanced in the presence of the coating. When the PB-coated carbon fibers were heat-treated at 1 900 °C, interlayer spacing ( d 002 ) and crystallite size ( L c ) reach 0.336 8 and 21.2 nm respectively. Contrarily, the values of d 002 and L c are 0.341 4 and 7.4 nm respectively when the bare carbon fibers were heat-treated at 2 800 °C. Compared with the bare carbon fibers, PB can make the heat treatment temperature (HTT) drop more than 500 °C in order to reach the same extent of graphitization. Furthermore, the research results show that PB content also has a certain influence on the extent of graphitization at the same HTT.