Carbonization performance of pre-oxidized PAN fibers prepared by microwave heating

Abstract

We have carbonized the modified PAN fibers which coated with a hybrid microwave absorbent and pre-oxidized by microwave heating for 50 min. The carbonization process of pre-oxidized CB/S-PAN fibers process was performed under nitrogen atmosphere at different temperatures. The carbonized fibers were characterized by mean of Raman spectroscopy, elemental analyzer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), mechanical tester, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that more ordered crystal structure and highly graphitic content was obtained at 950°C, arise from the formation of aromatic structures. The fibers' surface appeared roughly without defects suggesting a strong graphitic structure. This rough nature which results from the deposition of nanoparticles at an earlier stage before the pre-oxidation and the microwave penetration can strongly improve the interlocking between the fibers and matrix in the carbon fibers' composites.