 | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name poly(1-acrylonitrile) | |
| Other names Polyvinyl cyanide[1] Creslan 61 | |
| Identifiers | |
| Abbreviations | PAN |
| Properties | |
| (C3H3N)n | |
| Molar mass | 53.0626 ± 0.0028 g/mol C 67.91%, H 5.7%, N 26.4% |
| Appearance | White solid |
| Density | 1.184 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 300 °C (572 °F; 573 K) |
| Boiling point | Degrades |
| Insoluble | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a synthetic, semicrystalline organicpolymer resin, with the linear formula (CH2CHCN)n.[2] Almost all PANresins arecopolymers withacrylonitrile as the mainmonomer. PAN is used to produce large variety of products including ultra filtration membranes, hollow fibers forreverse osmosis, fibers for textiles, and oxidized PAN fibers. PAN fibers are the chemical precursor of very high-qualitycarbon fiber. PAN is first thermally oxidized in air at 230 °C to form an oxidized PAN fiber and then carbonized above 1000 °C in inert atmosphere to make carbon fibers found in a variety of both high-tech and common daily applications such as civil and military aircraft primary and secondary structures, missiles, solid propellant rocket motors, pressure vessels, fishing rods,tennis rackets andbicycle frames. It is a componentrepeat unit in several importantcopolymers, such asstyrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) andacrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic.
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was first synthesized in 1930 by Hans Fikentscher and Claus Heuck in the Ludwigshafen works of the German chemical conglomerateIG Farben.[3] However, as PAN is non-fusible, and did not dissolve in any of the industrialsolvents being used at the time, further research into the material was halted.[4]
In 1931, Herbert Rein, head of polymer fiber chemistry at the Bitterfeld plant of IG Farben, obtained a sample of PAN while visiting the Ludwigshafen works.[5] He found thatpyridiniumbenzylchloride, anionic liquid, would dissolve PAN.[6] He spun the first fibers based on PAN in 1938, using aqueous solutions ofquaternary ammonium sodium thiocyanate and aluminum perchlorate for the production process and considered other solvents including DMF. However, commercial introduction was delayed due to the wartime stresses on infrastructure, inability to melt the polymer without degradation, and solvents to allow solution processing were not known yet.[7][8]
The first mass production run of PAN fiber was in 1946 by American chemical conglomerateDuPont. The Germanintellectual property had been stolen inOperation Paperclip. The product, branded asOrlon, was based on a patent filed exactly seven days after a nearly identical German claim.[9][failed verification]
In theGerman Democratic Republic (GDR), industrial polyacrylonitrile fibre production was started in 1956 at theVEB Film- und Chemiefaserwerk Agfa Wolfen due to the preliminary work of the "Wolcrylon" collective (de:Max Duch, Herbert Lehnert et al.). Prior to this, the preconditions for the production of the raw materials had been created at theBuna Werke Schkopau (Polyacrylonitrile) andLeuna works (Dimethylformamide).[10] In the same year, the collective was awarded the GDR's National Prize II Class for Science and Technology for its achievements.[11]
Although it is thermoplastic, polyacrylonitrile does not melt under normal conditions. It degrades before melting. It melts above 300 °C if the heating rates are 50 degrees per minute or above.[12]
Glass transition temperature is around 95 °C andfusion temperature is at 322 °C. PAN is soluble inpolar solvents, such asdimethylformamide,dimethylacetamide,ethylene andpropylene carbonates, and in aqueous solutions ofsodium thiocyanate,zinc chloride ornitric acid.[13] Solubility parameters: 26.09 MPa1/2 (25 °C) are 25.6 to 31.5 J1/2 cm−3/2. Dielectric constants: 5.5 (1 kHz, 25 °C), 4.2 (1 MHz, 25 °C).Can behave as branched as well as linear polymer.
In the production of carbon fibers containing 600 tex (6k) PAN tow, the linear density of filaments is 0.12 tex and the filament diameter is 11.6 μm which produces a carbon fiber that has the filament strength of 417 kgf/mm2 and binder content of 38.6%.[14]
Most commercial methods for the synthesis of PAN are based onfree radical polymerization ofacrylonitrile.[15] In most of the cases, 10% amounts of other vinyl comonomers are also used (1–10%) along with AN depending on the final application. Comonomers includeacrylic acid,acrylamide, allyl compounds, and sulfonatedstyrene.[2] Anionic polymerization also can be used for synthesizing PAN. For textile applications, molecular weight in the range of 40,000 to 70,000 is used.[citation needed] For producing carbon fiber higher molecular weight is desired.[16]
Homopolymers of polyacrylonitrile have been used as fibers in hot gas filtration systems, outdoor awnings, sails for yachts, and fiber-reinforced concrete. Copolymers containing polyacrylonitrile are often used as fibers to make knitted clothing like socks and sweaters, as well as outdoor products like tents and similar items. If the label of a piece of clothing says"acrylic", then it is made out of some copolymer of polyacrylonitrile. It was made into the spun fiber at DuPont in 1942 and marketed under the name ofOrlon. Acrylonitrile is commonly employed as a comonomer withstyrene, e.g.acrylonitrile,styrene andacrylate plastics. Labelling of items of clothing with acrylic (seeacrylic fiber) means the polymer consists of at least 85% acrylonitrile as the monomer. A typical comonomer is vinyl acetate, which can be solution-spun readily to obtain fibers that soften enough to allow penetration by dyes. The advantages of the use of these acrylics are that they are low-cost compared to natural fiber, they offer better sunlight resistance and have superior resistance to attack by moths. Acrylics modified with halogen-containing comonomers are classified as modacrylics, which by definition contain more than PAN percentages between 35-85%. Incorporation of halogen groups increases the flame resistance of the fiber, which makes modacrylics suitable for the use in sleepwear, tents and blankets. Some mattresses also use them to meet the flame resistance requirements in North America.[17] However, the disadvantage of these products is that they are costly and can shrink after drying.
PAN absorbs many metal ions and aids the application of absorption materials. Polymers containingamidoxime groups can be used for the treatment of metals because of the polymers’ complex-forming capabilities with metal ions.[18]
PAN has properties involving low density, thermal stability, high strength and modulus of elasticity. These unique properties have made PAN an essential polymer in high tech.
Its high tensile strength and tensile modulus are established by fiber sizing, coatings, production processes, and PAN's fiber chemistry. Its mechanical properties derived are important in composite structures for military and commercial aircraft.[19]
Polyacrylonitrile is used as the precursor for 90% of carbon fiber production.[20] Approximately 20–25% of Boeing and Airbus wide-body airframes are carbon fibers. However, applications are limited by PAN's high price of around $15/lb.[21]
A carbon fiber was created using resonant acoustic mixing with boron nitride nanotubes that has an increased tensile strength and storage modulus.[22]
Glassy carbon, a common electrode material in electrochemistry, is created by heat-treating blocks of polyacrylonitrile under pressure at 1000 to 3000 °C over a period of several days. The process removes non-carbon atoms and creates a conjugated double bond structure with excellent conductivity.[23]
Divinylbenzene-crosslinked polyacrylonitrile is a precursor toion exchange resins. Hydrolysis converts the nitrile groups to carboxylic acids. Amberlite IRC86 is one commercial product. These weakly acidic resins have high affinities for divalent metal ions like Ca2+ and Mg2+.[24]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |