Effect of pyrolysis parameter on properties on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon fibers

Abstract

In this study, electrospun fibers were fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and Dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent by using an electrospinning method. The effect of pyrolysis parameters on properties of electrospun fiber has been studied. Subsequently, the electropun PAN fiber was carbonized at temperatures ranging at 650 and 750º C for 0.5 hour, 1 hour and 1.5 hours to produce PAN nanofibers. The electrospun PAN fibers and PAN nanofibers were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. The thermal stability of the electrospun PAN fiber was studied using Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The electrospun PAN fiber is been analyzed under SEM to have large in diameter. After undergoes pyrolysis process, the diameter of electrospun PAN fibers is decreases through longest of soaking pyrolysis time with suitable pyrolysis temperature and it is called as PAN nanofibers. The more delicate of PAN nanofibers, the more it will contribute to electrical conductivity for sensor application in MEMs. v