Properties of partially hydrolyzed PAN fibers

The properties of base PAN (polyacrylonitrile) fibers and their partially hydrolyzed PAN-COOH fibers were characterized by means of a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, elemental analyzer, specific surface area analyzer etc. The main factors that can affect the strength of the base PAN fibers and how the hydrolysis reaction happens in alkaline conditions are discussed. Acidic hydrolyzed PAN-COOH fibers, having a strength of 9.6 cN/dtex, capacity of 0.26 mmol/g, BET area of 0.58 m²/g (calculated on dry basis) were prepared. The conversion rate from -CN to -COOH, the ways that groups of -COOH array on the surface of the fibers and the possible maximum amounts of -COOH are discussed in detail. __________ Translated from Transactions of Beijing Institute of Technology, 2008, 28(2) (in Chinese)