Effect of Processing Conditions on Properties of KMnO4-Treated PAN Fibers

Plasticized polyacrylonitrile(PAN) fibers have been chemically impregnated with aqueous solution of KMnO4 under varying conditions of temperature and time. The effect of modification conditions on the chemical structure and the mechanical properties of precursor fibers are characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope. The experimental results show that KMnO4 can be used not only as catalyst for cyclization reaction, but also as plasticizer. The chemical modification between KMnO4 and PAN can not occur below70°C, the most suitable condition for modification is performed at 80°C for 5 min.