Carbonized fibers based on polyvinyl alcohol

On the basis on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carbonized fibers were produced in the form of a complex technical thread with tensile strength above 200 MPa and specific electrical conductivity of at least 0.5 S/cm. Using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, Raman scattering, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction, structures of these fibers were characterized. The structural parameters of carbonized PVA fibers are close to the parameters of carbonized coal tar pitch obtained by heat treatment at 1000°C. The structure and properties of carbonized fibers modified with potassium bisulfate were also studied.