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Thermochemical stabilization and analysis of continuously electrospun nanofibers

Carbon nanotube-loaded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers for high performance carbon nanofiber mass production

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Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-loaded and neat polyacrylonitrile nanofibers were produced by a needleless continuous electrospinning method as carbon nanofiber precursors. The details of the stabilization, which is a crucial issue during carbon fiber production, were investigated as these nanofibers are especially sensitive to degradation. In order to determine the optimal parameters, the nanofibers were stabilized at different temperatures. The stabilized samples were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements and by the determination of the color changes. The chemical changes during the stabilization (the formation of the so-called ladder-polymer) can be followed by infrared spectrometry, while the conversion can be monitored by DSC. The formation of the ladder-polymer occurs according to the Gaussian distribution function, where the temperature of the stabilization is the statistical parameter, which was also determined. In the case of CNT-loaded samples, the range of stabilization temperature was wider, which provides better controllability of the process. Based on the established models, an appropriate multi-step heat-treatment program could be determined, which led to completely stabilized nanofibers, suitable for carbonization.

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Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) for the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative under grant agreement no 270599.

This work is connected to the scientific program of the “Development of quality-oriented and harmonized R + D+I strategy and functional model at BME” project. This project is supported by the New Széchenyi Plan (Project ID: TÁMOP-4.2.1/B-09/1/KMR-2010-0002). The work reported in this paper has been developed in the framework of the project “Talent care and cultivation in the scientific workshops of BME” project. This project is supported by the grant TÁMOP - 4.2.2.B-10/1–2010-0009. This research was also supported by the Hungarian Research Fund (OTKA K100949). A. Toldy is thankful for the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Műegyetem rkp. 3-9, Budapest, 1111, Hungary

    Kolos Molnár, Andrea Toldy & László Mihály Vas

  2. MTA–BME Research Group for Composite Science and Technology, Műegyetem rkp. 3, Budapest, 1111, Hungary

    Kolos Molnár

  3. Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budafoki út 8, Budapest, 1111, Hungary

    Beáta Szolnoki

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  1. Kolos Molnár
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Correspondence to Kolos Molnár.

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Molnár, K., Szolnoki, B., Toldy, A. et al. Thermochemical stabilization and analysis of continuously electrospun nanofibers. J Therm Anal Calorim 117, 1123–1135 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3880-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-014-3880-6

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