Effect of carbon nanostructures on the carbonization of polyacrylonitrile

Composite materials based on polyacrylonitrile with carbon nanofillers (technical-grade carbon, thermally expanded graphite, carbon nanotubes) were synthesized. A carbonization of film and fiber composite samples in the temperature range 20–1000°C provided a noticeable increase in the thermal stability of fibers and a rise in the electrical conductivity of the composite material. Dependences of the degree of carbonization on the concentration of nanostructures, type of material, and nature of modifier were determined. Differential-thermal and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed the formation of oriented nucleus structures of turbostratic carbon in the temperature range 450–550°C.