Accelerating the stabilization of polyacrylonitrile fibers by UV irradiation

• Published in: Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry (Seoul, Korea) Vol. 73; pp. 47 - 51
• Main Authors: Son, Su-Young, Jo, A Young, Jung, Gun Young, Chung, Yong-Sik, Lee, Sungho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 25.05.2019; 한국공업화학회
• Subjects: Dynamic mechanical analysis; Polyacrylonitrile; Stabilization; Thermal properties; Ultraviolet irradiation; 화학공학; Thermal properties; Polyacrylonitrile; Ultraviolet irradiation; Stabilization; Dynamic mechanical analysis
• ISSN: 1226-086X; 1876-794X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2019.01.012

[Display omitted] •Ultraviolet (UV) was irradiated on polyacrylonitrile fibers without photo initiator.•UV irradiation produced free-radicals, leading to reducing cyclization temperature.•The decrease of storage modulus was observed with UV irradiated fibers.•Pre UV irradiation induced an efficient stabilization of polyacrylonitrile fibers. Commercial polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers, widely used as carbon fiber precursors, were treated with ultraviolet (UV) light without any photo-initiators and its effects on the structural changes of PAN were investigated. Easily accessible UV irradiation produced free radicals by breaking the CH bonding in PAN, leading to reducing cyclization temperature and activation energy. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated a decrease in storage modulus of PAN fibers with increasing UV irradiation time below glass transition temperature. It is suggested that UV irradiation and the subsequent thermal treatment could offer an efficient stabilization by reducing the cyclization temperature and process time.