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Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/silica composite fibers were fabricated by dry-jet wet spinning process. PAN/silica composite fibers were characterized with SEM and FTIR. The former revealed that beads were formed and aggregated when silica content was more than 1wt.%, while the latter confirmed the presence and increment of silica content. The tensile test was performed to obtain the mechanical properties of PAN/silica composite fibers, which showed an optimum Young''s modulus at 5.94GPa and tensile strength at 1.07MPa at 1wt.% silica. Therefore, the addition of silica particle at 1wt.% has enhanced the mechanical properties of PAN/silica composite fibers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/acrylamide (AM) precursor fibers prepared using a solvent-free coagulation process were stabilized, carbonized, and physically activated by carbon dioxide (CO2) into activated carbon fibers (ACFs). The activation temperature varied from 800 to 900°C while the activation time was 60minutes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs show that the porosity increased after the activation process, resulting from the loss of volatile components. The specific surface area increased markedly after the activation process; it was several hundred times greater than before the process. It was concluded that there is a big potential for PAN/AM-based ACFs prepared using solvent-free coagulation bath as an adsorbent of natural gas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]