Mass production of carbon nanotube‐reinforced polyacrylonitrile fine composite fibers

Abstract

A facile and large-scale production method of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers and carboxyl functionalized carbon nanotube reinforced PAN composite fibers was demonstrated by the use of ForcespinningV R technology. The developed polymeric fibers and carbon nanotube-reinforced composite fibers were subsequently carbonized to obtain carbon fiber systems. Analysis of the fiber diameter, homogeneity, alignment of carbon nanotube and bead formation was conducted with scanning electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis, electrical, and mechanical characterization were also conducted. Raman and FTIR analyses of the developed fiber systems indicate interactions between carbon nanotubes and the carbonized PAN fibers through p-p stacking. The carbonized carbon nanotube-reinforced PAN composite fibers possess promising applications in energy storage applications. V C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40302.

Fibrous cellulose membrane mass produced via forcespinning® for lithium-ion battery separators

“…The use of centrifugal forces remarkably increases fiber production rate and provides a broader opportunity for a broad range of materials to be spun into fine fibers (Raghavan et al 2013;Sarkar et al 2010;Weng et al 2014aWeng et al , b, 2015. Figure 1 displays the schematic representation of the fabrication of fibrous cellulose membrane separators.…”

“…A significant increase in yield, ease of production, and a broader spectrum of materials to be spun into fibers has been observed (Padron et al 2013). Both conductive and nonconductive polymer solutions and polymer melts can be spun into fibers without the need of electric fields, given that the conductivity and/or electrostatic charges of the solution are not relevant parameters to prepare fibers (Raghavan et al 2013;Sarkar et al 2010;Weng et al 2014aWeng et al , b, 2015. The productivity of FS has been reported to be higher than 1 g min -1 per nozzle at the lab scale (industrial lines are believed to run at tens to hundreds of meters per minute) which is significantly higher than lab scale electrospinning (0.3 g h -1 ; Lozano and Sarkar 2009;Ramakrishna et al 2005;Sarkar et al 2010).…”

The structure and properties of the carbon non-wovens modified with bioactive nanoceramics for medical applications

“…It is due to the fact, that such composites display high specific strength and modulus and are corrosion resistant. Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) can be more resistant and stiffer than conventional materials used for construction, and when the weight of the structure is a relevant feature, composites can become a very attractive solution [1]. Pure CF or in the form of CFRP has also attracted interest for applications in medicine due to their attractive mechanical and physical properties and confirmed good biocompatibility with the living organism.…”

Development of hierarchical structured carbon nanotube‐nylon nanofiber mats

“…Recently, the development of forcespinning ® (FS) technology has gained momentum as a promising method to develop large scale production of nanofibers (NFs) from a variety of materials. FS utilizes centrifugal force to extrude polymer solutions or melts to create fine fibers in the absence of electric fields . Fiber jets are formed by high rotational speeds (0−20,000 rpm) of a spinneret using a nozzle.…”