Structure–Property Behavior of Nanofibers Based on Polyacrylonitrile/ Mesoporous Silica (SBA-15) Composites Prepared by Electrospinning

Polyacrylonitrile/ mesoporous silica (SBA-15) composites were synthesized using needless electrospinning technique, where, different dispersing agents were examined for better deagglomeration of silica particles in starting formulations and distribution in the electrospun composite nanofibers. Silica nanoparticles increase the specific surface area from 68.7 to 98.5 m 2 /g and the tensile strength from 0.61 to 1.22 MPa of PAN nanofibers. Three different dispersing agents including BYK W-9010, BYK W-980 and BYK W-966 were used and the best was optimized for better deagglomeration of silica sub-micron particles in composite nanofibers. PAN composite nanofibers also increased thermal stability up to 650 °C than pristine PAN nanofibers due to hydrogen bridges present between nitrile groups of PAN and silanol groups of fillers.