Plasticization behavior of polyacrylonitrile and characterization of acrylic fiber prepared from the plasticized melt

Abstract

The melting behavior of plasticized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and the physical properties of melt-spun acrylic fibers were investigated. The equilibrium water content corresponded to the value calculated on the assumption that one nitrile group is combined with one water molecule. Combined use of water and solvent (ethylene carbonate) exhibited a synergistic effect on the plasticization of PAN. Water, however, is more effective than solvent in view of lowering melt viscosity. Melt spinning at the supercooled state produced apparently foam-free fibers having X-ray orientation angle smaller than 20°. The plasticization process had little influence on the resultant crystalline structure of PAN. © 1992, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.