Study On Polyethylene-Based Carbon Fibers Obtained by Sulfonation Under Hydrostatic Pressure

Abstract

\n Carbon fibers were prepared using polyethylene fibers. The draw ratio of the polyethylene fibers and the sulfonation mechanism were investigated under hydrostatic pressures of 1 and 5 bar. The influence of the melt flow index of polyethylene on the sulfonation reaction was studied. Carbon fibers were prepared through the sulfonation of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) fibers possessing side chains with a high melt flow index. The polyethylene fibers, which exhibited thermoplastic properties and plastic behavior, were cross-linked through the sulfonation process. Their thermal properties and mechanical properties changed to thermoset properties and elastic behavior. Although sulfonation was performed under a hydrostatic pressure of 5 bar, it was difficult to convert the highly oriented polyethylene fibers because of their high crystallinity, but partially oriented polyethylene fibers could be converted to carbon fibers. Therefore, sulfonation was performed using partially oriented LLDPE fibers with a melt flow index of 20 at 130°C for 2.5 hours under a hydrostatic pressure of 5 bar. The resulting fibers were carbonized under the following conditions: 1000°C, 5°C/min, and five minutes. Carbon fibers with a tensile strength of 2.03 GPa, a tensile modulus of 143.63 GPa, and an elongation at break of 1.42% were prepared.