• Carbon letters
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.12-17
• /
• 2004

In this study, the oxyfluorination of PAN-based carbon fibers was undertaken at room temperature using fluorine-oxygen mixtures, and the influence of oxyfluorination on properties was investigated. The surface characteristics of the modified fiber were determined by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dynamic contact angle analyzer. The oxyfluorination of carbon fibers was one of the more effective methods to increase surface wettability by the formation of semicovalent C-F bond and C-O bond depending on reaction conditions. When oxygen mole fraction is increased from 0.5 to 0.9, it is probable that attached fluorine atoms at the surface of the fibers reacted with other components. As increased oxyfluorination time and decreased its pressures, semi-covalent peak is increased at 0.5 of oxygen mole fraction. The total surface free energy of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers decreased with increasing oxygen mole fraction over 0.5. These results indicate that the surface of carbon fibers became much more hydrophilic after the short oxyfluorination. The surface free energy of oxyfluorinated carbon fibers progressively decreased after 10 min treatment. The polar components of surface free energies were however, significantly higher for all oxyfluorinated samples than that for the untreated carbon fiber.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.18
• /
• pp.30-36
• /
• 2016

Well-dispersed Ag₃VO₄ nanoparticles @polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers were synthesized by an easily controlled, template-free method as a photo-catalyst for the degradation of methylene blue. Their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties have been studied by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with rapid energy dispersive analysis of X-ray, photoluminescence, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The characterization procedures revealed that the obtained material is PAN nanofibers decorated by Ag₃VO₄ nanoparticles. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue investigated in an aqueous solution under irradiation showed 99% degradation of the dye within 75 min. Finally, the antibacterial performance of Ag₃VO₄ nanoparticles @PAN composite nanofibers was experimentally verified by the destruction of Escherichia coli. These results suggest that the developed inexpensive and functional nanomaterials can serve as a non-precious catalyst for environmental applications.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2016

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) for $CO_2$ adsorption were prepared from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber through the systematic processes such as oxidation, activation and amination with the focus on the formation of nitration functional groups. Textural analysis of test samples revealed the decrease of specific surface area and pore volume by chemical activation including amination. The ratio of micropores to the total volume was 0.85 to 0.91, which was high enough with the pore size of 1.57 to 1.77 nm. Nitrogen compounds such as imine, pyridine and pyrrole presenting favorable interforces to $CO_2$ molecules were formed throughout the whole preparation steps. The aminated ACF adsorbent showed the enhanced adsorption capacity, 0.40 mmol/g for low-level $CO_2$ flow (3000 ppm) at room temperature. Selectivity of $CO_2$ against dry air ($O_2$ & $N_2$) also increased from 1.00 to 4.66 by amination.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2015

Carbon fiber has received much attention owing to its properties, including a large surface-to-volume ratio, chemical and thermal stability, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and high mechanical strengths. In particular, magnetic nanopowder dispersed carbon fiber has been attractive in technological applications such as the electrochemical capacitor and electromagnetic wave shielding. In this study, the nickel-oxide-nanoparticle dispersed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were prepared through an electrospinning method. Electron beam irradiation was carried out with a 2.5 MeV beam energy to stabilize the materials. The samples were then heat-treated for stabilization and carbonization. The nanofiber surface was analyzed using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The crystal structures of the carbon matrix and nickel nanopowders were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, the magnetic and electrical properties were analyzed using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and 4 point probe. As the irradiation dose increases, the density of the carbon fiber was increased. In addition, the electrical properties of the carbon fiber improved through electron beam irradiation. This is because the amorphous region of the carbon fiber decreases. This electron beam effect of PAN fibers containing nickel nanoparticles confirmed their potential as a high performance carbon material for various applications.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.451-460
• /
• 2019

Thin film composite membranes incorporated with nano-sized hydrophilic zeolite -A were successfully prepared via interfacial polymerization (IP) on porous blend PES/PAN support for water desalination. The thin film nanocomposite membranes were characterized by SEM, contact angle and performance test with 7000 ppm NaCl solution at 7bar. The results showed that the optimum zeolite loading amount was determined to be 0.1wt% with permeate flux 29LMH.NaCl rejection was improved from 69% to 92% compared to the pristine polyamide membrane where the modified PA surface was more selective than that of the pristine PA. In addition, there was no significant change in the permeate flux of the thin film nanocomposite membrane compared with that of the pristine PA in spite of the formation of the dense polyamide layer. The stability of the polyamide layer was investigated for 15 days and the optimized membrane presented the highest durability and stability.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.818-824
• /
• 2019

In the present work, we determined the gamma-ray attenuation characteristics of eight different polymers(Polyamide (Nylon 6) (PA-6), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylidenechloride (PVDC), polyaniline (PANI), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polypyrrole (PPy) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) using transmission geometry utilizing the high resolution HPGe detector and different radioactive sources in the energy range 81-1333 keV. The experimental linear attenuation coefficient values are compared with theoretical data (WinXCOM data). The linear attenuation coefficient of all polymers reduced quickly with the increase in energy, at the beginning, while decrease more slowly in the region from 267 keV to 835 keV. The effective atomic number of PVDC and PTFE are comparatively higher than the $Z_{eff}$ of the remaining polymers, while PA-6 possesses the lowest effective atomic number. The half value layer results showed that PTFE ($C_2F_4$, highest density) is more effective to attenuate the gamma photons. Also, the theoretical results of macroscopic effective removal cross section for fast neutrons ($\sum_{R}$) were computed to investigate the neutron attenuation characteristics. It is found that the $\sum_{R}$ values of the eight investigated polymers are close and ranged from $0.07058cm^{-1}$ for PVDC to $0.11510cm^{-1}$ for PA-6.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.9-27
• /
• 2021

As an example of research activities in decontamination for decommissioning, new data are presented on the options for corrosion layer dissolution during the decommissioning decontamination, or persulfate regeneration for decontamination solutions re-use. For the management of spent decontamination solutions, new method based on solvent extraction of radionuclides into ionic liquid followed by electrodeposition of the radionuclides has been developed. Fields of applications of composite inorganic-organic absorbers or solid extractants with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) binding matrix for the treatment of liquid radioactive waste are reviewed; a method for americium separation from the boric acid containing NPP evaporator concentrates based on the TODGA-PAN material is discussed in more detail. Performance of a model of radionuclide transport, developed and implemented within the GoldSim programming environment, for the safety studies of the LLW/ILW repository is demonstrated on the specific case of the Richard repository (Czech Republic). Continuation and even broadening of these activities are expected in connection with the approaching end of the lifespan of the first blocks of the Czech NPPs.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2022

The existence of active material in the environment causes the small-scale systems to be sensitive to the actual environment. Carbon dioxide is one of the active materials that exists a lot in the air conditions of the living environment. However, in some applications, the carbon dioxide-coated is used to improve the performance of systems against the destructive factors such as the corrosion; nevertheless, in the current research, the stability analysis of a carbon dioxide capture mechanism-coated beam is investigated according to the mathematical simulation of a rectangular composite beam utilizing the modified couple stress theory. The composite mechanism of carbon dioxide trapping is made of a polyacrylonitrile substrate that supports a cross-link polydimethylsiloxane gutter layer as the carbon dioxide mechanism trapping. Three novel types of carbon dioxide trapping mechanism involving methacrylate, poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, and three pedant methacrylates are considered, which were introduced by Fu et al. (2016). Finally, according to introducing the methodology of carbon dioxide (CO₂) trapping, the impact of various effective parameters on the stability of composite beams will be analyzed in detail.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.22
• /
• pp.48-59
• /
• 2017

This study synthesized pure anatase carbon doped $TiO_2$ photocatalysts supported on a stainless steel mesh using a sol-gel solution of 8% polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/dimethylformamide (DMF)/$TiCl_4$. The influence of the pyrolysis temperature and holding time on the morphological characteristics, particle sizes and surface area of the prepared catalyst was investigated. The prepared catalysts were characterized by several analytical methods: high resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD patterns showed that the supported $TiO_2$ nanocrystals are typically anatase, polycrystalline and body-centered tetragonal in structure. The EDS and XPS results complemented one another and confirmed the presence of carbon species in or on the $TiO_2$ layer, and the XPS data suggested the substitution of titanium in $TiO_2$ by carbon. Instead of using calcination, PAN pyrolysis was used to control the carbon content, and the mesoporosity was tailored by the applied temperature. The supported $TiO_2$ nanocrystals prepared by pyrolysis at 300, 350, and $400^{\circ}C$ for 3 h on a stainless steel mesh were actual supported carbon doped $TiO_2$ nanocrystals. Thus, $PAN/DMF/TiCl_4$ offers a facile, robust sol-gel related route for preparing supported carbon doped $TiO_2$ nanocomposites.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.176-183
• /
• 2010

PAN precursor fibers were produced via wet-spinning process, and effects of polymerization and spinning processes, especially the stretching process, were investigated on mechanical properties and micro-morphologies of precursor fibers. An increase in molecular weight, dope solid and densification and a decrease in surface defects were possible by controlling polymerization temperature, the number of heating rollers for densification and the jet stretch ratio, which improved the mechanical properties of precursor fibers. The curves for strength, modulus, tensile power and diameter as a function of stretch ratio can be divided into three stages: steady change area, little change area and sudden change area. With the increase of stretch ratio, the fiber diameter became smaller, the degree of crystallization increased and the structure of precursor fibers became compact and homogeneous, which resulted in the increase of strength, modulus and tensile power of precursor fibers. Empirical relationship between fiber strength and stretch ratio was studied by using the sub-cluster statistical theory. It was successfully predicted when the strengths were 0.8 GPa and 1.0 GPa under a certain technical condition, the corresponding stretch ratio of the fiber were 11.16 and 12.83 respectively.