Polyacrylonitrile

Polyacrylonitrile is a synthetic polymer whose repeating units contain nitrile groups. It is used in acrylic fibers and is the principal precursor for many carbon fibers.

Acrylonitrile: A reactive organic compound with a carbon–carbon double bond and a nitrile group; it is the monomer used to make polyacrylonitrile. Polymerization of this monomer forms the repeating backbone of polyacrylonitrile.
Acrylic fiber: A manufactured textile fiber made primarily from acrylonitrile polymer. Polyacrylonitrile is the principal polymer used to produce this wool-like fiber.
Polymerization: A chemical process that joins small molecules into larger molecules or networks. It describes the transformation of acrylonitrile monomers into polymer chains.
Polyacrylonitrile fiber: A fiber spun from polyacrylonitrile or a closely related acrylonitrile-rich polymer. This processed form distinguishes the polymer’s practical properties from those of bulk resin.
Free-radical polymerization: A chain-growth polymerization process in which reactive radicals add monomer molecules in sequence. It is a common route for turning acrylonitrile into polyacrylonitrile chains.
Carbon fiber: A strong, lightweight fiber made mostly of carbon atoms arranged in crystalline or graphitic structures. Much commercial carbon fiber begins as polyacrylonitrile precursor fiber.
Copolymer: A polymer containing repeating units derived from two or more different monomers. Commercial polyacrylonitrile fibers often include comonomers that improve processing or dyeability.
Rayon-based carbon fiber: Carbon fiber produced from regenerated cellulose, historically used as an alternative to polyacrylonitrile-based precursor fiber. It provides a different precursor route with distinct yield and performance trade-offs.
Nitrile group: A functional group consisting of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. These groups give polyacrylonitrile its characteristic chemical reactivity during stabilization.
Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer: A composite material in which carbon fibers reinforce a polymer matrix. It is a major end use for carbon fibers derived from polyacrylonitrile.

Linked from 6 pages