Polyacrylonitrile Composites Blended with Asphalt as a Low-Cost Material for Producing Synthetic Fibers: Rheology and Thermal Stability

The results of rheological studies and thermal analysis of polymer compositions based on polyacrylonitrile copolymers (PAN) of different molecular weights and asphalt isolated by n-pentane solvent deasphalting are presented. It was found that the asphalt content in mixtures with PAN at the level of 10-30 wt.% improves the rheological properties of the polymer composite melt. In particular, the temperatures of extrusion and molding of fibers tend to reduce, and the time during which the melt retains its rheological characteristics necessary for extrusion is notably increased, from 43 to 92 min. Thermal analysis by DSC revealed no effect of asphalt additive in an amount of up to 30 wt.% on radical PAN cyclization and the subsequent stage of fiber stabilization. Our study proved the possibility of preparing polymer composites based on PAN and asphalt suitable for extrusion and eventual molding of continuous filaments of synthetic fibers with reduced cost of production.